Japan's squad for the World Baseball Classic has held its first full-team practice in the United States since arriving on Friday for the semifinals.

Samurai Japan advanced to the semifinals for the fifth time in a row since the first tournament in 2006.

The team worked out at a university field in Miami on Saturday.

Japan's two-way star Ohtani Shohei practiced hitting balls after playing catch in the outfield.

Sasaki Roki and Yamamoto Yoshinobu practiced pitching as Ohtani encouraged them.

Japan will face Mexico on Monday.
Team manager Kuriyama Hideki said the Mexican team has many major leaguers and he will analyze the players and do all he can.

He said the Japanese players are working hard and things are going well.

Sasaki is expected to start in the semifinal. He said he had a good practice session, and will work to make further adjustments as there were both good balls and bad ones.

Sasaki said he watched Mexico play Puerto Rico in the quarterfinal in Florida on Friday night. He said it was good to see the ballpark and the Mexican batters he will be facing. He said he will try to pitch in his usual style in the semifinal.

The United States got a come-from-behind victory over Venezuela with a grand slam in the eighth inning in the quarterfinal on Saturday. The US will face Cuba in a semifinal on Sunday.