High school games played at the spiritual home of Japanese baseball will get a new look in 2020 after the organizer of the prestigious national championship on Friday announced its first pitch limits.
Starting from next spring's national invitational tournament at Koshien Stadium near Osaka, the National High School Baseball Federation will limit players to 500 pitches per week.
The rule, which will initially be in effect for three years, will also be applied to the national championship held there during the summer and to games organized by prefectural federations.