Los Angeles Dodgers' Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto announces return to Japan for the Classic Series via an Instagram story.

Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers has temporarily left spring training and departed to join the "Samurai Japan" training camp. Yamamoto updated his personal social media Instagram story today, posting a photo taken from the plane before landing at Nagoya Dome, officially announcing his return home.

Yamamoto's story also featured the Orix Buffaloes' team song "SKY," expressing his nostalgia. As last year's World Baseball Classic MVP, Yamamoto is highly anticipated in this WBC and is expected to be the starting pitcher for Japan's opening game against Chinese Taipei.

In fact, Yamamoto's spring training performance has not been ideal; over two starts totaling 4.2 innings, he allowed 8 hits and 4 runs, resulting in a 5.79 ERA. Before departing, Yamamoto stated: "I am really looking forward to this game. I have pitched in Taiwan before and am well aware of how passionate Taiwanese fans are about baseball. In that sense, I believe it will be a very exciting atmosphere. I will prepare thoroughly and give it my all."

"Samurai Japan" will play exhibition games against the Orix Buffaloes and the Hanshin Tigers on the 2nd and 3rd. By then, all 30 national team players, including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox, and Kazuma Okamoto of the Blue Jays, will have assembled and completed their gathering.