As the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) postseason progresses, here is a look at the top news and notes from the past day in Japan’s highest level of professional baseball.
Kyuji Fujikawa likely to replace Akinobu Okada as Hanshin Tigers Manager.
Current Tigers closer, Kyuji Fujikawa, is expected to replace retiring 66-year-old manager Akinobu Okada as manager for the upcoming season.
Although an untraditional transition, Fujikawa brings a bevy of experience to the position, having 20 years of playing experience under his belt.
The 44-year-old Fujikawa has saved 243 games for the Tigers over his career. Hanshin will take on the DeNA BayStars in the first round of the playoffs.
ERA and RBI Titles Both Come With Quirks
Munetaka Murakami won the 2024 Central League RBI title with. Just 86 RBI, the lowest amount since three players tallied 80 RBIs in 1995. Livan Moinelo won the PL ERA Title on the other side of the ball, finishing with a 1.88 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 163 IP.
Hiroya Miyagi’s hopes of earning the NPB ERA title were drowned out by rain.
He cruised through six one-run innings in his most recent start. However, the game was called to begin the seventh inning. The left-hander will finish the year with a 1.91 ERA in 141.2 IP, four outs shy of a qualified season.
Other News
The Rakuten Eagles extended their losing streak to eight games — their worst in five years.
The Orix Buffaloes finished the 2024 season without scoring double digits in any games for the first time in club history.
Rakuten OF Ryosuke Tatsumi currently has 389 putouts, just two shy of the record for an outfielder, with two games remaining.
Pacific League:
#1 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
#2 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
#3 Chiba Lotte Marines
Central League:
#1 Yomiuri Giants
#2 Hanshin Tigers
#3 Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Watch the NPB playoffs on DAZN.
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WBN NPB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/japan/
Photo Credit: Munetaka Murakami #55 of Team Japan at bat against Team Mexico during the second inning during the World Baseball Classic Semifinals at loanDepot park on March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
