Japan’s Hall of Fame middle infielders
This is the fourth part of a series about this year's Hall of Fame candidates. Shortstop Kenjiro Nomura finished seventh in the voting a year ago, and is now fourth…
Wang set to join Fighters on 3-year deal
The Nippon Ham Fighters have reached an agreement on a three-year deal with 25-year-old Taiwan outfielder Wang Po-jung on Friday according to the Nikkan Sports. You can see the original…
A brief look at Hanshin’s free-agent past
For the past eight seasons, right-hander Yuki Nishi had been plugging away in the Orix Buffaloes' rotation, pitching a minimum of 117 innings a season while only posting an ERA…
Shohei’s way to the simple life
Shohei Ohtani recently spoke with my colleague Yuichi Matsushita, Kyodo News' Los Angeles Angels' beat writer. During the interview, Ohtani spoke of getting out and seeing the sights this past…
Hall of Fame: Middle infielder dilemma
Other than infielder Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, every player remaining on the ballot from the 2017 election picked up fewer votes in 2018, when Hideki Matsui and Tomoaki Kanemoto were both voted…
Another reliever for Japan’s hall?
This is the second part in a series about players on the ballot for the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame's next induction class in January 2019. Part 1: Kazuyoshi Tatsunami…
Ramirez, Miyamoto, Ishii added to Hall ballot
The ballot for next year's Japan's baseball Hall of Fame inductions were announced Wednesday. With pitcher Yoshinori Sato dropping off the players' division ballot after his eligibility ran out, and…
Taira Uematsu and the power of dreams
This is a story I did from a 2017 interview with San Francisco Giants bullpen catcher Taira Uematsu. Inside is a real lesson about the power of education to inspire…
My favorite things
I wish I could get Julie Andrews out of my head. But after reading this story from the Sports Nippon, I can't help but hear her tune from "The Sound…
Trainer Yazawa’s journey comes full circle
Fifteen years after being told there was no chance she could be a physical trainer for pro ballplayers in Japan, Junko Yazawa was doing just in November, when she returned…
