Tigers pitcher Shintaro Fujinami at crossroads
The Hanshin Tigers have a Shintaro Fujinami problem. They just don't seem to know what to do about it. Fujinami, 24, is one of the most gifted pitchers in Japan, with a fastball among the fastest in NPB and good secondary pitches. The issue is, ...
In Shohei Ohtani, Japan finally has its world-beater
It must take a considerable amount of willpower for Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama not to respond to questions about his former player Shohei Ohtani with a simple, "I told you so." Although the sly smile he lets slip on occasion more ...
Fighters hit machine Kensuke Kondo has fans wondering if batting .400 is possible
There are some who think Kensuke Kondo could've hit .400 last season. That had a herniated disc not sidelined the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters catcher, the position at which he's listed but rarely actually plays anymore (he's mostly the DH or in the outfield), for ...
Yomiuri reliever Takagi gets rude welcome in NPB return
Yomiuri Giants reliever Kyosuke Takagi made his return to baseball essentially under cover of darkness Friday. But even with the Tokyo Dome lights off for the opening-day ceremony, Takagi's presence was illuminated by the chorus of boos emanating from the Hanshin Tigers fans in ...
