What happened: Tadahito Iguchi has emerged as the leading candidate to become Samurai Japan's next manager, according to a Yahoo Japan report. If hired, he would be the first skipper with major league playing experience to lead the national team.

Why it matters: The appointment would pair Iguchi with Shohei Ohtani as Japan builds toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where baseball returns to the Games. Iguchi's MLB background sets him apart from prior Samurai Japan managers as the roster leans more on players with major league ties.

What to watch: Japan's baseball federation has not confirmed the hire; a formal announcement would kick off pre-Olympic roster planning.