Tag - fukuoka-softbank-hawks

 
 

FUKUOKA SOFTBANK HAWKS

Hawks players celebrate winning the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 31, 2025
Hawks lay demons to rest with Japan Series win
Loss in the series last year has haunted the team and its fans, but the hardship has paid off.
The Hawks players throw manager Hiroki Kokubo into the air as they celebrate after defeating the Tigers in Game 5 of the Japan Series to clinch the title.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 30, 2025
Hawks rally past Tigers in 11th to win Japan Series
The Hawks won the final four games of the series after losing Game 1.
SoftBank pitcher Ryosuke Otsu is greeted by teammates at the bench in the fifth inning of Game 4 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Wednesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 30, 2025
SoftBank pitcher's Japan Series hit may be one of the last ever
Next year’s Japan Series will mark the final time a pitcher, at least according to the rules, will have to bat in an NPB game.
Hawks starter Ryosuke Otsu pitches against the Tigers during Game 4 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Wednesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 29, 2025
Hiroki Kokubo pushes right buttons as Hawks move to brink of Japan Series title
The Hawks are one win away from clinching the title.
SoftBank shortstop Imamiya (right) celebrates after making a catch off Hanshin's Sakamoto's hit in the sixth inning at Koshien Stadium on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 29, 2025
Imamiya's spectacular Game 3 catch may live on in SoftBank lore
​The veteran shortstop said the key to his performance is preparation, especially when it comes to playing on a surface as unfamiliar as Koshien Stadium’s all-dirt infield.
Hotaka Yamakawa celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run against the Tigers in Game 3 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 28, 2025
Hawks edge Tigers on road to grab lead in Japan Series
The Hawks lead the series 2-1.
Hawks players celebrate victory over the Tigers at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Oct 27, 2025
Hawks aim to bring energy from Japan Series blowout to Koshien
The Hanshin Tigers' famously fervent supporters will likely kick it up another few levels as the Japan Series shifts to their home park.
SoftBank's Ukyo Shuto rounds first base after hitting a double in the seventh inning at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 27, 2025
Ukyo Shuto's run into Japan Series history shows game is about more than speed
Shuto set a Japan Series record in the Hawks’ 10-1 rout of the Hanshin Tigers in Game 2 on Sunday.
Hawks slugger Hotaka Yamakawa (left) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a three-run home run against the Tigers during the second inning in Game 2 of the Japan Series in Fukuoka on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Oct 26, 2025
Hotaka Yamakawa powers Game 2 rout as Hawks get even in Japan Series
Yamakawa drove in five runs to help the Hawks even the series at 1-1.
Tigers starter Shoki Murakami pitches against the Hawks during Game 1 of the Japan Series in Fukuoka on Saturday. Murakami pitched seven innings, allowing just one run and six hits.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 26, 2025
Tigers pitcher Shoki Murakami perseveres in Fukuoka, turning rocky start into ‘amazing’ outing
Murakami did not have his best stuff and found it hard to get into a rhythm early, but he stuck to his guns and bounced back.
The Tigers' Teruaki Sato hits an RBI double against the Hawks during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the Japan Series in Fukuoka on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 25, 2025
Tigers slip past Hawks in Game 1 of Japan Series
Hanshin won its fourth straight postseason game.
Hikaru Kawase and the Hawks will try to finish the job in this year's Japan Series after falling short in 2025.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 24, 2025
Hawks motivated to take down Tigers after last year's Japan Series collapse
Fukuoka hosts Hanshin Tigers in Game 1 of the Japan Series on Saturday night — and is determined to finish the job this time.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' Ryoya Kurihara hits a two-run double against the Seibu Lions in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Sep 29, 2025
Hawks take step toward Japan Series redo with Pacific League title
Unlike last year, this team is battle-tested, with injuries being the source of much of the adversity the Hawks have faced.
Trey Cabbage celebrates after hitting a home run at Tokyo Dome on May 1.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 19, 2025
Giants' Trey Cabbage not weighed down by pressure to replace Kazuma Okamoto
Cabbage has taken the majority of the at-bats in the cleanup spot since Okamoto suffered an elbow injury on May 6.
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows' Munetaka Murakami bats during spring camp on March 14 in the city of Urasoe, Okinawa. Murakami returned from a spring injury on Thursday but was taken off the roster again the next day.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Apr 21, 2025
Munetaka Murakami's return cut short as Swallows’ struggles deepen
The Tokyo team’s star slugger returned on Thursday but was taken off the roster again the next day.
The Hawks' Ryoya Kurihara fields a ball during spring camp in Miyazaki on March 7.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 27, 2025
Incumbent Hawks face fresh challenge from rising Fighters in Pacific League
Flamboyant manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo and his up-and-coming Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters may finally be ready to pose a challenge for the favored Hawks.
Cubs pitcher Colin Rea pitches against the Guardians in a spring training game in Mesa, Arizona, on March 1.
BASEBALL
Mar 15, 2025
Former Hawks pitcher Colin Rea happy to be in Japan with Cubs for Tokyo Series
Rea pitched for the Pacific League club in 2021 and 2022. 
Masayoshi Son (front, center) poses with the members of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after the team won the Pacific League championship at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Sept. 23.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Nov 18, 2024
Masayoshi Son’s aim for SoftBank Hawks remains, 20 years after buyout
This year, the team became Pacific League champions for the first time in four years. But its owner has loftier goals.
BayStars manager Daisuke Miura is tossed into the air as the team celebrates after Game 6 of the Japan Series on Nov. 3.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 11, 2024
BayStars manager Daisuke Miura says team never lost faith during Japan Series run
The BayStars defeated the Hawks to win the Japan Series for the first time since 1998.
The BayStars toss manager Daisuke Miura into the air after defeating the Hawks in Game 6 to win the Japan Series in Yokohama on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 4, 2024
BayStars turn tables on Hawks after 2017 loss to capture Japan Series title
For the first time in 26 years, the BayStars are Japan Series champions.

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