Japanese Baseball Dec 18, 2020
Carp's Ryosuke Kikuchi captures eighth straight Golden Glove
by Jason Coskrey
Kikuchi's award capped off a historic season in which the second baseman did not commit a single error for the Central League side.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Sep 7, 2020
Tigers still at square one with Shintaro Fujinami
by Jason Coskrey
Shintaro Fujinami gave up 11 runs — seven earned — in 4 2/3 innings on Saturday night. That's more than he’s ever allowed in his career and, per Daily Sports, more than any Hanshin pitcher has in a single outing. The loss dropped the second-place ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Aug 31, 2020
Giants and Hawks in driver's seat at halfway mark in NPB
by Jason Coskrey
Despite the shortened schedule, there's still plenty to look forward to in the 2020 campaign.
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Jul 20, 2020
Tigers back on prowl in Central League
by Jason Coskrey
Their resurgence continued last week at Koshien Stadium, where Hanshin took two of three against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and swept the Chunichi Dragons.
Japanese Baseball Jul 17, 2020
Takumi Oshiro homered to cap a three-run first inning as the Yomiuri Giants took advantage of tentative pitching from the Hiroshima Carp and never looked back in a 9-4 Central League win on Thursday. Carp right-hander Kazuki Yabuta (0-1) surrendered a leadoff double to Yoshiyuki ...
Japanese Baseball Jun 19, 2020
Rain and empty stands greet players as long-delayed NPB season begins
by Jason Coskrey
Japanese baseball began play on Friday evening, three months after its campaign was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
Japanese Baseball May 22, 2020
Carp let fans into practice after restrictions lifted in Hiroshima
The Hiroshima Carp opened up some parts of Mazda Stadium on Thursday, allowing some lucky fans the chance to watch the Central League club work out during their first practice in nearly a month and a half. Fans were barred from preseason games in late ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Mar 28, 2020
Members of the Hiroshima Carp voiced concerns on Saturday about the wisdom of starting the season on April 24 while the coronavirus outbreak remains unchecked. The club resumed practicing at Mazda Stadium two days after it sent players and staff home upon hearing Thursday that ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Mar 2, 2020
Carp to rip up Xavier Batista's contract at end of doping ban
The Hiroshima Carp said Monday they will terminate the contract of Xavier Batista, a Dominican player who is nearing the end of a six-month doping suspension. The 28-year-old slugger tested positive for a banned substance in June last year, and Nippon Professional Baseball announced the ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Dec 29, 2019
Ryosuke Kikuchi joins list of players to hit wall in posting system
by Jason Coskrey
Musing about whether or not certain players will get posted is fairly commonplace in discussions about the top NPB players these days. So much so it's easy to forget being posted is only the first hurdle players under contract have to clear on the way ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Dec 27, 2019
Ryosuke Kikuchi returning to Carp after failing to secure MLB contract
Hiroshima Carp infielder Ryosuke Kikuchi on Friday doubled down on his allegiance to the Central League club, giving up a bid to move to the majors while signing a four-year contract extension. Kikuchi, a seven-time Golden Glove winner, had until 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time ...