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Gaining entry into the 2,000-hit club is usually among the final chapters in most players’ careers. For Yomiuri Giants star Hayato Sakamoto, though, reaching one of the game’s crowning achievements for a hitter might just be a stepping stone to even more rarefied heights. Sakamoto on Sunday became the 53rd […]

Washington – The Washington Nationals are making their pitch to President-elect Joe Biden. The Nats have invited Biden to toss out the ceremonial first ball next season on opening day. Washington is scheduled to host the New York Mets at Nationals Park on April 1. “We’re excited to continue the […]

Hayato Sakamoto reached Japan’s iconic 2,000-hit mark in the first inning of the Yomiuri Giants’ game against the Yakult Swallows on Sunday, arriving at the milestone in his 14th season in Nippon Professional Baseball. Playing in his 1,783rd career game, the Giants’ captain doubled off Swallows starter Albert Suarez with […]

Hanshin Tigers lefty slugger Justin Bour, who joined Nippon Professional Baseball in December, has returned to the United States the Central League club said Saturday. The Tigers signed the 32-year-old Bour to a ¥270 million contract, but he failed to live up to his salary, batting .243 with 45 RBIs […]

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles right-hander Yuya Kubo will end his 18-year career as a professional baseball player at the end of the season, the Pacific League club said Saturday. The 40-year-old started his career with the Yomiuri Giants in 2003, spent one season with the DeNA Baystars in 2016 and […]

Boston – The Boston Red Sox are bringing back Alex Cora, rehiring the manager who led them to the 2018 World Series title less than a year after the team let him go because of his role in the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal. “I am grateful for the opportunity to […]

New York – Justin Turner will not be disciplined by Major League Baseball for coming onto the field last week to celebrate the World Series title with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates after testing positive for COVID-19. The third baseman was removed after seven innings of Game 6 against Tampa […]

Los Angeles – Japanese starters Yu Darvish and Kenta Maeda were among the six finalists announced as contenders for this season’s Cy Young Award recognizing the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. Darvish is up against Trevor Bauer and two-time winner Jacob deGrom in the National League, while Maeda faces […]

There is only one race of real consequence remaining in this NPB season and it’s still too close to call. With the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks winning the Pacific League pennant on Tuesday and the Yomiuri Giants following suit in the CL on Friday, the only thing left up for grabs […]

Detroit – As he waited out his suspension this year, AJ Hinch knew he wanted to return to baseball. The question was whether anyone in the sport would be ready to welcome him. His answer came pretty quickly. “About 30 minutes after the World Series’ last out, my phone rang,” […]