Tokyo International News Agency

On May 13, 2026, at Yokohama Stadium, Shunya Shimada, the second-round draft pick for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, achieved a historic milestone during a game against the Chunichi Dragons. In the fifth inning, Shimada accomplished an "Immaculate Inning"—striking out three consecutive batters on just nine pitches. This incredible feat led his team to a 5-0 shutout victory and secured his first career win as a professional. The rookie’s dominant performance peaked in the fifth, where he faced three Chunichi batters, including star slugger Seiya Hosokawa, and dismantled them with flawless precision. Social media exploded with praise, with fans calling his pitching "artistic" and hailing him as a "phenomenal new talent." While this was the 23rd Immaculate Inning in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history, Shimada is only the second rookie to achieve it, following Takao Kajimoto (Hankyu) in 1954. He also became the first rookie in the history of the Central L...

On May 13, 2026, at Yokohama Stadium, rookie pitcher Shunya Shimada of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars delivered a masterclass performance to secure his first professional victory. Shimada led his team to a shutout win, pitching six dominant innings without allowing a single run. The highlight of the night—and the moment that set the stadium ablaze—was Shimada’s achievement of an "immaculate inning." By striking out three consecutive batters on exactly nine pitches in a single inning, he etched his name into the record books as the first rookie pitcher in Central League history to accomplish this rare feat. Fans have been quick to praise his explosive emotion on the mound and his powerful pitching style, with many calling him a "future ace candidate" and declaring that "the future is bright" for the franchise. However, it wasn’t just his performance that captured hearts; the "personality gap" he displayed during the post-game hero interview has become...