Baseball

Urasoe, Okinawa – Fans welcomed the start of Japanese pro baseball’s preseason exhibition season Thursday with sounds not heard at ballparks here since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: shouting, chanting and cheering. Although required to remain masked, the crowd of 7,423 were allowed to raise their voices and serenade […]

FORT MYERS, Florida – Three MLB-based position players on the Samurai Japan roster, including new Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida, began their spring training Monday with the March 8-21 World Baseball Classic looming large. Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar also started to […]

Some of Japan’s best pitchers turned into fans like the rest of us during the second day of Japan’s training camp for the World Baseball Classic. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Sawamura Award winner and Pacific League MVP the past two seasons, watched intently from his seat behind the net in the […]

Miyazaki – Even in the bullpen, Yu Darvish, the oldest member of the Samurai Japan World Baseball Classic team, was the center of attention Saturday. Wearing the same red and navy colors he donned as the winning pitcher in the 2009 WBC final to seal Japan’s last championship, the 36-year-old […]

TEMPE, Arizona – For the Los Angeles Angels’ pitchers and catchers, spring training officially started at the team’s training facility Wednesday. But for the team’s two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who has been hitting and throwing in Arizona all month, the preparations for the most important year of his career began […]

Tokyo’s government approved Friday a redevelopment plan which will see a historic baseball stadium demolished and trees donated to honor Japan’s Emperor Meiji torn out, a move opponents called “shameful.” The project, which environmentalists say also threatens a boulevard of gingko trees, sparked an outcry among citizens that included petitions […]

Right-hander Mike Clevinger reported to Chicago White Sox for spring training on Wednesday despite an investigation into allegations of domestic violence and child abuse made against him. The MLB investigation is ongoing, and Clevinger was not placed on administrative leave, meaning he is part of Chicago’s 40-man roster. Clevinger said […]

Tempe, Arizona – Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is likely to pitch on opening day for the second straight year, manager Phil Nevin revealed Wednesday. Nevin, speaking in Tempe, Arizona, on the team’s first workout day for pitchers and catchers, also said Ohtani will be limited to a […]

Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s second-half surge as the defending champion knocked Arsenal off the top of the Premier League with a crucial 3-1 win on Wednesday. Guardiola’s side showed it is not ready to surrender the title with a ruthless display of finishing that lifted it above Arsenal on […]

Hitachi, Ibaraki Pref. – A talented Japan-based outfielder who will play for China in the upcoming World Baseball Classic does not speak Chinese or know what the Chinese team is like, but hopes to impress teammates with his bat and glove. Yusuke Masago, now with the Hitachi corporate club after […]