Baseball / Japanese Baseball Dec 19, 2020

Oscar Colas ready to apply lessons learned in Japan on road to MLB

After a tumultuous year away from baseball, powerful outfielder Oscar Colas said he is now ready to sign with a big league club.

MLB Oct 4, 2020

Yu Darvish's season finale best outing of year, says Trey Hillman

A day after Yu Darvish pitched his final game of the year for the Chicago Cubs, his first pro manager on Saturday called it the right-hander's best performance in the majors. Darvish allowed two runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out six ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Jun 13, 2020

Oscar Colas case highlights Latin players' troubles with Japanese baseball

Many Latin players have been locked into team-friendly NPB contracts that weren't fully explained to them.

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Jun 10, 2020

'Cuban Ohtani' Oscar Colas wants out of deal with SoftBank, calls current contract invalid

SoftBank's Oscar Colas wants to change the terms of his deal in order to pursue a career in MLB.

Baseball May 7, 2020

Former Whales slugger Carlos Ponce hits jackpot coaching in Taiwan

The 61-year-old, who led NPB in home runs in 1988, is enjoying his new role in charge of the Wei Chuan Dragons, who will join Taiwan's pro circuit next year.

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Mar 14, 2020

Hanshin's Jerry Sands hoping to beat odds in NPB

Jerry Sands may be a longshot bet to have success with the Hanshin Tigers this season, but Korean pro baseball's 2019 RBI leader has a history of bucking long odds. Sands turned pro after being selected in the 25th round of Major League Baseball's 2008 ...

Baseball Mar 11, 2020

Waseda manager Satoru Komiyama brings modern outlook to old-fashioned game

For years, former major league pitcher Satoru Komiyama's measure of success was wins on the ballfield, now as manager of Waseda University's baseball team, he wants his yardstick to be the quality of character his players achieve. "We prepare these players so they can go ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Mar 1, 2020

Swallows' Alcides Escobar gets unexpected silent treatment in return to Japan

The lively atmosphere Alcides Escobar expected for his Tokyo Dome return was silenced by Japan's efforts to counter the spread of the new coronavirus known as COVID-19. In November 2014, the longtime defensive wiz with the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals got a taste ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Feb 21, 2020

Former Hawks pitcher Matt Skrmetta influenced Carter Stewart's journey

When records are set in baseball, they so often occur at the confluence of favorable circumstances, the right player in the right place at the right time. Pitcher Carter Stewart may not have set any records last year, but by signing with the Fukuoka SoftBank ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Feb 13, 2020

Hawks' ambitious project with Carter Stewart could spark huge changes

When Carter Stewart and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks agreed to a six-year, $6 million contract in 2019, it made news as the historic first such deal between an elite American amateur and an NPB team. Their deal began an experiment, which, if successful, could spark ...