Baseball: DeNA's Azuma earns 14th win of season

Baseball: DeNA's Azuma earns 14th win of season

DeNA BayStars left-hander Katsuki Azuma pitches en route to picking up his 14th win of the season in a baseball game against the Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on Sept. 17, 2025.

Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki (L), who had a total of 4,367 hits between Japan and the United States, receives his plaque from Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Sadayuki Sakakibara during an award ceremony for his 2025 enshrinement in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in the central Japan city on Aug. 31, 2025.

Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki (C), who had a total of 4,367 hits between Japan and the United States, poses for a photo with his plaque during an award ceremony for his 2025 enshrinement in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in the central Japan city on Aug. 31, 2025. Standing beside the former Seattle Mariners outfielder is former New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui.

Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki, who had a total of 4,367 hits between Japan and the United States, poses for a photo with his plaque during an award ceremony for his 2025 enshrinement in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in the central Japan city on Aug. 31, 2025.

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato hits a solo home run off Hideaki Wakui of the Chunichi Dragons in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya on April 29, 2025.

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato hits a solo home run off Hideaki Wakui of the Chunichi Dragons in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya on April 29, 2025.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Japan's Shota Morishita hits a two-run double in the eighth inning of the opening game of Group B against Australia at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata (L) and his Australian counterpart David Nilsson pose for a photo during a press conference at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan on Nov. 12, 2024, the eve of the opening game of Group B at the Premier12 baseball tournament.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Australia's Rixon Wingrove hits a two-run home run off Japan's Rikuto Yokoyama in the sixth inning of the opening game of Group B at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Australia's starting pitcher Lewis Thorpe throws in the opening game of Group B against Japan at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Japan's Ryoya Kurihara hits an RBI single off Australia's Josh Guyer in the eighth inning of the opening game of Group B at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Japan's Sosuke Genda (R) dives back to first base on a pickoff attempt in the seventh inning of the opening game of Group B against Australia at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Japan pitcher Haruto Inoue reacts after Australia's Ulrich Bojarski homered in the sixth inning of the opening game of Group B at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Shogo Sakakura (C) and Kotaro Kurebayashi (R) of Japan high-five after they both scored on an error in the fourth inning of the opening game of Group B at the Premier12 baseball tournament against Australia on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

Baseball: Premier12

Baseball: Premier12

Japan's starting pitcher Haruto Inoue throws in the opening game of Group B against Australia at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 13, 2024, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in central Japan.

World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic

Shohei Ohtani (R) and Lars Nootbaar of Japan's World Baseball Classic team take part in practice at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic

Japan's Shohei Ohtani (L) and Lars Nootbaar chat in the dugout during the team's World Baseball Classic warm-up game against the Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Spectators watch Shohei Ohtani (far L) of Japan's national baseball team practicing prior to a World Baseball Classic warm-up game against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Spectators direct their smartphones toward Shohei Ohtani of Japan's national baseball team prior to a World Baseball Classic warm-up game against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Spectators direct their smartphones toward Shohei Ohtani of Japan's national baseball team prior to a World Baseball Classic warm-up game against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Roki Sasaki of Japan's national baseball team gets Yohei Oshima of the Chunichi Dragons to strike out in the third inning of a World Baseball Classic warm-up game against the Central League club at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Roki Sasaki of Japan's national baseball team pitches against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons in a World Baseball Classic warm-up game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Roki Sasaki of Japan's national baseball team pitches against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons in a World Baseball Classic warm-up game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Roki Sasaki of Japan's national baseball team pitches against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons in a World Baseball Classic warm-up game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Roki Sasaki of Japan's national baseball team pitches against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons in a World Baseball Classic warm-up game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Baseball: Japan's WBC warm-up game

Roki Sasaki of Japan's national baseball team pitches against the Central League's Chunichi Dragons in a World Baseball Classic warm-up game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Nootbaar joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Nootbaar joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Nootbaar joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Nootbaar joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Nootbaar joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Nootbaar joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani (L) joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani (C) joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Ohtani joins Japan's team ahead of World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani joins Samurai Japan's World Baseball Classic team prior to the practice game between Samurai Japan and Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 3, 2023.

Fans mass in front of Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Fans mass in front of Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Fans mass in front of Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, to buy World Baseball Classic merchandise on March 3, 2023. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani joined his WBC team the same day.

Fans mass in front of Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Fans mass in front of Vantelin Dome Nagoya

Fans mass in front of Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, central Japan, to buy World Baseball Classic merchandise on March 3, 2023. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani joined his WBC team the same day.

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki (R) talks to teammates during practice ahead of Japan's World Baseball Classic warm-up games at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 1, 2023.

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami takes batting practice ahead of Japan's World Baseball Classic warm-up games at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 1, 2023.

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami (R) takes practice swings ahead of Japan's World Baseball Classic warm-up games at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 1, 2023.

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Baseball: Samurai Japan in Nagoya

Samurai Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama (R) watches players practice ahead of their World Baseball Classic warm-up games at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 1, 2023.

Baseball in Japan

Baseball in Japan

Matt Shoemaker of the Yomiuri Giants pitches against the Chunichi Dragons in a Central League baseball game at Vantelin Dome in Nagoya, central Japan, on April 23, 2022.

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

A man receives a vaccine against the coronavirus at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons baseball club, in Nagoya, central Japan, on July 5, 2021. The stadium will be used as a mass vaccination center in the daytime until Sept. 30.

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

People have their health documents checked before getting vaccinated against the coronavirus at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons baseball club, in Nagoya, central Japan, on July 5, 2021. The stadium will be used as a COVID-19 mass vaccination center in the daytime until Sept. 30.

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

People wait to receive coronavirus vaccine shots at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons baseball club, in Nagoya, central Japan, on July 5, 2021. The stadium will be used as a mass vaccination center in the daytime until Sept. 30.

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

People wait to receive coronavirus vaccine shots at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons baseball club, in Nagoya, central Japan, on July 5, 2021. The stadium will be used as a mass vaccination center in the daytime until Sept. 30.

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

COVID-19 mass vaccination center in Nagoya

Photo taken July 5, 2021, shows Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons baseball club, in Nagoya, central Japan. The stadium will be used as a COVID-19 mass vaccination center in the daytime until Sept. 30.