Baseball / Japanese Baseball Apr 2, 2022
Surging Giants add to Tigers' woes with fifth straight victory
by Jason Coskrey
The Tigers matched the longest losing streak to start a season by a Central League team.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | Sac Bunts Nov 9, 2020
Hayato Sakamoto reaches 2,000 hits with real chance for run at 3,000
by Jason Coskrey
Gaining entry into the 2,000-hit club is usually among the final chapters in most players’ careers. For Yomiuri Giants star Hayato Sakamoto, though, reaching one of the game’s crowning achievements for a hitter might just be a stepping stone to even more rarefied heights. Sakamoto ...
Japanese Baseball Nov 8, 2020
Hayato Sakamoto becomes 53rd player to reach 2,000 hits in Japan
The Yomiuri star's first-inning double made him the second-youngest player to achieve the milestone.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Oct 31, 2020
Giants wrap up pennant race by winning franchise's 38th Central League crown
Because the CL eliminated its playoffs due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus, the Giants automatically advance to the Japan Series.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Aug 10, 2020
Stefen Romero flying high with Eagles
by Jason Coskrey
Romero signed with the Eagles as a free agent in January and he's been a hit in Sendai so far.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Jun 3, 2020
Reigning CL MVP Hayato Sakamoto one of two Giants players to test positive for COVID-19
Positive tests cast new doubts about whether NPB season can begin June 19.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Jan 5, 2020
Milestones in play for many in 2020 season
by Jason Coskrey
With the NPB season set to begin on March 21, it won't be long before players are back in uniform and training with their teams in preparation for 2020. In addition to getting ready for the new campaign, a handful of NPB stars will also ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Dec 8, 2019
Handful of players from 'Matsuzaka Generation' still holding on
by Jason Coskrey
Daisuke Matsuzaka returned home on Wednesday, solidifying a deal to spend his 20th season in pro baseball with the Saitama Seibu Lions, the club he spent Year 1 with back in 1999. While the reunion angle is nice and all, Matsuzaka's signing is also a ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | Sac Bunts Nov 27, 2019
Seemingly content without MLB, MVP Hayato Sakamoto on track for big things in Japan
by Jason Coskrey
Hayato Sakamoto is the one who stayed. In the midst of an era of increased player movement and Japanese stars departing for the major leagues, Sakamoto is one of biggest names, among the age group making the jump, to seemingly decide the grass is actually ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Nov 26, 2019
Hayato Sakamoto, Tomoya Mori named league MVPs
by Jason Coskrey
It was pretty apparent early in the NPB season that it might be a special year for the Yomiuri Giants' Hayato Sakamoto and the Seibu Lions' Tomoya Mori. Eight months later, that was proven true as they stood side-by-side as the top players in their ...
Baseball Nov 13, 2019
Japan drives past Mexico as Hayato Sakamoto breaks out of slump
by Jason Coskrey
Japan manager Atsunori Inaba professed his belief in shortstop Hayato Sakamoto, even as the star infielder struggled at the plate during the Premier12. With Japan looking to bounce back from its first loss of the tournament and facing undefeated Mexico, Sakamoto was back in a ...
Baseball Oct 1, 2019
Japan national team announces 28-man roster team for Premier12
Yomiuri Giants captain Hayato Sakamoto was among the 28 players named Tuesday to the Japan national team for the upcoming Premier12, an international baseball event that doubles as a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sakamoto and four Giants teammates headline the roster for the ...