Team Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata announced that he will step down from his position after the World Baseball Classic.

Japan was eliminated from the WBC on Saturday with an 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the tournament quarterfinals. Samurai Japan built a 5-2 lead after three innings, powered by home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Shota Morishita.

"Results are everything,” Ibata said at the team hotel on Sunday, according to Sports Hochi.

However, Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Wilyer Abreu each hit home runs in the surprising comeback victory. Garcia’s two-run shot cut the deficit to one run and Abreu’s three-run blast in the sixth inning was the decisive blow, giving Venezuela a 7-5 lead.

Ibata, managing in his first WBC, made a questionable decision, as pointed out by Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz. The manager opted for soft-throwing left-hander Chihiro Sumida to replace starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the fifth inning. Sumida gave up Garcia’s homer, allowing Venezuela to get back into the game.

Two of Japan’s best pitchers were unavailable for the WBC. Yuki Matsui suffered a groin injury during spring training with the San Diego Padres and Tatsuya Imai opted to prepare for the 2026 season with the Houston Astros.

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An uncharacteristic error by Japan led to Venezuela’s eighth run. In the eighth inning, pitcher Atsuki Taneichi attempted to pick Ezequiel Tovar off second base, but his high throw went into center field and Tovar came around to score.

Following the game, Ibata said the other countries competing in the WBC have gotten better, making Japan’s path to another championship more difficult.

“I know we lost this time, but Team Japan — I would hope Japan would get better next time,” Ibata said. “I will hope Team Japan will win next time.”

Ibata took over as manager for Samurai Japan three years ago, succeeding Hideki Kuriyama, who managed the 2023 WBC champions. Prior to managing Team Japan, he was a coach on the national team staff and spent three years as a coach with the Yomiuri Giants.

As the defending WBC champions (and a three-time winner overall) and a roster that included four-time MVP Ohtani and World Series MVP Yamamoto with six other players currently playing in Major League Baseball, the Japanese were expected to play for the championship again this year.

Instead, Samurai Japan will have its worst finish in its WBC history, having reached the semifinals in all five of the previous tournaments.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor will play his first spring training game on Sunday since undergoing surgery to repair the hamate bone in his left hand. He will lead off and play shortstop facing the Toronto Blue Jays, days after taking live batting practice and taking ground balls in the field.

Lindor, 32, was expected to be sidelined for six weeks when he had the procedure on Feb. 11 to repair a stress reaction in the bone, located on the lower outside edge of the hand. At the time, the Mets expected him to be ready by Opening Day, which is now less than two weeks away.

The Mets have eight games remaining on their Grapefruit League schedule before opening the season at home on March 26 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Lindor had surgery the day before pitchers and catchers reported to Port St. Lucie, Florida for spring training. He had complained of soreness in his left hand previously, but played through the discomfort. However, with the issue lingering before preparations for this season began, the team encouraged Lindor to get evaluated by a specialist.

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Returning in time for Opening Day is an encouraging sign for Lindor, compared to other major leaguers who also had surgery in early February to repair hamate injuries this spring.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll played in his first Cactus League game on Wednesday. Unlike Lindor’s stress reaction, Carroll broke his hamate bone during batting practice and underwent surgery on Feb. 11. Hewas unable to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic because of the injury and the D-Backs have not said whether or not he’ll be ready for Opening Day.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday suffered his hamate injury during early spring workouts and had surgery on Feb. 12. Like Carroll, he had the hamate removed in surgery. The Orioles have already said he will not be in their Opening Day lineup.

Last season, Lindor hit .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs, 35 doubles, 86 RBI and 31 stolen bases in 732 plate appearances. He played in 160 games, the third time during his Mets career that he appeared in at least that many games.