The fifth World Baseball Classic, scheduled to be held in March of 2021, is now under threat from the coronavirus pandemic, Nippon Professional Baseball's secretary general Atsushi Ihara said Thursday. The tournament, organized jointly by Major League Baseball and its players union, has been held ...
Fans express mixed feelings as Shohei Otani's move to majors looms
Since he turned pro in 2013, everybody knew that Shohei Otani would set out for the United States to play at the highest level in the major leagues. Otani, a rare two-way player, is the pride of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. And the pride ...
Atsunori Inaba will be named the new manager of Japan's national men's baseball team as early as next week, an official source said Wednesday. The 44-year-old former outfielder, who starred with the Central League's Yakult Swallows and the Pacific League's Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, was ...
The Chiba Lotte Marines have agreed on a deal worth $200,000 with Cuban outfielder Roel Santos, the Pacific League club said Thursday. The 29-year-old Santos, who throws and bats left-handed, is known for his speed and defensive skills, and served as the leadoff hitter for ...
Leyland motivated Team USA on way to WBC victory
This, Jim Leyland insisted, was it. After leading the United States to its first World Baseball Classic title on Wednesday night, Leyland said the triumph would be the final act of his long career. "I'm not wearing any baseball uniform anymore, I can tell you that," ...
China aims for incremental improvements on global baseball stage
China manager John McLaren starts each day by having his players remember their team motto: "Get better every day." He'll then pick out a player, who will then belt out a tune of his choice for the room, "they're lacking there a little bit," ...
MLB players for 2020 Games unlikely
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said the league remains committed to the World Baseball Classic, and later watched Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki compete for Samurai Japan. He sounded less optimistic about the chance MLB will send any of its stars back to Tokyo ...
Versatile Meng does it all for China
Meng Weiqiang may patrol left field at some point for China during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He's also going to pitch and might even strap on a catcher's mask. There's a chance he'll do at least two of those things, maybe even all ...
Japan ready to begin quest for WBC title
For Japan, the preparation has finally come to an end. The Japanese baseball apparatus has had the 2017 World Baseball Classic circled on its calendar almost from the moment Japan's run in the 2013 tournament ended two wins shy of a third straight title. Now, ...
Tomoyuki Sugano pitched four scoreless innings to set the tone as the Japan national team rebounded from a first-game loss and claimed a 9-1 victory over the Taiwanese All-Stars in an exhibition game on Wednesday. A day after dropping the opener of a two-game series ...
Norichika Aoki, the sole major leaguer on the Japan national team roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, said Monday he is mentally ready for action but may need time to reset his sleep cycle. The 35-year-old, who was released by the Houston Astros for ...
Fujinami hoping to see hard work pay off in new season
Shintaro Fujinami is no old dog, but the 22-year-old Hanshin Tigers pitcher may have some new tricks. A "new" Fujinami has been among the recurring themes in reports about the Tigers this spring. Hoping to brush aside a down year in 2016, Fujinami reportedly took ...
