Ace Kodai Senga stellar again for Hawks in Japan Series opener
Every team had a shot at Kodai Senga. Even the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, who ultimately ended up with him, passed on the right-hander a few times during the 2010 draft before taking him as a fourth-choice developmental player. Oh how he has developed. Fast-forward almost a decade ...
Blockbuster matchup: Hawks' Kodai Senga vs. Giants' Shun Yamaguchi in Japan Series opener
Shortly before the end of the Japan Series managers' meeting the skippers of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Yomiuri Giants were asked to name their starters for Game 1. Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo spoke first, grabbing a mic and stating simply with no hesitation, "For ...
2019 Japan Series managers take trip down memory lane on eve of Game 1
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo admitted to feeling a little bit nostalgic on the eve of this year's Japan Series matchup against the Yomiuri Giants. Kudo was a pitcher for Yomiuri the last time these two clubs vied for the crown. That was in ...
Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo receives Shoriki Award for third time
Kimiyasu Kudo, who this month managed the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to their third Japan Series victory in four years, won his third Matsutaro Shoriki Award on Tuesday. Kudo, who won the award in 1987 as a player, also won as Hawks manager in 2015. Hall ...
Hawks shut out Carp in Game 6, capture back-to-back Japan Series crowns
The Heisei Era in Japan is set to end when Emperor Akihito abdicates next year on April 30. Pinning down the end of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' current era of dominance in Japanese baseball is going to take a little bit more time. Because as they ...
Hawks positive despite slow start to Japan Series
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks wrapped up the first two games of the 2018 Japan Series without any wins. But they remain positive after avoiding two losses. "We feel composed," skipper Kimiyasu Kudo said at Yafuoku Dome during Monday's travel day. "We are pleased that we can ...
SoftBank hopes for home advantage as Japan Series shifts to Fukuoka
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are finally back home. After a prolonged period of playing on the road, the Hawks returned to Fukuoka on Monday as the Japan Series shifted a little over an hour (by shinkansen) west for a practice day on Monday ahead of ...
Carp, Hawks set for Japan Series showdown
Hiroshima Carp manager Koichi Ogata and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks skipper Kimiyasu Kudo each said they hoped to put on an amazing show during the final Japan Series of the Heisei Era. More importantly, of course, they want to win. The Carp and the Hawks took the ...
Hawks' excellence in execution results in trip to Japan Series
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks scripted a masterpiece in the final stage of the Pacific League Climax Series. The Seibu Lions entered the series having dethroned the Hawks as Pacific League champions and with an offense that had run roughshod to the tune 792 runs during ...
Nippon Professional Baseball announced Tuesday that it will not grant the Orix Buffaloes' request to replay Friday's game against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after umpires admitted mistakenly ruling a foul ball as a decisive two-run home run. Orix had requested the game be restarted from ...
Yuki Yanagita bangs out three hits to propel Hawks past Marines on windswept afternoon
The wind never let up as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Chiba Lotte Marines played at Zozo Marine Stadium. Neither did Yuki Yanagita. Yanagita homered into the wind in the first inning and connected on a tiebreaking two-run triple in the seventh as the defending Pacific ...
Masterful Hawks again soar over baseball rivals
At the end of another NPB season, the Japanese baseball world is again wondering how to beat these Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. After Saturday night's dramatic 11-inning 4-3 sayonara victory over the Yokohama BayStars in Game 6 of the Japan Series clinched another title, the dynastic ...
