Foreign players facing another lonely NPB season
The signs of baseball spring are popping up all across Japan this month. Veteran players are emerging from winter vacations and ramping up their individual workouts for the upcoming season. Rookies are stirring too, with some with their teams taking part in voluntary individual ...
Retiring greats get deserved curtain calls as NPB season wraps up
The tradition of giving Japanese veterans hanging up their gloves one last chance to stand in front of a cheering crowd is one that should be cherished.
Lions rookie Yutaro Watanabe outduels Eagles' Masahiro Tanaka
The 21-year-old Watanabe fanned five, allowing four hits and four walks.
Lions win draft rights for top pitching prospect Chihiro Sumida
An ecstatic Seibu general manager Hisanobu Watanabe said Sumida can make an "immediate impact" for the club.
Punishment does not always fit crime with NPB's dangerous pitch rule
There is intent and there is common sense. The issue for Seibu Lions pitcher Takeru Sasaki is there was none of either on Friday night at MetLife Dome. The second start of Sasaki's career came to an abrupt end after just three pitches against the Orix ...
Justin Smoak's departure puts family issues in spotlight in NPB
Family was the dominant theme in NPB last week. The Japanese baseball world received some stunning news on Thursday, when it was revealed Yomiuri Giants infielder Justin Smoak was leaving the team, and Japan, in order to be with his family. Justin Smoak left the Giants ...
Zach Neal delivered a vintage performance, allowing one run over six innings.
Takahiro Okada and Yutaro Sugimoto delivered big hits to propel the Orix Buffaloes to a four-run ninth inning and a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League on Thursday. Trailing 6-3 after the Lions' Aito Takeda cleared the bases with a ...
Leonys Martin, Manabu Mima help Marines tame Lions
Martin homered in his first two at-bats and the Marines avoided a three-game losing streak.
Hawks remain team to beat in Pacific League as new challengers emerge
The following is the second of a two-part NPB preview ending with the 2021 Pacific League.
Marines punch NPB's final postseason ticket
The Chiba Lotte Marines are in, the Seibu Lions are out and the NPB postseason is set. Lotte punched its ticket with a win over the Lions on Sunday afternoon in what was essentially a playoff game before the playoffs. Needing a win to secure second ...
Three-team race for final spot in Pacific League Climax Series down to wire
There is only one race of real consequence remaining in this NPB season and it’s still too close to call.
