As the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) season progresses, here is a look at the top news and notes from the past week in Japan’s highest level of professional baseball.
Munetaka Murakami’s Struggles Continue
Through 84 games of the 2024 NPB season, third baseman Munetaka Murakami of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows hit .231, tying the worst batting average of his seven-year career in NPB. The slugger hit .231 as a 19-year-old in 2019 but managed to send 36 balls over the wall.
Murakami struck out five times on Saturday in a 1-0 loss against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, which some call the “platinum sombrero.” It was the first time in Murakami’s career he struck out five times in a contest. According to NPB on Reddit on X, after Saturday’s game, Murakami was on pace to strike out 193 times in 2024, nine more than his previous career-worst 184 in 2019.
Now 24, Murakami may transition to Major League Baseball after the 2025 NPB season, when his three-year contract with the Swallows expires. Given his still-developing potential, he can receive a big payday.
At 39, Takayuki Kishi Can Still Sling It
He’s 39 years young and still capable of throwing a gem every once in a while. He is Takayuki Kishi of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, who won the 2008 Japan Series MVP with the Saitama Seibu Lions.
On Saturday, Kishi threw a complete-game shutout in a 5-0 win against his former team, the Lions. He gave up only three hits and struck out two. NPB on Reddit on X reported that the righty is the oldest pitcher in Pacific League history to throw a complete-game shutout without allowing a walk or hitting a batter. Additionally, he is the fifth oldest player in Pacific League history to throw a complete-game shutout.
That is good news for Kihsi and bad news for the Lions, who own the worst record in NPB at 25-56-1. The Lions are 1-9 in their last ten games and have lost eight consecutive games three times this year.
Would You Rather?
Today’s debate focuses on two foreign players in NPB who are having great seasons for their respective teams. Looking at Tyler Austin of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Domingo Santana of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, both players have MLB experience and are in their early thirties.
Austin has a slight advantage in the defensive range department, as the former 2010 New York Yankee draft pick can play first base and right field. Santana is limited to the outfield, more specifically, the corners. Neither player uses speed to their advantage in the field or base paths.
Austin currently leads Santana in the home run department 12-11 and has played 22 fewer games this season. Swing and miss is prevalent in their games but is not the be-all and end-all for players of their caliber.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Tyler Austin is hitting .293 with a .932 OPS with 38 strikeouts compared to 22 walks in 227 plate appearances. Domingo Santana is hitting .315 with a .910 OPS with 65 strikeouts compared to 32 walks in 297 plate appearances. Would you rather have Austin or Santana on your team?
This Day in Japanese Baseball History
On July 16, 2005, Japanese pitcher Kazuhito Tadano made his last MLB appearance with the Cleveland Guardians. Tadano allowed no earned runs, four hits, and struck out one in four innings in a 7-5 loss against the Chicago White Sox.
Tadano played seven seasons in NPB with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2008-14, recording an 18-20 win-loss record and a 4.43 ERA.
He finished his professional baseball career in the Baseball Challenge League, also known as the Route Inn BCL, with the Ishikawa Million Stars from 2015 to 17.
NPB Standings as of Wednesday, July 16
Central League
Pacific League
You can stream all NPB games on DAZN.
Photo Credit: Munetaka Murakami #55 of Team Japan celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run double to defeat Team Mexico 6-5 in the World Baseball Classic Semifinals. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
