Tag - npb

 
 

NPB

Bianca Smith works with an elementary school player in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, on Jan. 29, 2024.
BASEBALL
Mar 11, 2024
Trailblazing female baseball coach Bianca Smith hopes to reach NPB in Japan
Smith was the first Black woman hired to coach by a Major League Baseball team.
Driveline Pacific Rim director Frank Minamino (second from right) poses with Lions pitcher Kaito Yoza (left) Hawks pitcher Shuta Ishikawa (second from left) and the Lions' Kona Takahashi.
BASEBALL
Feb 2, 2024
NPB pitchers embracing Driveline Baseball method
NPB players are working with Driveline Baseball in greater numbers.
Former Yakult Swallows catcher Atsuya Furuta (left) reunites with former teammate and current Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo ahead of Game 3 of the MLB World Series at Chase Field in Phoenix on Monday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 3, 2023
Diamondbacks manager revels in Japan lessons
"The lessons I learned were that the tedious work habits pay off," Torey Lovullo said.
Pitcher Natsuki Takeuchi is tossed into the air in celebration by his Kokugakuin University teammates in Yokohama after he was taken in the first round of Japanese pro baseball's new-player entry draft on Thursday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 27, 2023
Watarai and Takeuchi most sought-after players in NPB draft
The DeNA BayStars won the rights to sign Watarai, while the Seibu Lions get to negotiate with Takeuchi.
Carp batter Kosuke Tanaka hits to right field in the 8th inning of the team's second Central League Climax Series' first stage game against the BayStars at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 16, 2023
Carp finish off BayStars to set up clash with Tigers
The Hiroshima Carp will face the Hanshin Tigers in the CLCS final stage at Koshien Stadium starting Wednesday.
Orix Buffaloes players pose for a commemorative photo after securing the PL pennant with their victory against Chiba Lotte Marines at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Wednesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Sep 21, 2023
Buffaloes' fans finally get to experience team's resurgence
Fans packed Kyocera Dome Osaka for the sellout game in hopes of finally seeing a clinching victory with their own eyes.
Orix pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto receives a bouquet after achieving his second career no-hitter against the Marines in Chiba on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Sep 10, 2023
Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws second career no-hitter
Among those who watched the Samurai Japan star's achievement was New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Sheldon Neuse of the Hanshin Tigers doubles in a run against the Chunichi Dragons in their Central League game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Baseball
Sep 6, 2023
CL-leading Tigers look unstoppable in win over Dragons
The Tigers remained 7½ games ahead of the second-place Hiroshima Carp.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 20, 2023
Hawks slugger Yuki Yanagita leads Pacific League to victory in All-Star Game 1
Chiba Lotte Marines right-hander Roki Sasaki worked a scoreless first inning to earn the win for the Pacific League.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 28, 2023
Fans vote Tigers players to 10 of 11 CL All-Star spots
Tigers center fielder and leadoff man Koji Chikamoto received an NPB-high 769,587 votes.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 13, 2023
Speed demons: the 'uriko' beer vendors of Japanese baseball
At Tokyo Dome, vendors sell an average of about 20,000 glasses of beer at a night game.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 11, 2023
Marines' Roki Sasaki wins second monthly pitching honor
The 21-year-old Sasaki previously won for March and April 2022, when he became Japan"s youngest perfect-game pitcher.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 9, 2023
Fighters acquire switch-hitting infielder Alen Hanson
The 30-year-old from the Dominican Republic played a total of 261 MLB games for the Pirates, White Sox, Giants and Blue Jays.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 2, 2023
Trevor Bauer set for midweek NPB debut with BayStars
The scheduled start comes five days after Bauer threw 93 pitches for the BayStars" affiliate in the second-tier Eastern League.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 9, 2023
Lions' MLB hopeful Kona Takahashi fans 11 in first win
The 26-year-old has allowed one run over 16 innings.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 6, 2023
Eagles' Yuki Matsui youngest to 200 career saves in Japan
The lefty became the ninth pitcher to reach the milestone in Nippon Professional Baseball and the youngest at the age of 27 years and five months.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 5, 2023
Ryoya Kurihara powers Hawks to fourth straight win
Kensuke Kondo, a key member of Japan"s World Baseball Classic-winning team, also went deep for SoftBank at Kyocera Dome in Osaka.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 31, 2023
Fighters debut 'best stadium in the world' as NPB kicks off new season
The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have touted the opening of their new home, Es Con Field Hokkaido, as the dawning of a new generation.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 24, 2023
Trevor Bauer arrives in Yokohama with goal of winning championship with BayStars
Bauer has expressed an interest in Japan in the past, including during a visit to the country in 2019 when he toured the BayStars" facility.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 15, 2023
Australia skipper Dave Nilsson would welcome chance to manage in NPB
Baseball continues to bring the former Dragon back to Japan, and each trip has only reinforced the idea that the challenge of leading an NPB team is one he would gladly take on.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world