The Nippon Ham Fighters announced on Wednesday (October 9) that Michihiro Ogasawara was returning to the organization as a head coach / hitting coach. They held a press conference for him in Sapporo on Thursday (October 10).
Ogasawara started his professional career with the Fighters in 1997. Wanting to be closer to his family, he exercised his free agent option after the 2006 season and signed with the Yomiuri Giants. He spent the last two years of his active playing career with the Chunichi Dragons. After retirement, he remained with the Dragons’ organization as a Ni-gun manager.
Source: Nippon Ham 10/9/2019, Nippon Ham 10/10/2019, Nikkan Sports 10/10/2019, Jiji Press 10/10/2019, Sanspo 10/10/2019
One CommentNick Martinez developed some discomfort in his right arm while pitching in a Ni-gun game against Yakult on March 20. The Nippon Ham Fighters announced on March 22 that Martinez was examined at a hospital in Sapporo and diagnosed with a strain in his right forearm flexor (first degree).
Martinez’s right arm will be shut down for two weeks and might require about four weeks for a full recovery.
Source: Nippon Ham 3/22/2019, Jiji 3/22/2019, Nikkan Sports 3/22/2019, Daily Sports 3/22/2019
0 CommentsRelationships and Family
2019
March 15 – The Nippon Ham Fighters announced that Kondo (25) filed marriage papers with a woman in her twenties from Sapporo on March 14.
Source: Sponichi 3/15/2019, Daily Sports 3/15/2019, Nikkan Sports 3/15/2019, Sports Hochi 3/15/2019
0 CommentsKotaro Kiyomiya hurt his right wrist while fouling a pitch off during his at bat in the ninth inning of an exhibition game against Yokohama at Sapporo Dome on March 3. He was pulled from the game as a precaution. Kiyomiya also hurt he same wrist last fall and had additional problems with it last month.
Source: Nikkan Sports 3/3/2019, Sponichi 3/3/2019, Sponichi 3/4/2019, Daily Sports 3/3/2019, Daily Sports 3/4/2019, Sanspo 3/3/2019, Sanspo 3/4/2019
[UPDATE @ 10:37pm]
The Nippon Ham Fighters announced that Kiyomiya was examined at a hospital in Tokyo today and diagnosed with a fracture in his right hamate bone. A timeline for his recovery has not yet been released. Surgery could be an option.
The NPB also announced that Kiyomiya will not participate in the Japan vs Mexico exhibition games later this month. No one will be taking his spot on the roster.
Source: Samurai Japan 3/4/2019, Nippon Ham 3/4/2019, Daily Sports 3/4/2019, Tokyo Sports 3/4/2019, Sanpo 3/4/2019, Nikkan Sports 3/4/2019, Sponichi 3/4/2019
[UPDATE 3/5 @ 2:36pm]
According to the latest reports, Kiyomiya will have (or may have already had) surgery on his wrist today.
Source: Sports Hochi 3/5/2019, Sponichi 3/5/2019
[UPDATE 3/6 @ 10:11am]
Kiyomiya had surgery on his wrist at a hospital in Tokyo on March 5. There were no complications. He will begin a rehab program at the Ni-gun facilities in Kamagaya on March 12 and will most likely need about three weeks for a full recovery.
Source: Daily Sports 3/5/2019, Daily Sports 3/5/2019, Tokyo Sports 3/5/2019, Sponichi 3/5/2019, Sponichi 3/6/2019, Nikkan Sports 3/5/2019
0 CommentsRyo Watanabe developed discomfort in his right side during a practice game against the Hanshin Tigers on February 17. The Nippon Ham Fighters announced today that Watanabe was examined at a hospital in Nago on February 18 and diagnosed with a strain in his right internal oblique muscle. He will most likely need four to five weeks for a full recovery.
Source: Nippon Ham 2/19/2019, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2019, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2019, Sponichi 2/19/2019, Daily Sports 2/19/2019
0 CommentsMiscellaneous
2019
February 19 – Hakumura will be making the switch to position player from pitcher. Team officials made the suggestion to the twenty-seven-year-old during a meeting on February 18. Hakumura was surprised, but accepted the change because the Nippon Ham Fighters were trying to provide him with another path to success.
Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2019, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2019, Sanspo 2/19/2019, Daily Sports 2/19/2019
0 CommentsSho Nakata hurt his right leg during a practice game against the NC Dinos (KBO) on February 11. He was examined at a hospital on the same day and diagnosed with a strain in his right adductor. It might be about three weeks until he is ready to play in games again.
Source: Sponichi 2/13/2019, Nikkan Sports 2/13/2019, Daily Sports 1/13/2019, Tokyo Sports 1/13/2019
0 CommentsRelationships and Family
2019
February 2 – The Nippon Ham Fighters announced that Hancock’s wife gave birth to the couple’s first child, a girl weighing 2,665 grams, at a hospital in Indiana on January 31 (US time).
Source: Daily Sports 2/2/2019, Sponichi 2/2/2019, Nikkan Sports 2/2/2019, Sports Hochi 2/2/2019
0 CommentsThe Nippon Ham Fighters announced that Yushi Shimizu had surgery to treat a lumbar herniated disc and to remove a cyst at a hospital in Tokushima. He will most likely require about three months for a full recovery.
Source: Nippon Ham 1/23/2019, Nikkan Sports 1/23/2019, Sanspo 1/23/2019, Sponichi 1/23/2019
0 CommentsThe Nippon Ham Fighters announced the following uniform number assignments:
Source: Nippon Ham 12/27/2018
0 Comments