Slugger Jose Osuna Takes the Mound: A Night of Surprise and Smiles at Meiji Jingu Stadium

On May 12, 2026, during a matchup between the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the Hanshin Tigers at Meiji Jingu Stadium, an extraordinary scene unfolded that left the crowd in a mix of awe and laughter. In the top of the 9th inning, with the Swallows trailing by 10 runs, it wasn't the SoftBank closer Osuna who took the mound, but rather Yakult’s own star slugger, infielder Jose Osuna.

The unusual pitching appearance was triggered by an early-game crisis. Swallows starter Yoshimura was forced to leave the game in the first inning after being struck by a line drive from Hanshin’s Teruaki Sato. This emergency exit forced Manager Ikeyama to burn through his relief corps early. Meanwhile, the Tigers' offense exploded, fueled by four home runs—including a grand slam by Morishita—to build a commanding 10-0 lead. With the bullpen completely depleted, the manager turned to the slugger Osuna to eat up the final inning.

Despite looking like he was playing catch, Osuna surprised everyone by clocking a personal best of 141 km/h (approx. 88 mph). He didn't just throw heat; he showed off his repertoire with grips for knuckle-curves and sliders. Social media erupted, with "Pitcher Osuna" instantly trending on X (formerly Twitter). Fans posted comments ranging from "I thought it was the SoftBank Osuna for a second!" to "His form is actually great" and "I can’t believe he’s throwing breaking balls!"

While the game ended in a crushing 0-10 defeat for Yakult, Osuna’s performance transformed the somber mood into a festival-like atmosphere. Even Hanshin fans in the left-field stands joined in the fun, jokingly shouting, "Don't hit Teru!" at the mound. Some fans even joked that Osuna was a "two-way star with a high batting average," finding a silver lining in a rough night. Despite the harsh reality of a thin pitching staff, Osuna’s versatility and competitive spirit gave Swallows fans a night they won't soon forget.

The context

In Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), it is historically rare for position players to pitch, making such appearances a significant and often lighthearted event compared to the more frequent occurrences in Major League Baseball. The situation was particularly amusing for fans because of the name: Roberto Osuna is a well-known, high-paid closer for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, leading to double-takes when the name "Osuna" appeared on the scoreboard next to the pitcher icon. Jose Osuna, a Venezuelan infielder, has been a key part of Yakult's lineup for several years, and his willingness to take one for the team in a blowout solidified his status as a fan favorite.

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