The Tsuyoshi Shinjo era in Hokkaido began in 2022, following the departure of longtime manager Hideki Kuriyama, who forged a close bond with Shohei Ohtani and led the Nippon-Ham Fighters to a Japan Series title in 2016. Of course, Kuriyama went on to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic as Samurai Japan manager.
Stripped of much of their star power (Shohei Ohtani, Sho Nakata, Haruki Nishikawa, Brandon Laird, Kohei Arihara, etc.) from the late 2010s, Shinjo, who dubbed himself “BIG BOSS,” took on the challenge of a full-scale rebuild. His first season came with growing pains as the Fighters finished with NPB’s worst record at 59-81-3. Still, there was a clear vision in place. Shinjo gave extended looks to a wide range of players, with 23 hitters logging 50 or more plate appearances and 26 pitchers throwing at least 10 innings. He laid the groundwork for a young, improving squad by prioritizing development and opportunity over immediate results, which was evident from day one as fourth-round draft pick Koki Kitayama was handed the Opening Day start.
Shinjo didn’t fly in on a hover bike like last year but the opening day ceremony for Es Con Field Hokkaido was still pretty entertaining.pic.twitter.com/cpw4RNOIj3
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) March 30, 2023
In 2023, Nippon-Ham ushered in a new chapter by moving from the Sapporo Dome to the state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido in Kitahiroshima, setting the right tone for a fresh, modern era. Shinjo dropped the “BIG BOSS” moniker and vowed to take a more serious approach, but progress was slow. The talent remained raw in many areas, and inexperience continued to show as the team endured several prolonged losing streaks throughout the season, ultimately finishing in last place once again. With superstar Kensuke Kondoh leaving for a win-now SoftBank team, the lineup failed to consistently produce, finishing with the third-worst OPS in NPB.
Ariel Martinez is not only one of the best foreign hitters this season, but one of the best hitters in NPB period.
He always showed a lot of promise with Chunichi and he has 13 HR with a 153 wRC+ in his debut season in Hokkaido, while catching sometimes.pic.twitter.com/hHsYE3CgMG
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) August 2, 2023
But amid the struggles, a number of bright spots emerged. Go Matsumoto broke out with the Pacific League batting title in 2022 and solidified his status as one of the league’s top defensive center fielders. Ariel Martinez, a once-underutilized catcher in Chunichi, launched 15 home runs in his first full season as a 1B/DH with the Fighters. Rising prospects Chusei Mannami and Kotaro Kiyomiya began to blossom, combining for 35 homers and offering a glimpse of the team’s promising core.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo, just your average baseball manager.pic.twitter.com/viFeYyIpA3
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) April 2, 2024
In 2024, the Fighters saw continued growth from under-the-radar contributors. Shun Mizutani, acquired via the Active Player Draft (NPB’s version of the Rule 5 Draft) from SoftBank, posted a strong .779 OPS (135 OPS+) in his debut season. Franmil Reyes, who hit 30 homers in MLB as recently as 2021, gave the lineup a major boost with a .912 OPS (174 OPS+) and 25 bombs in just 103 games. Yuya Gunji also made the most of his first full season after arriving in a trade from Chunichi, launching 12 homers while displaying versatility across four positions.
Meanwhile, the departure of veteran right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa to MLB opened the door for a new-look rotation. Ace Hiromi Itoh continued to elevate his game, finishing second in the strikeout race and cementing himself as one of NPB’s top starters. Control specialist Takayuki Katoh provided reliable innings and anchored the staff, while rookie Shoma Kanemura impressed with a 2.38 ERA. Koki Kitayama emerged as one of Japan’s elite strikeout artists, and the addition of veteran lefty Sachiya Yamasaki from Orix added more depth to the group.
Down to their last two outs of the season, Chusei Mannami comes up clutch and ties the game with a solo blast!pic.twitter.com/lpNr75DDGD
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) October 13, 2024
With significant improvements across the board, the Fighters finished second in the Pacific League with a 75-60-8 record, reaching the postseason for the first time since 2018 before falling in the League Championship Series to the powerhouse SoftBank Hawks. 2024 was a clear success, and 2025 came with even bigger expectations.
RHP Ruei Yang Gu Lin of the Uni-Lions in the CPBL will be posted to NPB.
Nippon-Ham, Lotte, DeNA, Rakuten, Hiroshima, SoftBank, and Yomiuri are rumored to be interested.
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) November 2, 2024
During the offseason, the team retained slugger Reyes and bolstered its pitching staff by adding veteran swingman Koji Fukutani and reigning CPBL MVP Ruei Yang Gu Lin. Now off to a 9-6 start in 2025, the team is performing well across all facets of the game, managing a 106 OPS+, 111 ERA+, and 4 DRS collectively.
Franmil Reyes homers off Hiroya Miyagi 😮
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) April 4, 2025
Reyes has picked up right where he left off last season, posting an .889 OPS (170 OPS+), while 24-year-old Yuki Nomura has impressed as the team’s cleanup hitter with a .797 OPS (142 OPS+). Superstars Mannami and Kiyomiya have yet to hit their stride, but others like Gunji (187 OPS+) and Yua Tamiya (181 OPS+) have stepped up in their place.
Hiromi Itoh MASTERCLASS 🔥
9.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 13 K, 120 P, 21 Whiffs
A 2-run homer to Hideto Asamura was his only mistake as the Hokkaido ace set a new career-high in strikeouts!pic.twitter.com/aDY8FDGAYK
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) April 8, 2025
Itoh had a rough first outing of the season but bounced back in dominant fashion, setting a new career high with 13 strikeouts in his second start. He’s also added a kick change to his ever-expanding arsenal. Kitayama and Kanemura continue to show growth, while veterans Katoh, Yamasaki, and Drew VerHagen provide stability in the middle and back end of the rotation. Gu Lin is slated to make his NPB debut later this month, with promising prospects like Ren Fukushima, Haruki Hosono, and Kota Tatsu also knocking on the door.
Seigi Tanaka brings the heat 🔥
He strikes out Neftali Soto on three pitches including a 97 mph heater to end the frame.pic.twitter.com/rZIDFYxVfp
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) October 14, 2024
The bullpen still has some question marks, but Seigi “Justice” Tanaka is beginning to settle into the closer role while Yukiya Saito, Takahide Ikeda, and Toshihiro Sugiura are emerging as solid options in high-leverage situations.
While critics often mistake Shinjo’s eccentric personality for a lack of seriousness, his track record tells a different story. Year after year, he’s demonstrated a sharp eye for talent and a willingness to give overlooked players a second chance. Kitayama has developed into one of NPB’s top strikeout artists and a Samurai Japan representative after being a fourth-round pick. Kiyomiya was on the verge of being labeled a bust before Shinjo reignited his career. Martinez, Gunji, Mizutani, and Tanaka – all underutilized with their former squads – have flourished under his watch. The 53-year-old skipper has also embraced an unorthodox anti-bunting philosophy in a league known for its obstinate small-ball traditions. From 2022 to 2024, the Fighters already trended below league-average in sacrifice bunts, but in 2025, they’ve yet to lay down a single one.
With a star-studded core, deepening roster, positive clubhouse vibes, and growing confidence under Tsuyoshi Shinjo’s leadership, the Fighters are turning the corner from rebuild project to legitimate Japan Series contender. This group isn’t just built for short-term success – it has the foundation to sustain success and potentially usher in a new era of dominance in Hokkaido.
