For the first time in two years, there are no slam-dunk candidates on this winter's ballot for Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame.
Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, the longtime second baseman and later third baseman for the Central League's Chunichi Dragons, is best positioned to receive the 75 percent of the votes needed for induction.
This year there are 18 players on the ballot and voters, accredited baseball reporters for at least 15 years, can select only seven.