Baseball

It was pretty apparent early in the NPB season that it might be a special year for the Yomiuri Giants’ Hayato Sakamoto and the Seibu Lions’ Tomoya Mori. Eight months later, that was proven true as they stood side-by-side as the top players in their respective leagues. Sakamoto was named […]

Yomiuri Giants ace Shun Yamaguchi earned his first-ever Best Nine Award on Monday in what could be his last season before departing Japan. The right-hander, who led the Central League in wins, strikeouts and winning percentage this season, intends to move to the major leagues through the posting system. Three […]

NEW YORK – The New York Yankees named Rachel Balkovec as a full-time hitting coach in the minor leagues, The New York Times reported on Saturday, adding she is believed to be the first woman to hold such a position in pro baseball. The 32-year-old Balkovec previously worked with the […]

NEW YORK – Baseball is already struggling to attract new fans — especially younger ones. So, what brilliant idea have the powers-that-be come up with to expand the popularity of the national pastime? Contraction, of course. With its eyes firmly on the bottom line and not the future of the […]

NEW YORK – Baseball is already struggling to attract new fans — especially younger ones. So, what brilliant idea have the powers-that-be come up with to expand the popularity of the national pastime? Contraction, of course. With its eyes firmly on the bottom line and not the future of the […]

NEW YORK – Baseball is already struggling to attract new fans — especially younger ones. So, what brilliant idea have the powers-that-be come up with to expand the popularity of the national pastime? Contraction, of course. With its eyes firmly on the bottom line and not the future of the […]

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Houston Astros owner Jim Crane declined comment Wednesday on Major League Baseball’s investigation into allegations of sign stealing against his team. While walking through the lobby of the luxury hotel where MLB owners were meeting, Crane stopped briefly when approached by reporters. “If you want to talk […]

Yokohama BayStars outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo said Wednesday he has no preferred destination when it comes to signing with a major league team next month. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the Central League club completed his posting application, the left-handed slugger said he was not necessarily focused on […]

Veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra has agreed to a contract with the Yomiuri Giants. The 32-year-old Parra has a career .276 batting average with 88 home runs and 522 RBIs over 11 seasons in the major leagues. A native of Venezuela, Parra hit .250 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs […]

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes the investigation into sign stealing by the Houston Astros will be complete by next season and says he has authority to impose discipline beyond the loss of amateur draft picks. Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers says that when he was with Houston in […]