NEWSWORTHY
Darvish admits he felt pressure last season after signing big deal with Cubs
Yu Darvish felt stress after signing a $126 million, six-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. "At the time I didn't say anything about that, but I was thinking I should do something for the Cubs. I should win 20 games," he said Wednesday. "This year ...
Angels manager Brad Ausmus hopes to have Shohei Ohtani's bat back in May
Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday he hopes two-way star Shohei Ohtani will return to the lineup as a designated hitter for the American League team in May. "I'm not going to put a date on it, but we're thinking sometime in May," ...
DH talk brings back memories of reverse experiment
One thing the current conversation about a possible universal DH in MLB is showing is that a lot of people have great disdain for the concept of pitchers hitting. Like, a lot. So it's sort of amusing to recall the time NPB flipped the DH rule ...
Shohei Ohtani visits former Fighters teammates at spring camp
Shohei Ohtani took a break from his rehabilitation program on Saturday to visit his former Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters teammates in Arizona. The slugging Los Angeles Angels pitcher and American League rookie of the year is entering his second major league season since the Fighters ...
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani encourages ailing boy Shohei, his parents
Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani on Saturday encouraged an ailing one-year-old boy, who shares the same given name, as well as his parents at a hospital in Japan. Ohtani presented Shohei Kawasaki, who needs a heart transplant due to cardiomyopathy, with a baseball he ...
Yusei Kikuchi may follow Shohei Ohtani's example in the MLB
Although Yusei Kikuchi is arriving in the major leagues with less fanfare than Shohei Ohtani did a year ago, the lefty could — like Ohtani did — help change people's minds about Japanese pitching. Kikuchi, who has reportedly reached a deal with the Seattle Mariners, ...
Shohei Ohtani's historic big league debut wasn't the only story coming out of the majors this year, but it often seemed like it. The ups and downs of the hard-hitting, hard-throwing American League Rookie of the Year captured imaginations on both sides of the Pacific, ...
Shohei Ohtani receives Prime Minister Cup for second time at Japan Pro Sports Awards
Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani has collected another Prime Minister Cup at the Japan Pro Sports Awards. Los Angeles Angels player Ohtani was given the grand prize at a reception ceremony in Tokyo on Thursday. The 24-year-old captured his first in 2016, when he led the ...
Shohei Ohtani hopeful for MLB showdown with school alum Yusei Kikuchi
Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani said Tuesday he hopes to get the chance to face his high school alumnus Yusei Kikuchi should the left-handed pitcher strike a deal with a major league team. "I think the teachers (at our school) are really looking ...
Namie Amuro tops Nikkei Marketing Journal's list of 2018's most popular products and services
Described in its choice for the year's yokozuna (grand champion) as dasa-kakoyosa — something that's behind the times, but cool nonetheless — entertainer Namie Amuro appeared at the top of the Nikkei Marketing Journal's 48th annual Hitto Shohin Banzuke (ranking of hit products) on ...
Shohei Ohtani admits to lack of confidence despite historic year in MLB
Shohei Ohtani could rightfully be brimming with confidence following a historic rookie season, but the Los Angeles Angels' two-way talent said Tuesday he still feels uncertain about his success. The 24-year-old American League Rookie of the Year recently returned to Japan after undergoing offseason Tommy ...
