Source: Nikkan Sports The hype machine that 2020 first-round draft pick Teruaki Sato‘s life has become, well, it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Nikkan Sports kindly summarized his exploits so far since joining the Tigers. Keep in mind that he is still just 21 years old (until this weekend). ★ February…
Sources: Daily Sports / Sports Hochi Hanshin manager Akihiro Yano announced to the media on March 8 that he plans on using 9th-year right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami as the Opening Day starter. The original plan called for Yuki Nishi to get the nod for the second straight season, but asthmatic symptoms forced him to leave…
Sources: Hanshin Official / Daily Sports / Nikkan Sports Hanshin’s newly-acquired left-handed pitcher, Wei-Yin Chen (35, formerly of the Chiba Lotte Marines) met the press in Nishinomiya at Koshien facilities on January 30. He will wear #14, which was recently worn by Atsushi Nohmi (now with Orix). He has expressed a strong desire to shut…
Sources: Daily Sports / Daily Sports Hanshin announced the signing of former Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (35) on December 22nd. It is an estimated 2-year, $4-million deal. He will wear #14, which belonged to Atsushi Nohmi this past season. The lefty has 95 career wins between NPB and MLB, and says he hopes…
Source: Sports Hochi Reports that came out on the 2nd indicate that the Tigers are strongly considering moving their farm facilities from Naruohama (bottom red dot, Nishinomiya) to Odaminami Park (far right dot, Amagasaki). Koshien Stadium is the dot on the far left of this map. Preliminary planning has already begun as last week, the…
Sources: Tigers Homepage / Sponichi / Nikkan Sports The Hanshin Tigers roster (and mental health) took a huge blow on September 25th as the team announced that five of its players and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. At first, just one player, right-handed pitcher Masumi Hamachi, complained of headaches, slight fever, and lethargy….
Source: Daily Sports NPB held an emergency meeting on the 12th and reached the decision to loosen the limitations placed on fan attendance at games starting on September 19. A government branch meeting on the 11th determined that it was safe to allow stadiums to be filled to a maximum of 50% of their capacities….
Source: Sponichi 1 / Sponichi 2 / Sponichi 3 Hanshin Tigers pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa (40) announced on August 31st his intention to retire at season’s end. On September 1, he held a press conference in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo. (Click here for Part 1) Your thoughts on being part of the Matsuzaka Generation? KF: Matsuzaka is…
Source: Sponichi 1 / Sponichi 2 / Sponichi 3 Hanshin Tigers pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa (40) announced on August 31st his intention to retire at season’s end. On September 1, he held a press conference in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo. Kyuji Fujikawa (KF): I want to thank the team first and foremost, but also all of you,…
Source: Sponichi Annex Hanshin infielder Kento Itohara revealed to reporters on the 20th that he has been practicing batting tennis balls off a tee at the team’s Naruohama facility since the 19th to reduce the burden on his body (which would be heavier if he hit real baseballs). “I was hoping to start batting off…