NEWSWORTHY
Samurai Japan opens training camp ahead of World Baseball Classic
Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo and all of his players, except Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki, opened training camp in Miyazaki on Thursday in preparation for next month's World Baseball Classic. Aoki, the only major leaguer on the Japan roster for the March 6-22 tournament, will ...
NPB eyes 'meaningful' international games to bolster national team in run-up to 2020 Olympics
Nippon Professional Baseball is working to line up November exhibition games in order to strengthen its national team before the 2020 Olympics, commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki said Thursday. "We are currently planning meaningful international games for November," Kumazaki said. With the exception of the 2019 Premier 12, ...
Otani heads early WBC roster for Samurai Japan
Samurai Japan released a partial roster for next spring's World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, naming 18 players who will be part of the squad tasked with bringing the title back to Japan in March. Pacific League MVP Shohei Otani, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters' two-way ...
NPB wants 'best athletes' to compete in 2020 Olympic baseball tournament
Nippon Professional Baseball wasted no time on Thursday in stating its vision after baseball, along with softball, was approved as an additional sport for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. "We aspire to have our best team," NPB commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki told an early morning news conference ...
Tokyo will host two rounds of 2017 WBC
Samurai Japan's quest to reclaim the World Baseball Classic title will begin in the nation's capital. Tokyo was announced as a host for both rounds of the Asian region of the 2017 World Baseball Classic during a news conference at the NPB Commissioner's office on ...
Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kyosuke Takagi has been banned for one year for his involvement in gambling on baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball announced Tuesday. NPB commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki handed down the decision to the 26-year-old reliever following a meeting of the investigation panel. The Giants, who ...
Giants pitchers to be banned from baseball for betting on games
Nippon Professional Baseball will ban three Yomiuri Giants pitchers indefinitely for their involvement in a gambling scandal and fine the team ¥10 million.
NPB chief Kumazaki declines comment on proposed national sports lottery
Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki on Thursday declined comments regarding a recent proposal by lawmakers to make professional baseball the centerpiece of a new lottery. "I am aware of media reports but I have received no concrete or formal contact, and at this time, ...
Kumazaki calls Gourriel row an 'individual contract problem'
Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki suggested on Friday that the nullification of infielder Yulieski Gourriel's contract with the Yokohama BayStars is not likely to influence the future signings of Cuban baseball players in Japan. "I think of this as an individual contract problem," said ...
Nippon Professional Baseball turned a page on Monday, when new commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki had his first official day at the office. Kumazaki spoke about reforming a system that allowed subordinates to make significant changes to NPB's official ball a year ago and cover it up. ...
Former prosecutor Katsuhiko Kumazaki was confirmed as Nippon Professional Baseball's next commissioner on Thursday at an extraordinary owners meeting. "I get the feeling this is going to be a sobering experience, what with all the heaps of issues we have at the moment," the 71-year-old ...
