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 | 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 ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Dec 3, 2019
Carp submit application to post second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi to majors
The Hiroshima Carp announced Tuesday they have submitted an application with NPB to post seven-time Golden Glove winner Ryosuke Kikuchi to the major leagues. Once NPB files Kikuchi's application with Major League Baseball and all 30 teams are notified of the posting, any club willing ...
Baseball Nov 16, 2019
Samurai Japan holds off South Korea in last game of Premier12 Super Round
by Jason Coskrey
Samurai Japan did just enough against rival South Korea during what amounted to an entertaining dress rehearsal for the Premier12 final. Now the Japanese will head into the gold-medal game hoping practice makes perfect. Japan scored six runs in the third inning then had to overcome ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball | Sac Bunts Nov 11, 2019
Trio's MLB dreams may impact Samurai Japan's gold medal quest
by Jason Coskrey
The Hiroshima Carp's Ryosuke Kikuchi, quite possibly the most dynamic defensive second baseman in the world (at least in the conversation), could be playing in MLB next season. So too could the Yokohama BayStars' slugging captain Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and free agent outfielder Shogo Akiyama, one ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Nov 8, 2019
Seven-time Golden Glove Award winner Ryosuke Kikuchi will have a chance to move to the major leagues via the posting system, the Hiroshima Carp said Friday. The 29-year-old second baseman has won the CL's fielding award for excellence every season since he became a regular ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Nov 6, 2019
Ryosuke Kikuchi led Japan to an 8-4 comeback win over Venezuela in their WBSC Premier12 opener on Tuesday, driving in a pair of runs and scoring another in a 3-for-4 outing. The 2020 Olympic Games hosts entered the eighth inning at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Oct 31, 2019
Hawks' Nobuhiro Matsuda receives seventh straight Golden Glove
by Jason Coskrey
It's awards season in Japanese baseball and just like at the end of the actual season, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are front and center. Four players from the recently crowned three-time defending Japan Series champions, the most of any team, were recognized on Thursday when ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball May 25, 2019
Southpaw starter Kris Johnson helps Carp extend winning streak to 11 games
Left-hander Kris Johnson pitched into the eighth inning and drove in a run to help the Hiroshima Carp extend their winning streak to 11 games by beating the Yomiuri Giants 7-5 on Saturday. The Carp are now one victory shy of the franchise record for ...
Baseball / Japanese Baseball Dec 21, 2018
Carp second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi seeking move to major leagues in 2020
Six-time Golden Glove-winning second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi said Friday that he has informed the Hiroshima Carp of his desire to move to the major leagues via the posting system next year. "If I don't put up good numbers next year, I can't go," the 28-year-old ...
Baseball Nov 13, 2018
Samurai Japan stages another ninth-inning comeback victory against MLB All-Stars
Samurai Japan small-balled its way to a 5-3 win over the MLB All-Stars in Tuesday's Game 4 of the Japan All-Star Series, dampening Kenta Maeda's return to his former home park. For the second time in the six-game series, Samurai Japan overcame a two-run ninth-inning ...