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Baseball: Giants vs. BayStars

Taisei Ota of the Yomiuri Giants pitches in the eighth inning of a Central League baseball game against the DeNA BayStars at Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital on May 17, 2026.

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Baseball: GM meetings in Las Vegas

Seattle Mariners general manager Justin Hollander meets the press as Major League Baseball's general manager meetings get under way in Las Vegas on Nov. 12, 2025. Hollander expressed an interest in acquiring Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami after the Japanese Central League team posted the 25-year-old to MLB.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh meets the press in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, after former Yomiuri Giants player and manager Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh meets the press in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, after former Yomiuri Giants player and manager Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh is pictured after making a condolence visit to the late Shigeo Nagashima's home at an unidentified location on June 3, 2025, after the Japanese baseball legend, a former Yomiuri Giants third baseman and manager, died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh makes a condolence visit to the late Shigeo Nagashima's home at an unidentified location on June 3, 2025, after the Japanese baseball legend, a former Yomiuri Giants third baseman and manager, died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh meets the press in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, after former Yomiuri Giants player and manager Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh meets the press in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, after former Yomiuri Giants player and manager Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king and chairman of the SoftBank Hawks Sadaharu Oh meets the press in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, after former Yomiuri Giants player and manager Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima and Oh led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meets the press at his office in Tokyo on June 3, 2025, after former Yomiuri Giants third baseman and manager Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day. Nagashima led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973 and later managed the club.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

A man (R) hands out copies of a newspaper's extra edition at Tokyo's JR Yurakucho station on June 3, 2025, following the death of Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima. The former third baseman, who led the Yomiuri Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973 and later managed the club, died on June 3, 2025, aged 89.

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Carp manager's mental training in front of fire

Takahiro Arai, manager of Japanese pro baseball club Hiroshima Carp, chants a Buddhist sutra in front of a fire for about two hours at Shojoshin-in temple in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, on Jan. 18, 2025. The Central League club manager took part in offseason mental training ahead of spring training camp starting in February.

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Japanese media titan Tsuneo Watanabe dies

Photo taken in October 2013 shows Japanese media titan Tsuneo Watanabe (R) talking to Shigeo Nagashima, former manager of the Yomiuri Giants, during a party in Tokyo to celebrate the professional baseball club clinching the Central League pennant. Watanabe, a representative director and editor-in-chief of The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, died on Dec. 19, 2024, aged 98.

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Giants' 1st title at Tokyo Dome stadium

TOKYO, Japan, Sept. 3 Kyodo - Japan's Yomiuri Giants professional baseball players -- including Warren Cromartie (49), Koichi Ogata (44) and Tatsunori Hara (8) -- acknowledge the cheers of the fans with a banzai salute on Sept. 8, 1990, after winning their first Central League title at their new home field Tokyo Dome stadium, built in 1988, in the Japanese capital.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Newly signed Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (L) has his new team jersey put on by Jed Hoyer, president of the team's baseball operations, as the major league club announces a four-year contract with the prize Japanese pitcher during an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024. The 30-year-old was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Newly signed Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (L) has his new team jersey put on by Jed Hoyer, president of the team's baseball operations, as the major league baseball club announces a four-year contract with the prize Japanese pitcher during an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024. The 30-year-old was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Newly signed Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (L) shakes hands with Jed Hoyer, president of the team's baseball operations, as the major league club announces a four-year contract with the prize Japanese pitcher during an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024. The 30-year-old was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Newly signed Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga wears his new jersey as the major league baseball club announces a four-year contract with the prize Japanese pitcher during an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024. The 30-year-old was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga attends an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024, after signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs major league baseball club. The 30-year-old pitcher was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga attends an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024, after signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs major league baseball club. The 30-year-old pitcher was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga attends an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024, after signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs major league baseball club. The 30-year-old pitcher was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Baseball: Cubs' new left-hander Imanaga

Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga attends an introductory press conference in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024, after signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs major league baseball club. The 30-year-old pitcher was posted by the DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

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Japanese pro baseball's MVP awards

Hanshin Tigers pitcher Shoki Murakami (L) receives Japanese pro baseball's Central League MVP award at a ceremony in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2023.

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Baseball: Japan's WBC practice

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish pitches against a Chunichi Dragons batter during the Japanese national baseball team's joint practice with the Central League team in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 2, 2023, in preparation for the World Baseball Classic.

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Baseball: Japan's WBC practice

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish pitches against a Chunichi Dragons batter during the Japanese national baseball team's joint practice with the Central League team in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 2, 2023, in preparation for the World Baseball Classic.

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Baseball: Japan's WBC practice

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish pitches against a Chunichi Dragons batter during the Japanese national baseball team's joint practice with the Central League team in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 2, 2023, in preparation for the World Baseball Classic.

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Carp manager's mental training in front of fire

Japanese pro baseball club Hiroshima Carp manager Takahiro Arai chants a Buddhist sutra in front of a fire for about 90 minutes at the Shojoshin-in temple in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, on Jan. 19, 2023. The Central League club manager took part in the offseason mental training ahead of spring training camp starting in February.

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Carp manager's mental training in front of fire

Japanese pro baseball club Hiroshima Carp manager Takahiro Arai chants a Buddhist sutra in front of a fire for about 90 minutes at the Shojoshin-in temple in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, on Jan. 19, 2023. The Central League club manager took part in the offseason mental training ahead of spring training camp starting in February.

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Kuroda overjoyed by fans' reaction

Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks during a press conference on Feb. 16, 2015, in the western Japan city of Hiroshima. As 100 fans welcomed him at Hiroshima Airport the previous day, Kuroda said that the fans were one reason he desired to come back to Japan.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks to reporters during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February.

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DeNA founder becomes 1st female baseball club owner

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Tomoko Namba, founder of mobile gaming company DeNA Co., speaks at a press conference in Yokohama on Jan. 16, 2016, after assuming the position of team owner of the Central League's DeNA BayStars. Namba, 52, became the first woman ever to take over ownership of a Japanese baseball club.

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DeNA founder becomes 1st female baseball club owner

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Tomoko Namba, founder of mobile gaming company DeNA Co., speaks at a press conference in Yokohama on Jan. 16, 2016, after assuming the position of team owner of the Central League's DeNA BayStars. Namba, 52, became the first woman ever to take over ownership of a Japanese baseball club.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, is seen during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks to reporters during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February.

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Yomiuri hurler Sugano named Central League's 2014 MVP

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2014, after being named this year's most valuable player of the Central League at the Japanese professional baseball league's award-giving event.

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Pitchers Sugano in CL, Kaneko in PL named 2014 MVPs

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (L) and Orix Buffaloes hurler Chihiro Kaneko pose after being named this year's most valuable players in the Central and Pacific leagues, respectively, at the Japanese professional baseball league's award ceremony in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2014.

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Up-and-coming Fujinami, Otani pitch in All-Star game

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Shintaro Fujinami of the Hanshin Tigers (L) and Shohei Otani of the Nippon Ham Fighters, the two rivals from their high school days, are starting pitchers in game 2 of the All-Star series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on July 19, 2014. Otani threw a 162-kilometer-per-hour fastball to tie the Japanese record. Otani's Pacific League team beat the Central League squad 12-6.

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Murton ties Bass' most hits record for Tigers by a non-Japanese

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - American Matt Murton of the Hanshin Tigers singles in the fourth inning against the DeNA BayStars at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture, his 743rd hit since joining the Central-League team in 2010, tying compatriot Randy Bass' record for most hits by a non-Japanese player for the Tigers.

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Balentien to face lesser charge

URASOE, Japan - Japan's single season home run king Wladimur Balentien takes part in the spring camp of Japanese Central League club Yakult Swallows in Urasone, Okinawa Prefecture, on Feb. 12, 2014, as team president Tsuyoshi Kinugasa said Balentien, who was arrested on charges of domestic violence and false imprisonment in Miami, Florida, in January, has been charged with unlawful entry instead of the original felony false imprisonment.

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Aoki signs 2-year deal with Brewers

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in Tokyo on Nov. 10, 2011, shows Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki. The Milwaukee Brewers said Jan. 17, 2012, that the 30-year-old three-time Central League batting title winner has signed a two-year contract with the major league team.

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Brewers win negotiating rights for Aoki

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows' outfielder Norichika Aoki answers questions from reporters in Tokyo on Dec. 18, 2011, after hearing from the Japanese baseball team's president Tsuyoshi Kinugasa that the Milwaukee Brewers have won the right to negotiate a contract with the three-time Central League batting champion under the posting system.

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Brewers win negotiating rights for Aoki

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Nov. 10, 2011, shows Yakult Swallows' outfielder Norichika Aoki. The Japanese baseball club said Dec. 18 that the Milwaukee Brewers have won the right to negotiate a contract with the three-time Central League batting champion under the posting system.

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Chunichi slugger Wada Central League MVP

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuhiro Wada, a slugger with the Chunichi Dragons, speaks about his delight after being selected Most Valuable Player of the Central League of the Japanese professional baseball, during a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 18, 2010. The 38-year-old Wada, who batted .339 with 37 homers and 93 RBIs, became the oldest player to win the award in the league.

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Hiroshima's Maeda wins Sawamura Award

NICHINAN, Japan - Hiroshima Carp right-hander Kenta Maeda, the Central League leader in wins, ERA and strikeouts this season, smiles at a news conference after winning his first Sawamura Award in Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, on Nov. 1, 2010. Maeda is the first CL recipient of the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award since Kenshin Kawakami in 2004, when the Atlanta Braves pitcher was still with the Chunichi Dragons.

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Japan to use MLB-like baseballs

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato shows off a new ball and its cross section to be used as a standardized ball by the 12 professional baseball teams of the Japanese Central and Pacific leagues from next season on Aug. 23, 2010, in Tokyo. The specifications of the new ball will be closer to that of Major League Baseball. NPB hopes using the new balls will give Japanese players an edge in international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic.

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Carp pitcher Maeda tops fan votes for Japan All-Star series

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Hiroshima Carp right-hander Kenta Maeda of the Central League speaks in Hiroshima on June 28, 2010. Maeda became the top vote-getter in Japanese baseball as the final results of fan balloting for the upcoming All-Star series were announced the same day.

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Yomiuri manager Hara named Shoriki award winner

TOKYO, Japan - Tatsunori Hara, manager of the Central League baseball club Yomiuri Giants, speaks at a news conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Nov. 12, 2009, after being named the recipient of the Matsutaro Shoriki award Thursday for his contributions to the development of Japanese baseball.

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46-yr-old Kudo out of work with BayStars for next season

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Kimiyasu Kudo, a pitcher for the Yokohama BayStars and the oldest active player in Japanese baseball, speaks to reporters in Yokohama on Sept. 15, 2009 after the Central League baseball club announced it would release the 46-year-old veteran.

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Kudo out of work with BayStars for next season

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Kimiyasu Kudo, a pitcher for the Yokohama BayStars and the oldest active player in Japanese baseball, speaks to reporters in Yokohama on Sept. 15 after the Central League baseball club announced it would release him.

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Central League leading hitter Sakamoto keeps shining

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto, the current leader of the Japanese Central League batting average ranking, hits an RBI single to left in the second inning of a game against the Yakult Swallows at Tokyo Dome on June 26.