Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido – Masahiro Tanaka was the visiting pitcher at Es Con Field Hokkaido on opening night, but part of him felt at home. Maybe it was because before he rocketed to fame with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and pitched for the New York Yankees, Tanaka was a high […]
A’s rally past Angels to spoil Shohei Ohtani’s strong Opening Day outing
Tony Kemp and Aledmys Diaz spoiled Shohei Ohtani’s impressive season debut with RBI hits in a two-run, eighth-inning rally Thursday night that delivered the host Oakland Athletics a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Opening Day. Ohtani didn’t get a decision in the game despite leaving with a […]
Eagles spoil Fighters’ first game in new home on opening night of NPB season
KITAHIROSHIMA, Hokkaido – Es Con Field Hokkaido is the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters’ new ballpark, but the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles’ Maikel Franco made himself right at home on the first night of the season. Franco had a two-run homer and three hits in his NPB debut to help the […]
Yu Darvish’s cool key to Japan’s World Baseball Classic triumph
Although he only pitched in six innings, surrendering five runs, Yu Darvish was the cornerstone of Japan’s World Baseball Classic championship by instilling calm within a young team that was able to play loose and tough. Manager Hideki Kuriyama’s laid-back approach was indeed also a factor in their success, but […]
Yu Darvish cool key to Japan’s World Baseball Classic triumph
Although he only pitched in six innings, surrendering five runs, Yu Darvish was the cornerstone of Japan’s World Baseball Classic championship by instilling calm within a young team that was able to play loose and tough. Manager Hideki Kuriyama’s laid-back approach was indeed also factor in their success, no one […]
Central League rivals hoping to prevent Swallows three-peat in 2023
The preseason is over and the games will start to count now. Japan was swept up in excitement and euphoria during Samurai Japan’s run to the World Baseball Classic. Now those players are scattered around Japan, with some on Central League clubs. Munetaka Murakami and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows have […]
Hawks load up to chase Buffaloes for 2023 Pacific League pennant
While Japan’s successful run through the World Baseball Classic dominated the headlines, Japanese’s baseball’s 12 pro teams were quietly hard at work. When they weren’t sneaking peeks at the screen to keep track of their teammates and friends on the Samurai Japan roster, the players were preparing for a 2023 […]
Japan’s WBC hero Shohei Ohtani tops MLB with record $65 million
Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani will make a one-season Major League Baseball record $65 million this year in salary and endorsements, Forbes magazine reported on Tuesday. Ohtani, set to be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels in their MLB season opener Thursday against Oakland, helped spark Japan to […]
Samurai Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama critical of sudden bracket change during WBC
World Baseball Classic-winning manager Hideki Kuriyama on Monday criticized organizers of the tournament for a sudden change in the bracket that resulted in the United States being pitted against his team in the final. The two teams were to meet in the semifinals under the original bracket, but the organizers […]
Shintaro Fujinami set for MLB debut against Angels’ Shohei Ohtani
MESA, Arizona – Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami is scheduled to make his first start for the Oakland Athletics at home on April 1 against a Los Angeles Angels lineup likely to feature World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani, Oakland manager Mark Kotsay confirmed Saturday. The former Hanshin Tigers hurler will […]