The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have indicated the next field manager of the team will be former Yakult Swallows outfielder Hideki Kuriyama, with a formal announcement to be made this week following the conclusion of the Pacific and Central League Climax Series.
What kind of a manager will he be?
Kuriyama, 50, retired as a player at the age of 29 following the 1990 season. He was not a great one or even an All-Star but mostly a sub who probably spent a great deal of time on the bench studying the strategies and player handling by his own managers. That should serve him well.