Japan hopes to select 60 to 70 candidates by early May for the national baseball team aiming to appear in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it was decided at a Japan national team staff meeting on Wednesday.
Senichi Hoshino, who has been named manager of Japan's national squad, showed his eagerness to begin drawing up a tentative roster of players ahead of the Asian regional qualifiers for Beijing taking place in Taiwan from Nov. 26 until Dec. 2.
"After watching players for about one month (after the pro baseball season begins), we would like to decide as soon as possible after 'Golden Week,' " Hoshino said.
He added that about 10 pitchers out of 24 players will be necessary for the regional qualifiers. Eight countries and regions will participate in the Olympic tournament.