Tokyo International News Agency

On March 27th, as the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) season kicked off, a historic first was recorded. Yomiuri Giants' player Cabbage and Yokohama DeNA BayStars' player Shugo Maki each blasted a leadoff home run in their respective opening games, etching their names into baseball history. In the Giants' clash against the Hanshin Tigers, Cabbage launched a powerful blast against the opposing opening day starter. This marked the Giants' first leadoff home run in an opening game in 19 years, providing significant momentum for the team. The team went on to secure a splendid victory in their season opener, highlighted by rookie pitcher Kazuyuki Takemaru earning the franchise's first-ever opening day win for a rookie starter, and new foreign import Dalbec hitting his first home run in Japan. Meanwhile, in the BayStars' game against the Hiroshima Carp, Shugo Maki, batting leadoff for the first time in his professional career, responded by crushing the very fir...

The 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) opening day was an absolute spectacle, with powerful solo home runs flying out of ballparks across the country, sending fan excitement soaring to new heights. Each valuable blast, hit by star sluggers and new talents alike, repeatedly swung the momentum of games. Central League Highlights In the Central League, Yokohama DeNA BayStars' Shugo Maki launched a leadoff solo home run to right field on the very first pitch he saw. The impressive arc drawn across the Yokohama night sky gave the BayStars a perfect start to their season. The Yomiuri Giants also saw their new foreign players make an immediate impact. Cabbage hit a leadoff home run to put the Giants on the board first, and Dalbec followed with his first solo home run in Japan, significantly contributing to the team's opening day victory. Notably, Dalbec showed remarkable clutch ability, making up for an earlier out in a scoring opportunity with his solo shot. Kensuke Kondo also a...

On March 26th, the day before the opening of the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) season, the league announced the projected starting pitchers for all six games scheduled for Friday, March 27th. Following this announcement, anticipation and excitement for the long-awaited season opener have surged explosively across social media. Many fans posted comments like, "When the starting pitchers are announced, it really feels like the season is finally starting!" and "I'm suddenly nervous. It's almost here!" Some even expressed surprise, saying, "I didn't even know tomorrow was Opening Day, so I was shocked by the announced starters! Please win!" These reactions indicate that the announcement of starting pitchers is a symbolic moment for fans, signaling the true beginning of the season. In the Central League, Kazuyuki Takemaru (Giants), making his professional debut, will clash with Shoki Murakami (Hanshin), who posted a 14-4 record last season...