Japan Baseball Report

Interleague play is underway in the NPB. One thing that is certain, the Pacific League is already commanding a healthy lead in the head to head matchups with the Central League. At Last Raps Baseball, we feel that this is not going away anytime soon! Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

Three Japanese born pitchers are pitching their way into Cy Young contention. But they aren't who you might think off the top of your head. Also, Tomo Otosaka has signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners to add to their outfield depth and is holding down the fort in AAA Tacoma. To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

Injuries struck their offense and pitching staff but the New York Mets are off to a good start. A big part of their success has come from Kodai Senga. The former Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starter who is coming off an injury riddled 2024 campaign, has provided the Mets every they have expect from the Japanese star and more including a 13 inning shutout streak! Stay up to date with news and notes around the NPB on the Japan Baseball Report! Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

There are more import pitchers than import players in the NPB. Today we will look at the Pacific League arms that are performing for each of their clubs. Livan Moinelo is having a great start to his season. For the Cuban left hander, he has been a bright spot for the Fukuoka Club who has stumbled out of the gates. Stay up to date with news and notes around the NPB on the Japan Baseball Report!Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

When you are an import player, you have to produce more than the domestic player otherwise what have you been brought in to do? Trey Cabbage of the Yomiuri Giants and Franmil Reyes of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters have come out of the gate hot! Who else is making a difference? This edition of the Japan Baseball Report explores the import bats and those who are having an impact, or not, in the 2025 NPB season and we offer our Top 5 imports in our Power Rankings! Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

Spring Training is over and the MLB gets going in North America on March 27, 2025, and 10 Japanese players will be on opening day rosters. We will update on which players were sent down and who will start on the injured list in this edition of the Japan Baseball Report. Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

Championships are not won in the spring, but they can sure be lost. The Preseason games are done in the NPB and now it is time for the Real season to begin! We take a look at the big news for every team coming out of the exhibition season on the Japan Baseball Report.Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

We are all about Japanese Baseball, but when you get a moment to sit down with a former Big Leaguer to talk about his playing career, you need to take advantage of it! This is the first of a few interviews we did with Eric. This episode he talks about how he was drafted 3 times, his long haul to the big leagues and what it was like playing in six different organizations. The seventh edition of the Japan Baseball Report will keep you in the know! Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!

There are 15 Japanese players in Major League Baseball Spring Training. We take a look at each one of them to let you know how they are doing, which ones may not make clubs out of spring training, and how the Tokyo Series played out.If you would like to reach us, [email protected] to ask your questions and we will get them on the air in an upcoming episode.

The 2025 NPB season is just around the corner, but Spring Training is upon us! Trevor Bauer has made his return to Japan pitching 3 innings for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Bauer has slimmed down and is in great shape heading into the 2025 season, and has stated that one of his goals is to capture the Sawamura award given to the best pitcher in Japan. Feat @lastrapsbaseball To reach us, send your e-mail to: [email protected] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts!