While pitchers and catchers are still weeks away from reporting for Major League Baseball spring training, the preseason activities start a bit earlier for Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) teams.
As usual, NPB teams will be split between Miyazaki City in southern Kyushu and the islands of Okinawa. The reigning Japan Series winners, the DeNA BayStars, will set up camp in Ginowan City, Okinawa.
In contrast, KBO teams are more scattered, with all but the Samsung Lions holding camps in two locations. The defending Korean Series champions, the KIA Tigers, will open its primary camp in Irvine, California, before relocating to Okinawa a month later.
NPB teams will play intrasquad and exhibition games against other teams training nearby, including KBO squads, in early February. These matchups are not considered official spring training games, but they usually take place around 1 p.m. local time and are occasionally streamed for free on YouTube (e.g., Fighters on GAORA SPORTS).
In the past, it was common to see up to 20 cross-league exhibitions between NPB and KBO teams. However, this number has declined in recent years as Korean teams have scheduled more camps in other locations, and NPB teams have been winning many of these matchups by increasingly large margins.
NPB preseason action officially kicks off on February 22 at each team’s training camp site before shifting to their respective home stadiums in early March. Games generally start at 1 or 2 PM local time, with a few night games sprinkled in.
Spring training wraps up on March 23, with teams totaling 15–20 games. Extra innings are not played and rainouts are not rescheduled. Opening Day follows shortly after, on March 28. Last year, the Chunichi Dragons topped the preseason standings with a 10-5-5 record but ultimately finished last in the Central League during the regular season.
Schedule and Location Information
Yomiuri Giants: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki (2/1–13), Naha City, Okinawa (2/15–25)
Hanshin Tigers: Ginoza Village, Okinawa (2/1–27)
Yokohama DeNA BayStars: Ginowan City, Okinawa (2/1–24)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp: Nichinan City, Miyazaki (2/1–11), Okinawa City, Okinawa (2/13–26)
Tokyo Yakult Swallows: Urasoe City, Okinawa (2/1–26)
Chunichi Dragons: Chatan Town, Okinawa (2/1–25)
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki (2/1–3/2)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters: Nago City, Okinawa (2/1–26)
Chiba Lotte Marines: Ishigaki City, Okinawa (2/1–16), Itoman City, Okinawa (2/18–24)
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles: Kin Town, Okinawa (2/1–24)
Orix Buffaloes: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki (2/1–24)
Saitama Seibu Lions: Nango Town, Miyazaki (2/1–24)
KIA Tigers: Irvine, California (1/24–2/20), Okinawa (2/20–3/6)
Samsung Lions: Okinawa (1/23–3/5)
LG Twins: Scottsdale, Arizona (1/23–2/21), Okinawa (2/24–3/5)
Doosan Bears: Sydney, Australia (1/24–2/16), Miyazaki, Japan (2/18–3/4)
kt Wiz: Geelong, Australia (1/26–2/23), Okinawa (2/25–3/6)
SSG Landers: Florida (1/23–2/20), Okinawa (2/23–3/5)
Lotte Giants: Tainan, Taiwan (1/24–2/21), Japan (2/21–3/5)
Hanwha Eagles: Melbourne, Australia (1/22–2/19), Okinawa (2/20–3/4)
NC Dinos: Tucson, Arizona (1/30–2/20), Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2/21–3/5)
Kiwoom Heroes: Scottsdale, Arizona (1/23–2/15), Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2/17–3/5)
