Hokkaido Nippon Ham hurler Shohei Otani struck out nine while giving up one run — a solo homer — over six innings in his fourth start this season as the Fighters defeated the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 6-4 on Thursday. Otani (2-2) allowed five hits and ...
With Shohei Otani considering a jump to a Major League Baseball team, commissioner Rob Manfred said he believes it will be hard for teams to circumvent existing contract rules in pursuit of the coveted two-way player. Otani's situation was among several issues, including pace of ...
The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters sold a one-of-a-kind, life-sized figure of Shohei Otani on Wednesday, the same day it was put on sale, the team said. The unique offering was priced at ¥1,111,111 (roughly $9,986) — a figure derived from Otani's uniform No. 11, and ...
Shohei Otani will make his fourth start of the season on Thursday, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama revealed Tuesday. Otani, who threw 78 pitches in his previous start last week, a 5-2/3 inning win over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, is expected to ...
Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball are discussing two proposals to replace the current posting system that would eliminate Japanese teams' ability to set a negotiating price for posted players. Speaking at Wednesday's NPB owners meeting, Giants owner Shoichi Oikawa said two proposals are ...
Should Shohei Otani move to the majors via the posting system, as informed sources said Tuesday he expects to do, it will be a rare case where money will not be a primary factor in negotiations. Now 23, a fifth-year pro, and the Pacific League's ...
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters slugging ace pitcher Shohei Otani is likely to go to the major leagues through the posting system after the end of this season, an informed source said Wednesday. The 23-year-old remains unchanged from last offseason in terms of his desire to ...
Shohei Otani worked 5-2/3 innings to earn his first win of the season and four relievers completed a three-hit shutout as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters topped the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 7-0 on Tuesday. Otani (1-2) was making his third start of an injury-hit ...
Wladimir Balentien could've been written off as a one-year wonder after hitting 31 home runs in his first season in Japan, way back in 2011. Or as just a flash in the pan after doing it the next season. No one could deny Balentien ...
Hirotoshi Takanashi pitched into the eighth inning and Shohei Otani homered twice as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters punished the Seibu Lions 9-2 on Friday night. Through seven innings, Takanashi (5-7) was in stellar form, allowing just two hits while striking out nine, putting a ...
Rookie right-hander Shoma Fujihira allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles snapped an 11-game winless streak with a 6-1 win over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Tuesday. Fujihira challenged batters with a fastball that climbed just above 140 ...
Shohei Otani returned to the mound after a long absence on Thursday night. Now the question is this: How many more times will Japanese fans see the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters sensation take the mound on home soil? The same questions swirled around former Fighters ace ...
