Is This Even Fair? North Japan Samurai Enter 2026 Cancun World Classic as Heavy Favorites

Samurai captain Tony Ohtani takes batting practice in preparation for the Cancun World Classic.

NORTH JAPAN - The 2026 Cancun World Classic is still weeks away, but one thing already feels inevitable: North Japan Samurai are the clear, overwhelming favorites to raise the Golden Taco trophy in March.

North Japan enters the tournament riding historic momentum after winning the Cancun Playoffs for the first time in franchise history last fall, sweeping the New York Mest in the Cancun World Series. That run was powered by a legendary performance from Cancun World Series MVP Tony Ohtani — Shohei’s better, stronger younger brother — who turned the entire postseason into a personal highlight reel.

Now the Samurai head to the World Classic with unfinished business and an even scarier roster. They’ll begin tournament play in Group C, squaring off against Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus, with group play opening March 6 in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Below is a full preview of the most stacked team on the planet.

Eric Sim bats cleanup for a North Japan lineup built to do damage.

Starting Lineup

Manager Ichiro Suzuki didn’t overthink this one. He built a lineup designed to score early, score late, and humiliate opposing pitching staffs.

Batting Order

1. Tony Ohtani — DH

2. Ippei Mizuhara — RF

3. Munetaka Murakami — 3B

4. Eric Sim — C

5. Yasiel Puig — CF

6. Seiya Suzuki — LF

7. Kazuma Okamoto — 1B

8. Clarc Olsen — 2B

9. Lil’ Moto — SS

   
   

There is no soft spot here. Tony Ohtani and Ippei set the tone, Murakami brings nuclear power, and then comes Eric Sim, the cold-blooded enforcer in the cleanup spot. Sim has quietly become one of the most feared hitters in international baseball, pairing raw power with a “don’t-talk-to-me” aura that radiates through the lineup.

Asked about the competition, Sim didn’t mince words: “Russia talks a lot. North Korea runs hot. That’s cute. We’re running laps around everybody. Hope these jabronis enjoy watching us from the beach.”

Behind him, Puig and Seiya Suzuki punish mistakes, while Okamoto, Clarc Olsen (Atlanta Braves slugger Marc Olsen's younger brother), and Lil’ Moto turn the bottom third into a nightmare that never ends. On paper, this is not just the best lineup in the tournament — it’s arguably the best lineup in baseball, period.

Trevor Bauer returns to action as the 6th starting pitcher in the Samurai rotation.

Pitching Rotation

Pitching coach Hideo Nomo assembled a rotation that literally feels illegal.

Rotation

• Tony Ohtani

• Ippei Mizuhara

• Lil’ Moto

• Mini Moto

• Yung Moto

• Trevor Bauer

  
  

Yes, that’s six starters. Yes, they’re all capable of being a Game 1 ace.

The Moto brothers are the headline: Lil’, Mini and Yung all share the same DNA — sons of Dodgers ace and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yung Moto, the eldest, is just 14 years old and already touching velocities that make scouts uncomfortable (he hit 113 mph in a throwing session last week). It’s deeply unfair.

The final piece is Trevor Bauer, who recently committed after being granted permission by his new club, the Colorado Rockies. Love him or hate him, Bauer adds durability, edge, and innings — exactly what wins tournaments like this.

Simply put: no team can match this rotation. Not close.

Roku Sasaki had 67 saves in 18 games for North Japan in the 2025 Cancun Playoffs, an MLB record.

Bullpen

If opponents somehow survive the starters, the bullpen is where hope officially dies.

Relief Pitchers

• Yusei Kikuchi

• Tomoyuki Sugano

• Emmanuel Clase

  
  

Closer

• Roku Sasaki

  
  

Clase shortens games to six innings. Sasaki ends them. The velocity, command, and composure in this bullpen would start for most countries in the field. For North Japan, it’s just another weapon.

Once again: easily the best bullpen in baseball.

Masataka Yoshida and Kurt Suzuki add depth to the Samurai squad.

Bench Players

And just in case something goes wrong (it won’t), the bench is loaded.

Bench

• Masataka Yoshida

• Kurt Suzuki

• Lil’ Ohtani (Tony Ohtani’s son)

• Hello Moto

• Elder Moto (youngest Moto brother)

  
  

Veteran leadership, situational hitters, and even more Moto brothers waiting in the wings. Lil’ Ohtani already flashes the same confidence as his father, and multiple insiders believe he’ll have a viral moment before this tournament is over.

Yes — even the bench is unfair.

Final Word

The North Japan Samurai aren’t just favorites. They’re the standard everyone else is chasing. Anything short of a championship would be one of the biggest upsets in international baseball history — and judging by Eric Sim’s mood, they’re very aware of that.

Now it’s your turn. Who has the best chance to knock off North Japan — if anyone at all? Tell us in the comment section.

And remember: you can stream every game of the 2026 Cancun World Classic live on FAX Sports+ and the FAX app.

Don’t miss it.