Osaka – Orix Buffaloes outfielder Masataka Yoshida, one of the best hitters in Japanese baseball, will try to move to the major leagues this offseason through the posting system, the club said Thursday. The Buffaloes decided to post the 29-year-old two-time Pacific League batting champion at his request, after a […]
Justin Verlander joins exclusive club with third AL Cy Young Award; Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara honored in NL
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander became the 11th pitcher to win three or more Cy Young Awards when he was announced as the unanimous American League winner on Wednesday. The 39-year-old became the 16th unanimous Cy Young winner just an hour after National League winner Sandy Alcantara of the Miami […]
Julio Rodriguez and Michael Harris II earn Rookie of the Year honors
Julio Rodriguez was voted the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday after lifting the Seattle Mariners back to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years. Fellow center fielder Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves joined him later in the night by winning the National League […]
NPB OKs temporary use of Fighters’ new park despite flaw
Nippon Professional Baseball decided Monday to allow games next season at the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters’ new ballpark, Es Con Field Hokkaido, despite it not meeting regulations for the minimum distance between home plate and stands to the rear. The NPB made the exception at an emergency meeting involving representatives […]
Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami sets his sights on bigger things — including MLB
Munetaka Murakami put together a historic season in Japanese baseball in 2022. Still, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger is already looking over the horizon and across the sea at a new challenge. When asked if he wanted to play in MLB one day, Murakami admitted it was on his mind. […]
Munetaka Murakami sets his sights on bigger things — including MLB
Munetaka Murakami put together a historic season in Japanese baseball in 2022. Still, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger is already looking over the horizon and across the sea at a new challenge. When asked if he wanted to play in MLB one day, Murakami admitted it was on his mind. […]
Buffaloes and Swallows dominate 2022 Golden Glove selections
The newly crowned Japan Series champion Orix Buffaloes had to make more room in their trophy case as three players were named among this season’s Mitsui Golden Glove Award winners on Monday. Ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and third baseman Yuma Mune each won for the second straight season in the […]
Could Roki Sasaki become the future face of Japanese baseball?
Some believe rising baseball star Roki Sasaki’s perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes at Zozo Marine Stadium on April 10 was the greatest game ever pitched. Sasaki didn’t just retire all 27 batters who came to the plate, he struck out 19 of them — the most in a perfect […]
Kodai Senga’s agent pitches Hawks ace as top-end MLB starter
Las Vegas – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ace Kodai Senga is uniquely suited to make the jump from Japanese pro baseball to MLB because of the quality of his pitches and character, his agent Joel Wolfe said. Speaking at MLB’s annual general managers’ meetings, Wolfe said the right-hander is well suited […]
Hall of Fame pitcher Choji Murata dies after fire at his home
Choji Murata, a former pitcher and a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, has died after being taken to hospital following a fire at his house in Tokyo early Friday, police said. He was 72. Murata was found on the burned-out second floor of the house, located about […]