Japan All-Star Series Will Feature Yasiel Puig and Drew Butera

The Dodgers began the 2014 down under in Sydney, Australia, and the globetrotting commences again this offseason as Yasiel Puig and Drew Butera head to Japan. The two Dodgers will be on the 29-man roster for the MLB All-Star team which will take on Samurai Japan (competing under the banner of  Nippon Professional Baseball) for a five-game series.

The Dodgers’ Director of Team Travel, Scott Akasaki, will accompany Puig and Butera on the trip.

The Commissioner of NPB chose Samurai Japan instead of NPB All-Stars in order for the national team to gain experience for the World Baseball Classic in 2017.

John Farrell will manage the MLB team along with a staff including  Terry Francona, third base coach Brian Butterfield, bench coach DeMarlo Hale, pitching coach Mike Maddux and pitching coach Juan Nieves.

The 2014 series will be the eleventh edition of the Japan All-Star Series. The Japan All-Stars have only won one series against the MLB All-Stars back in 1990. There has been an eight-year break since the Series was played due to conflicts with the World Baseball Classic. Ryan Howard was the M.V.P. of the last series in 2006.

Total (1986-2006) MLB-NPB Series

• MLB All-Star Won: 9 Series and 48 Games
• NPB All-Star Won: 1 Series and 20 Games
• Tied: 0 Series and 7 Games

All the games will be televised on MLB Network. Here’s the schedule in Pacific Standard time:

• Tuesday: Exhibition vs. Hanshin Tigers/Yomiuri Giants at Koshien (1 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)
• Wednesday: Game 1 at Kyocera Dome, Osaka (1 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)
• Friday, Nov. 14: Game 2 at Tokyo Dome (1 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)
• Saturday, Nov. 15: Game 3 at Tokyo Dome (1 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, Nov. 16: Game 4 at Tokyo Dome (1 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)
• Tuesday, Nov. 18: Game 5 at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo (2 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)
• Thursday, Nov. 20: Exhibition vs. Team Japan, Okinawa (1 a.m./re-air 6 p.m.)

The MLB team worked out at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

The roster for the MLB All-Stars:

PITCHERS (14)
Jeff Beliveau, Rays
Jerry Blevins, Nationals
Chris Capuano, free agent
Randy Choate, Cardinals
Jeremy Guthrie, Royals
Tommy Hunter, Orioles
Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
Mark Melancon, Pirates
Franklin Morales, free agent
Hector Santiago, Angels
Matt Shoemaker, Angels
Jose Veras, Astros
Tsuyoshi Wada, Cubs
Rob Wooten, Brewers

CATCHERS (3)
Drew Butera, Dodgers
Erik Kratz, Royals
Salvador Perez, Royals

INFIELDERS (7)
Jose Altuve, Astros
Robinson Cano, Mariners
Alcides Escobar, Royals
Evan Longoria, Rays
Justin Morneau, Rockies
Eduardo Nunez, Twins
Carlos Santana, Indians

OUTFIELDERS (2)
Dexter Fowler, Astros
Yasiel Puig, Dodgers

INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS (3)
Chris Carter, Astros
Lucas Duda, Mets
Ben Zobrist, Rays

With the boring days of the offseason upon us, any baseball that I can get is appreciated. I’m also really looking forward to Yasiel Puig’s Instagram pictures of his adventures in Japan.