Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

HANAMAKI, Japan, July 19 Kyodo - Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month. (Kyodo)

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki wipes away some tears during a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with manager Dave Roberts (2nd from R) after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches his solo home run ball fly in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches his solo home run ball fly in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches his solo home run ball fly in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches his solo home run ball fly in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026. It marked the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026, marking the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026, marking the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026, marking the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026, marking the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026, marking the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 12, 2026, marking the 350th homer of his career spanning Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

China: Veteran Rescues Driver from Sinking Car in Jiangsu 2

On October 14, 2025, in Taizhou, Jiangsu, a retired soldier jumped into a river and smashed a car window with a brick to save a trapped driver, pulling them to safety as bystanders watched.

Baseball: Buffaloes vs. Marines

Baseball: Buffaloes vs. Marines

Orix Buffaloes closer Yoshihisa Hirano pitches in the ninth inning of a game against the Lotte Marines at Zozo Marine Stadium in the city of Chiba, near Tokyo, on April 3, 2025, en route to earning the 250th save of his Nippon Professional Baseball career.

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career

A sequence photo shows San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish throwing against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta on May 19, 2024. The right-hander picked up his 200th win of a career spent in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball as his seven shutout innings helped his team past the Braves 9-1.

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 27, 2024. With his team's 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks, Darvish picked up his 203rd Japan-U.S. career win, tying Japanese Hall of Famer Hiroki Kuroda for the most combined victories in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball by a Japanese-born pitcher.

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 27, 2024. With his team's 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks, Darvish picked up his 203rd Japan-U.S. career win, tying Japanese Hall of Famer Hiroki Kuroda for the most combined victories in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball by a Japanese-born pitcher.

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 27, 2024. With his team's 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks, Darvish picked up his 203rd Japan-U.S. career win, tying Japanese Hall of Famer Hiroki Kuroda for the most combined victories in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball by a Japanese-born pitcher.

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 27, 2024. With his team's 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks, Darvish picked up his 203rd Japan-U.S. career win, tying Japanese Hall of Famer Hiroki Kuroda for the most combined victories in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball by a Japanese-born pitcher.

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

Baseball: Padres vs. D-backs

San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 27, 2024. With his team's 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks, Darvish picked up his 203rd Japan-U.S. career win, tying Japanese Hall of Famer Hiroki Kuroda for the most combined victories in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball by a Japanese-born pitcher.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Giants vs. Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his 31st of the season and the 250th of his combined major league and Japanese professional baseball career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2024, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish meets the press at Truist Park in Atlanta on May 19, 2024, after his seven shutout innings helped his team beat the Atlanta Braves 9-1. Darvish picked up his 200th win of a career spent in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish meets the press at Truist Park in Atlanta on May 19, 2024, after his seven shutout innings helped his team beat the Atlanta Braves 9-1. Darvish picked up his 200th win of a career spent in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish meets the press at Truist Park in Atlanta on May 19, 2024, after his seven shutout innings helped his team beat the Atlanta Braves 9-1. Darvish picked up his 200th win of a career spent in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish meets the press at Truist Park in Atlanta on May 19, 2024, after his seven shutout innings helped his team beat the Atlanta Braves 9-1. Darvish picked up his 200th win of a career spent in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

Baseball: Darvish earns 200th win of career spent in Japan, MLB

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish meets the press at Truist Park in Atlanta on May 19, 2024, after his seven shutout innings helped his team beat the Atlanta Braves 9-1. Darvish picked up his 200th win of a career spent in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Baseball: Rakuten Eagles pitcher Tanaka

Baseball: Rakuten Eagles pitcher Tanaka

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka holds up a celebratory sign after recording the 2,500th strikeout of his combined playing career in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball during a game at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on April 21, 2023.

Veteran pro hurler Yamamoto, 49, to continue career

Veteran pro hurler Yamamoto, 49, to continue career

NAGOYA, Japan - Masa Yamamoto, a Chunichi Dragons pitcher who turns 50 years old in 2015, pledges to continue his professional baseball career next year at a Japan National Press Club news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2014. He rewrote a Japanese pro baseball record for the oldest active winning hurler this season.

Giants' Murata achieves 1,500 career hits with homer

Giants' Murata achieves 1,500 career hits with homer

TOKYO, Japan - Shuichi Murata of the Yomiuri Giants responds to fans' cheer at the Tokyo Dome on Aug. 27, 2014, after slugging a homerun in the first inning against the Hanshin Tigers to become the 117th player with 1,500 career hits in Japanese professional baseball.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Takayuki Kishi (face to camera) celebrates with catcher Ginjiro Sumitani after Kishi threw the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball during a game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. The Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Takayuki Kishi (far R, front) celebrates with teammates after throwing the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball during a game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. The Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Takayuki Kishi is pictured during a baseball game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. Kishi threw the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball as the Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Takayuki Kishi is pictured during a baseball game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. Kishi threw the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball as the Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions catcher Ginjiro Sumitani (front) runs to pitcher Takayuki Kishi after the right-hander threw the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball during a game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. The Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Takayuki Kishi (face to camera) celebrates with catcher Ginjiro Sumitani after Kishi threw the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball during a game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. The Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Kishi pitches no-hitter

Kishi pitches no-hitter

CHIBA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Takayuki Kishi is pictured during a baseball game against the Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field in Chiba on May 2, 2014. Kishi threw the first no-hitter of his career and the 89th in Japanese professional baseball as the Lions defeated the Marines 2-0.

Ramirez attains 2,000 hits in Japan

Ramirez attains 2,000 hits in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - DeNA BayStars outfielder Alex Ramirez from Venezuela homers during the sixth inning of a game against the Yakult Swallows at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on April 6, 2013, becoming the first foreign player to reach 2,000 career hits in Japanese professional baseball.