The Hiroshima Carp again failed to make the Central League Climax Series this time, but manager Kenjiro Nomura has been given another year — his fourth at the helm — to try to get the team into the postseason for the first time.
Compiling a 2012 record of 61-71-12, the Carp rose from fifth place to fourth with a slightly improved performance. This year, Hiroshima played .462 ball, up from 2011 when the Carp's winning percentage was .441 after a 60-76-8 log.
Nomura had the club in playoff contention through late August, after which it faded and finished 6½ games behind the third-place Tokyo Yakult Swallows.