2nd round draft pick Takahiro Norimoto, Brandon Duckworth, and Manabu Mima, will likely start the opening series (vs Softbank at YafuOku Dome, March 29-31).  They will probably be followed by Masahiro Tanaka, Kenji Tomura, and Yoshinao Kamata in the second series (vs Orix at Kleenex Stadium, April 2-4).

Source: Sponichi 3/27/2013

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Tanaka is slated to start the home opener on April 2 against Orix.

Source: Sanspo 3/27/2013

Tanaka signed a spokesmodel agreement with bedding company Tokyo Nishikawa.

Source: Sports Hochi 3/27/2013

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Mima threw about eighty pitches in the bullpen today.  His first regular season start will likely come on the 31st against Softbank at YafuOku Dome.

Source: Sanspo 3/27/2013

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Ichi-gun pitching coach Ryoji Moriyama was diagnosed with the flu.  Ni-gun chief pitching coach Tsutomu Sakai will take over as Ichi-gun pitching coach until Moriyama is ready to return.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/27/2013

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The Eagles will be teaching a course on Practical Theory in Sports Management at Tohoku University, beginning in April.

Source: Sanspo 3/27/2013

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The Ichi-gun group closed out their camp in Kumejima, Okinawa today.  They will now head to Kin, Okinawa.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/14/2013

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Valentine's Day: Takahiro Shiomi led all players with seventy-two chocolates.  Motohiro Shima was in second with seventy and Teppei in third with sixty-five.

Source: Sanspo 2/14/2013

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Takashi Saito is scheduled to throw around forty pitches during batting practice on the 17th.

Saito celebrated his forty-third birthday today.

Source: Sanspo 12/14/2013

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Takumi Miyoshi was called up to Ichi-gun camp on the 11th.  He will continue to remain with the Ichi-gun group as camp moves to Kin, Okinawa on Friday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/14/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka made an adjustment to his splitter (how he grips the ball) during his bullpen on Wednesday.  Tadashi Ishimine caught the session and later said to reporters, "I have never seen movement like that [from Tanaka].  It looked like the pitch would diving in toward right-handed hitters."

Source: Sports Hochi 2/14/2013, Sponichi 2/14/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/14/2013, Sanspo 2/14/2013

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2nd round draft pick Takahiro Norimoto has not allowed a run in two intra-squad games (four innings, three hits).

Source: Sports Hochi 2/14/2013

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Former Rakuten Eagle Masato Nakamura wanted to continue playing and was also looking into the KBO, but did not receive any offers.  He has decided to retire and plans to open a restaurant/bar.

Source: Daily Sports 2/14/2013

Masahiro Tanaka asked Andruw Jones questions about his pitches after Tuesday's intra-squad game.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013, Daily Sports 2/13/2013

Sanspo posted parts of Tanaka's post-game chat with the media:

On your first intra-squad outing...

I was able to get my arm into it so I think it was alright.  I did my best to keep the hitters off balance.

The wind was fairly strong...

The winds at QVC Marine can be strong during the regular.  My first game of the year did not go well, but I think I did alright.

What did you think of [Andruw Jones] telling [Casey] McGehee what pitch was coming from the dugout?

That is something that could take place during international games.  I knew what he did, but I got hit because I was weak.  McGehee took a good swing and got a hold of it.

On using the WBC baseball...

Honestly, it has not really bothered me much.  I do not think it is something everyone has to get worried about.

How were the hitters responding to your pitches?

My off-speed pitches were moving too early and I need to work on the late break.  My fastball hit 146km/h, but I was not executing and was forcing it up there.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

Tanaka's wife and parents were at the game.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/13/2013

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Samurai Japan candidates Kazuo Matsui, Ryo Hijirisawa, and Masahiro Tanaka will head to Miyazaki on Thursday for the start of WBC mini-camp.

Andruw Jones will head to Taiwan on the 21st to attend for his mini-camp with the Netherlands.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013

Masahiro Tanaka has thrown 321 pitches over five bullpen sessions since the start of spring camp (as of Monday).

Source: Sanspo 2/12/2013

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Satoshi Nagai has thrown over 450 pitches in six bullpen session since the start of spring camp (as of Monday).

Source: Sports Hochi 2/12/2013

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Senichi Hoshino presented Ryo Hijirisawa with a wristwatch (valued at 650,000 yen) last year for leading the league in steals.  During morning shout-outs today, Hijirisawa said he was going to do his best to win another expensive watch this year.

Source: Sanspo 2/12/2013

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Samurai Japan: Conditioning coach Minoru Kumahara will be traveling with Masahiro Tanaka, Ryo Hijirisawa, and Kazuo Matsui to WBC mini-camp.  The team wants Kumahara to watch over Tanaka.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/12/2013

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For the second time in as many days, most workouts were performed indoors because of the rain.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/11/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to pitch in Tuesday's intra-squad game.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/11/2013

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Yoshinao Kamata is also slated to pitch on Tuesday.  Andruw Jones and Casey McGehee are expected to play.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/11/2013

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Tomoki Hoshino is the only pitcher on the staff that has tossed a bullpen session each during spring camp so far this year (not including the team's day off on the 7th).  He is scheduled to pitch in Tuesday's intra-squad game.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/11/2013

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The Eagles were not allowed to leave the team hotel until 6:30pm today because of tsunami warnings.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Ryo Hijirisawa ran a thirty meter in 4.08 seconds on Tuesday.  Hijirisawa wants to get that under four seconds (his best time is 3.95 seconds).

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka has tossed 202 pitches over his first four bullpen sessions.

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013

The Texas Rangers have reportedly been checking on Tanaka during spring camp.

Source: Sponichi 2/6/2013

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Shintaro Masuda was assigned to Ni-gun spring camp because he hurt his right knee late in the season last year.  Masuda does not have any problems swinging the bat, but is still a little worried about running the bases.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Yoshinao Kamata could get a shot at the opening day start, depending on how things go with Masahiro Tanaka during the World Baseball Classic.

Kamata has been working on his curve this winter (has more vertical movement).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Hiroaki Shimauchi celebrated his twenty-third birthday today.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/2/2013

Shimauchi dropped his fat percent from 11.6% to 9% over the winter.

Source: Sanspo 2/2/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka threw three sliders and three two-seamers during his bullpen session on Friday.

Source: Sponichi 2/2/2013

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Andruw Jones did not complete his runs around the field on Friday.  He also sat out shuttle runs.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/2/2013

Jones took grounders at first during fielding practices today.

Source: Daily Sports 2/2/2013

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6th round draft pick Takahiro Kakizawa attended early morning workouts today and spent about an hour (from around 8:00am) taking batting practice.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/2/2013

According to a report by Sponichi, Hiroyuki Kobayashi has agreed to a minor league deal (split contract) with the LA Angels that also includes an invite to spring training.

Source: Sponichi 2/1/2013

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A number of MLB teams, including the Texas Rangers, are interested in Masahiro Tanaka (Rakuten) and could send scouts to check on him during spring camp.

Source: Sponichi 2/1/2013

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A number of MLB teams are reportedly planning to send scouts to check on Hanshin Tiger 1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/1/2013

According to reports filed by Sponichi, the New York Yankees interested Masahiro Tanaka (Rakuten).  A number of other other MLB teams -- like the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers -- are also said to be in the hunt for the right-handed ace.

The Yankees have been keeping an eye on Tanaka since 2010.  Their Japan scout, Shoichi Kida, has been keeping the organization updated on Tanaka's status.

Source: Sponichi 1/4/2013

Masahiro Tanaka updates from December 23:

Nikkan Sports

The Eagles have promised to sit down with Tanaka after each year of the contract to discuss the possibility of posting him to the Majors.

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/23/2012

Daily Sports

Tanaka worked out at Kleenex Stadium today.  When asked if he had heard any reactions to his statement about wanting to play in the Majors at some point in the future, he replied, "Reactions?  Not really."

Source: Daily Sports 12/23/2012

Sponichi

Rakuten Eagles' Yasuyuki Kato: "Without [Tanaka] we cannot win a championship.  He is a player we absolutely need.  We believe he will continue doing well for our team. ... We cannot stop him from chasing his dream or taking on new challenges.  We will sit down with him after each season to discuss possibilities."

Source: Sponichi 12/23/2012

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More than ten teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, could be interested in Tanaka if he gets posted to the Majors.

Source: Sponichi 12/23/2012

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Tanaka joined Darvish (2011, 500 million yen) and Ichiro Suzuki (1998, 430 million yen) as the youngest players to reach the 400 million yen milestone in the year they turned twenty-five.  Darvish ended up leaving after his seventh season.  Tanaka will be entering his seventh season next year.

Source: Sponichi 12/23/2012

Sports Hochi

Tanaka's old high school manager was surprised to hear that his former pitcher wanted to play in the Majors.

"What!  Way back when, Masahiro spoke about how he had no interested in the Majors," said Yoshifumi Koda.  "Maybe he changed his way of thinking after coming into contact with Yu Darvish."

Source: Sports Hochi 12/23/2012

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Portions of Tanaka's post-salary negotiation press conference have been posted.

Sanspo

Your signed a multi-year deal.

They gave me a great offer.  I was thankful for their consideration.  I was able to sign the contract without any hesitation.

Will you try for the Majors next year?

I can not say no.  I did have them include a clause in the contract that allows me the opportunity to discuss it during the duration of the contract.

On playing in the Majors.

There is no set timetable for when I want to go, but as a baseball player, I want to continue growing.

Was this the first time you told the team?

I told them after the season.  And then we spoke about it today.

On showcasing yourself during the WBC.

Nothing will change for me.  I will not be trying to turn heads.  I just want to take the lead and help the team win.

Source: Sanspo 12/23/2012

Sports Hochi

When did you start thinking about the Majors?

After my sixth season.  I am getting older.  It is not just position players, but when I saw people my age making it on the world's stage, that made me think about it.

Was this year the first time you told the team about it?

If I had said something before, I am sure each of you would have caught on and written something about it by now.

The multi-year deal, who brought it up?

The team offered it.  I was not surprised, but they think highly of me and I am thankful for that.

Did you speak to any [Japanese] MLB players?

No.

Was it always your dream to play [in the Majors]?

It was never a dream and it still is not.  But I have always wanted to compete at the highest level.

Your thoughts on the WBC?

I need stay strong and take the lead.  I am sure everyone will talk about how I need to do well because of the Majors, but I do not feel that way at all.  I just want to do what I need to in order to win, in order to help the team win.  That is all.

Source: Sports Hochi 12/23/2012