Game Halted as On-Field Sprinkler Unexpectedly Activates During Baseball Match at Es Con Field Hokkaido

On July 31, 2025, an unusual incident occurred during a professional baseball Pacific League game between the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and the SoftBank Hawks at Es Con Field Hokkaido: an on-field sprinkler unexpectedly activated during play, causing the game to be temporarily suspended.

This rare event unfolded just before the top of the 6th inning, as the SoftBank Hawks were about to bat. Suddenly, a sprinkler near left field began spraying water vigorously, leading to a momentary stir within the stadium. Players were surprised by the sudden downpour, especially left fielder Shunsuke Mizutani, who was drenched by the spray. Comments such as "Mizutani literally became a valley of water, poor guy" flooded social media. Players evacuated to dry areas, and the game was halted. When the stadium announcement stated, "The sprinkler is currently activated. Please wait for a moment," surprised murmurs arose from the stands.

The disruption lasted only a few minutes, and after ground checks were completed, the game successfully resumed. However, social media was abuzz with various reactions, ranging from humorous posts like "I thought it was an innovative new production" and "This will definitely be on this year's blooper reel," to more critical opinions such as "It's dangerous for it to activate during a game" and "It poured water on a crucial top-of-the-standings battle." There were also comparisons to past troubles at other stadiums, making this incident a memorable one for many baseball fans.

Game suspensions due to stadium equipment malfunctions are extremely rare, and future measures to prevent recurrence will be closely watched.

The Context

Es Con Field Hokkaido is a state-of-the-art baseball stadium located in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, and is the home ballpark of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, one of the prominent teams in Japan's professional baseball Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Pacific League. Opened in 2023, it is known for its modern design and unique features, including a craft beer brewery and hot spring facilities within the complex, making it one of the newest and most advanced baseball venues in Japan. The Pacific League is one of the two major leagues in Japanese professional baseball, featuring high-level competition. Such an unexpected equipment malfunction during a professional game, especially in a modern stadium, is highly unusual and captured significant public attention due to its rarity and the immediate impact on the ongoing match, which involved two major contenders (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) in the league.