DUBAI: Baseball United has announced that 13 of the 23 roster spots for its Mid East Falcons franchise will feature Japanese players.
The Falcons will compete in the league’s inaugural season this November and December in Dubai.
The group represents nearly 60 percent of the team’s roster and includes nine players who have competed in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, the highest level of the game in Japan.
Japan is currently ranked No. 1 in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, a position it has earned through decades of international dominance.
The country boasts a deep heritage dating back to the 19th century, with the NPB widely regarded as the No. 2 professional league in the world, behind Major League Baseball.
Japan has won multiple World Baseball Classic championships and consistently produces elite talent on both the domestic and MLB stage, including the reigning MVP from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani.
Japan boasts the highest per capita baseball viewership in the world. The nation’s games in the 2023 World Baseball Classic posted massive viewership, with all seven drawing 30 million or more viewers.
More recently, the 2024 MLB World Series averaged 12.9 million viewers in Japan, making it the most-watched Fall Classic in the country’s history.
Baseball United has been making inroads in the country over the past year, including through a partnership with the Tokyo Broadcasting System that includes a reality TV series to discover the nation’s next stars.
The competition’s top players will also join the Falcons roster. The winners will be announced before the start of the season.
“Japan is one of the greatest baseball nations in the world,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United.
“It has everything that produces elite baseball — an elite professional league, strong minor and independent leagues, exceptional high school programs, widespread youth engagement, and one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports.
“It’s an honor to have so many Japanese players representing the Falcons. Their experience, talent, and knowledge of the game will make an immediate impact — not only on the field, but also in inspiring fans back home and across the world.”
The Japanese players represent a mix of international stars, NPB standouts, as well as young prospects from the Yokohama DeNA Baystars organization.
Munenori Kawasaki, 44, an infielder from Kagoshima, is a veteran whose career spans the NPB, MLB, Chinese Professional Baseball League, and now the Route-Inn BCL, a Japanese independent league.
He debuted with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (currently Fukuoka Softbank Hawks) in 2001 and later played in the US for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago Cubs. He also represented Japan at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics, winning both tournaments.
Kawasaki played in Taiwan with Wei Chuan Dragons in 2019, and since 2020 has been a member of the Tochigi Golden Braves in Japan’s independent BCL, where he plays and serves as a technical advisor.
Hiroyuki Nakajima, 43, an infielder from Hyogo, has built a distinguished career as a shortstop in the NPB, starring for the Seibu Lions, later joining the Orix Buffaloes, Yomiuri Giants and Chunichi Dragons.
In 2012, he signed with the Oakland Athletics, bringing his talents to the US. During his career in the NPB, he earned multiple Best Nine and Golden Glove awards and represented Japan in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
After announcing his retirement in 2024, Nakajima is now making a surprise return for Baseball United’s inaugural season, bringing veteran presence and decades of expertise to the clubhouse.
Shuhei Fukuda, 36, an outfielder from Kanagawa, who has played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Chiba Lotte Marines in the NPB, is known for his speed and defensive range.
He announced his retirement in 2024, but in February 2025 returned to play in the Baseball United UAE Series. Later that year, he began serving as a special assignment coach and consultant with the Seattle Mariners, an uncommon honor for a Japanese player without prior MLB experience.
Manato Tanai, only 18, an infielder from Hiroshima, began his professional career when he was drafted by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in 2024, and is regarded as one of their top prospects.
A right-handed hitter, he is known for his speed, strong arm, and reliable defense. In his rookie year, he played in the Eastern League, the NPB’s farm system, gaining experience and selection to the 2025 Fresh All-Star Game.
The Mid East Falcons will debut alongside the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, and Arabia Wolves in Baseball United’s first season this November. The Falcons’ first game is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19, against the Monarchs.
The first season will feature 21 games in four weeks at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai, with broadcasts to fans around the world. The season will culminate with the United Series — a best-of-three championship final — from Dec. 12 to 14.
