
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | NPB Preview Jun 19, 2020
Tigers could be ready to roar in 2020
by Jason Coskrey
The Hanshin Tigers are hoping the additions they made can help them capture the CL pennant this season.
Tigers could be ready to roar in 2020
The Hanshin Tigers are hoping the additions they made can help them capture the CL pennant this season.
Loaded Hawks ready to reclaim PL crown
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks will be vying to win the league pennant for the first time since 2017.
NPB set to return in altered form amid pandemic
Stadiums will be devoid of fans initially and socially distant celebrations will be the norm as the league prepares to play ball.
BayStars closer Yasuaki Yamasaki hopes to convey positive message to fans when NPB season begins
The BayStars' Yasuaki Yamasaki is excited to finally get the 2020 season underway.
Seibu's Zach Neal relishes rare opportunity to pitch on opening day
The South Carolina native went an impressive 12-1 in his first NPB season last year for the Pacific League winners.
Six players to watch in the Pacific League in 2020
From Hawks outfielder Yuki Yanagita to aspiring Rakuten starter Yuki Matsui, there's plenty of stellar talent to look forward to from the Pa League.
Six players to watch in the Central League in 2020
BayStars newcomer Tyler Austin and Tigers pitcher Shintaro Fujinami are among several players who could make a big impact this season.
Naoki Yoshikawa could play key role for 2019 Giants
The Yomiuri Giants are set up to have a lot of star power in their 2019 lineup. Yoshihiro Maru is the two-time reigning Central League MVP, Hayato Sakamoto has been on four Best Nine teams, including last season, and Kazuma Okamoto was an All-Star last ...
Central League clubs enter 2019 hoping to dethrone Carp
The following is the last of a two-part NPB preview ending with the 2019 Central League. In order of predicted finish: Yomiuri Giants Manager: Tatsunori Hara 2018 record: 67-71-5 (3rd) Yomiuri skipper Tatsunori Hara, back for a third stint with the team, has a roster with plenty of big ...
Hawks look like Pacific League's best once again
The following is the first of a two-part NPB preview beginning with the 2019 Pacific League. In order of predicted finish: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Manager: Kimiyasu Kudo 2018 record: 82-60-1 (2nd) The Hawks usually look like the best team on paper this time of year and 2019 is no ...
Daichi Suzuki driven by passion to succeed with Marines
Daichi Suzuki hasn't missed a game for the Chiba Lotte Marines in over three seasons. In 2015, he missed one. Both years before that, he was on the field for every contest. Suzuki played all his games in the field at third base last season. ...
Carp look to remain on throne as Central League rivals prepare to mount challenge
The following is the second of a two-part NPB preview concluding with the 2018 Central League. In order of predicted finish: Hiroshima Toyo Carp Last season: 88-51-4 (1st) Manager Koichi Ogata has the keys to an offense that put up 736 runs in 2017, led the CL ...