日대충격!! The best bullpen in wheelchair 'ERA 0.17' diagnosed with Achilles injury → WBC national team dropped out

*This content was translated by AI.

Ishii Taichi (29), a "iron wall bullpen" for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese professional baseball (NPB), will not be able to participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March due to an unexpected injury suffered during spring camp. The Japanese national baseball team is also struggling to select alternative players.

According to Japan's Nikkan Sports, Ishii moved to a hospital in Osaka on the 12th and was diagnosed with damage to his left Achilles tendon. In response, the Hanshin team asked the Japanese national team to drop Ishii.

The tragedy occurred during the Hanshin Tigers' joint first and second-tier Cheongbaek match held at Kinosa Stadium on the 11th. Ishii, who took the mound as the team's third pitcher, sprinted to the back of the home plate for base cover when the opponent hit a hit with no outs and runners on the first and second bases.

However, in the process, Ishii felt severe pain in his left leg and fell to the ground. After complaining of pain that made him unable to stand up on his own, he was eventually carried off on a stretcher, and was later seen leaving the stadium with a thick bandage and relying on a wheelchair. In the end, the result was a serious Achilles tendon injury.

Ishii's departure is also expected to be a major loss of power for the Japanese national team. Ishii was simply the NPB's best bullpen pitcher in the 2025 season. He even joined the national team with a cartoon-like performance of 0.17 with nine saves and 36 holds with one win and no loss in 53 regular league games. It was expected that he would play as a must-winner for Japan in the WBC in the best relief pitcher, which set a scoreless record in 50 consecutive games.

Prior to this, Seibu Lions closer Tyra Kaima (26), who made 31 saves earlier, is also raising concerns because he has decided not to play in the WBC national team due to a left calf injury. First of all, Taira's vacancy was decided to be filled by right-handed bullpen pitcher Fujihira Shoma (28) of the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Fujihara played the role of Rakuten must-winner with a 2.11 ERA with 2 wins, 2 losses, 12 saves and 21 holds in 62 regular league games in the 2025 season. The Japanese national team is said to have urgently begun selecting additional replacement players ahead of its first training session in Miyazaki on the 14th.

Japan, which was aiming for its second consecutive WBC title based on its overwhelming pitching power, faced a series of injury unfavorable factors less than a month before the opening of the tournament. In particular, Ishii's absence, which boasted a 0-point ERA, is expected to be a big variable in the close game in the second half of the game.

The Japanese archipelago was also in shock. This is because Ishii's injury departure is a big loss not only for the national team but also for Hanshin clubs. Above all, Hanshin was a strong team of pitchers in the 2025 season. Hanshin's team ERA of 2.21 in the 2025 season was the lowest in both the Pacific League and the Central League. Ishii, the core of strong pitching power, is absent, so there is an atmosphere of great concern.

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*This content was translated by AI.