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Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
May 11, 2022

MLB settles class-action suit over minor league wages

Originally filed in 2014, the case includes claims against the MLB and 22 major league clubs over alleged violations of state and federal wage laws.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw five scoreless frames against the Padres in Game 5 of their division series.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 13, 2024

Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto finds redemption with series-clinching performance

Yamamoto permitted only two hits across five innings while pacifying the relentless Padres lineup in a 2-0 Game 5 victory.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs to first after hitting a single in the first inning against the Mets during Game 6 of the NLCS in the MLB playoffs in Los Angeles on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB / Sac Bunts
Oct 22, 2024

Shohei Ohtani closer than ever on World Series mission

The star stands four wins away from capping off a storybook first season with the Dodgers by achieving his dream of winning the World Series.
BayStars slugger Tyler Austin hit two homers against the Giants during the final stage of the Central League Climax Series.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 26, 2024

BayStars aim to complete Cinderella run against Hawks in the Japan Series

To say the Yokohama DeNA BayStars are underdogs against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Japan Series would be putting it mildly, but titles are not decided on paper.
Roki Sasaki waves to fans after the Marines' final home game of the 2024 season.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 11, 2024

Posting ace Roki Sasaki will leave Marines in awkward position

The Marines ace is expected to move to an MLB organization this winter.
Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani during game four of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs against the Mets in New York on Oct. 17
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 12, 2024

Ohtani nominated for MVP after historic campaign

Ohtani is bidding for back-to-back MVP honors after winning the award last season with the Los Angeles Angels.
Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal celebrates after closing out an inning during Detroit's playoff series with Cleveland last month.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 21, 2024

Braves' Chris Sale and Tigers' Tarik Skubal collect Cy Young honors

Both left-handers won the pitching Triple Crown and were the clear favorites in Cy Young Award voting.
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 22, 2024

Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award

Ohtani won an MVP award for the third time in four seasons.
U.S. pitcher Spencer Patton throws during the sixth inning of Team USA's loss to Samurai Japan on Thursday at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL
Nov 22, 2024

U.S. pitcher Spencer Patton gets warm reception as he returns to Japan for Premier12

Patton pitched pitched for the Yokohama BayStars from 2017 to 2020, making 219 appearances for the club overall. Now he's back in Japan and competing for Team USA.
Chen Chieh-hsien, the captain of Taiwan's baseball team, waves to the crowd during a parade to celebrate the team winning the Premier12 title over Japan, on Tuesday in Taipei.
BASEBALL
Nov 27, 2024

President welcomes home victorious team amid surge of Taiwan pride

On Tuesday, the team took part in a thronged ticker tape parade through central Taipei to the presidential office on the back of military jeeps and trucks.
Roki Sasaki delivers a pitch during the first inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal against Mexico in Miami in March 2023.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 10, 2024

45-day negotiation window set to begin as Marines post Roki Sasaki

The right-handed flamethrower has until 7 a.m. (JST) on Jan. 24 to sign with an MLB team.
The Mets' Juan Soto poses for photos at Citi Field in New York on Thursday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 13, 2024

Juan Soto hoping to build dynasty with Mets

Mets fans are eager to see their team end a World Series championship drought that stretches back to 1986.
Roki Sasaki in action for Japan in a World Baseball Classic game against Czech Republic in Tokyo in March 2023
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 30, 2024

MLB teams making pitches to Roki Sasaki

The pitcher is expected to sign with a club soon after the opening of the 2025 international signing period on Jan. 15.
Masahiro Tanaka signed with the Giants in December.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Feb 3, 2025

Star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka looking to revive glory days with Giants

Masahiro Tanaka is one of the most recognizable faces in Japanese baseball, but sightings of the new Giants pitcher were few and far between in 2024.
Swallows mascot Tsubakuro performs during a game at Jingu Stadium in June 2023.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 21, 2025

Swallows employee who portrayed popular mascot Tsubakuro dies

Tsubakuro became a ubiquitous presence at Jingu Stadium after his debut in 1994.
Astros left fielder Jose Altuve makes a throw home during a game against the Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 3, 2025

Jose Altuve takes on challenge of learning to play left field for Astros

Jose Altuve is moving to left field after 14 seasons in MLB.
Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 13.
BASEBALL
Mar 11, 2025

Yankees ace Cole to have season-ending elbow surgery

The Yankees confirmed that Cole would have Tommy John surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament.
Hanshin pitcher Hiroto Saiki threw five scoreless innings as the Tigers topped the Dodgers in an exhibition game on Sunday in Tokyo.
BASEBALL
Mar 16, 2025

Tigers shut down Ohtani to take exhibition game over Dodgers

After giving up a home run to the Dodgers star two years ago, Hiroto Saiki got the best of Shohei Ohtani on Sunday as the Tigers completed a weekend sweep of MLB clubs.
Shohei Ohtani greets manager Dave Roberts before the team's game against the Tigers at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 18, 2025

In Tokyo, Dodgers get taste of the Shohei Ohtani experience

The Dodgers have explored various parts of the Japanese capital, and it's a safe bet that wherever each player went, Ohtani was not far behind in some form.
A clean-shaven Trey Cabbage poses during his introductory news conference with the Giants on Jan. 30 in Kawasaki.
BASEBALL / Sac Bunts
Mar 31, 2025

Giants' new players make strong first impression on opening weekend

A group of new faces helped the Kyojin sweep their season-opening series for the first time since 2012.
Ken Griffey Jr. takes photographs during the sixth inning of a game between the Cubs and Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 18.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Apr 11, 2025

Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. working as photographer at Masters

Griffey will reportedly be working for the entire week.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV waves from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica  in Vatican City, on Thursday.
BASEBALL / MLB
May 9, 2025

Chicago has one burning question for Pope Leo XIV: Cubs or White Sox?

The Cubs and White Sox have both claimed the new pontiff as a fan.
The Rockies fired manager Bud Black on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB
May 12, 2025

Rockies fire manager Bud Black due to poor start

Black was in his ninth season with the Rockies. He went 544-690 with the club and guided Colorado into the playoffs in both 2017 and 2018.
The Fighters' Franmil Reyes celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run against the Marines on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 3, 2025

What you need to know ahead of NPB interleague play resuming

Since 2005, one constant has been Pa League dominance.
A special manhole cover featuring Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2025

Japanese MLB stars to be featured on manhole covers

Each manhole cover will have an illustration of a Japanese player and be located at a place associated with his roots in baseball.
The BayStars' Trevor Bauer pitches during a game at Jingu Stadium in May.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 29, 2025

BayStars' Trevor Bauer dejected and searching for answers as slump continues

Bauer has lost four straight decisions and allowed 19 runs in his last 20⅓ innings. 
The Tigers' Tarik Skubal pitches for the American League during the MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 17, 2025

Tigers focused on getting back to playoffs and contending for World Series

At 59-38, Detroit owns the majors' best record and sent six All-Stars to Atlanta.
Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami celebrates after hitting a home run against the BayStars in Yokohama on July 29.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Aug 4, 2025

Return of Munetaka Murakami could get hearts racing at Jingu Stadium again

The Swallows have not been good this year but have a chance to end the season on a positive note.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past