On May 30, 2025, the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball acquired right-handed relief pitcher Sho Iwasaki for cash considerations from the Chunichi Dragons. The seven-time Japan Series champion will look to bolster a Buffalo bullpen that also features Venezuelan closer and MLB veteran Andrés Machado.
Iwasaki was drafted by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2007 and won seven Japan Series titles with them as a key piece in the bullpen. In 2017, he was even named the best middle reliever in all of the NPB. Iwasaki signed with the Dragons in 2021 and has pitched there the past three seasons. This season has been his best since 2017 thus far as the 37 year-old has a 2.08 ERA in his four games pitched.
The move makes sense for the Buffaloes as they sit at 25-20, a record good enough for second place in the Pacific League. Acquiring a veteran with championship experience like Iwasaki makes a lot of sense for the team in Nishi-ku.
As for the Dragons, they are in fifth place in the Central League at 22-26. They are six and a half games behind the league leading Hanshin Tigers in the Standings and have struggled on the road with a record of 9-16. Moving Iwasaki gives them a chance to clear salary space in order to hopefully rebuild and retool.
Photo: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starter Sho Iwasaki pitches against South Korea’s Samsung Lions in the first inning of their Asia Series baseball championship in Taichung, Taiwan, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
