Yakult Swallows infielder Shinya Miyamoto has joined the Japanese squad for the World Baseball Classic to fill the void left by Chicago White Sox infielder Tadahito Iguchi, the baseball commissioner's office said Thursday.
Miyamoto was the captain of the bronze medal-winning national team in the 2004 Athens Olympics and can play shortstop and second base as a replacement for Iguchi who decided he will skip the WBC.
Chunichi Dragons infielder Masahiro Araki had received an offer to replace Iguchi, but informed manager Sadaharu Oh earlier in the day of his decision to remain off the team, citing the adverse physical effects of playing in the tournament.