The media learned on October 14 that thirty-four-year-old Shinichi Takeuchi is planning to retire. The Yakult Swallows could offer him a job in the organization. An official announcement is expected within the next few days.
Source: Sanspo 10/15/2018, Sponichi 10/15/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018
[UPDATE 10/16 @ 7:05am]
The Swallows announced on October 15 that Takeuchi is retiring. Takuechi also held a press conference to announce his decision. He will remain in the organization with a staff job.
Notes
Source: Yakult 10/15/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018, Daily Sports 10/15/2018, Daily Sports 10/15/2018
0 Comments| Status | Name JPN | Name ENG | Current Position | Notes | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OUT | 野口寿浩 | Toshihiro Noguchi | Ichi-gun Battery Coach | [10/15] The Swallows announced they will not offer Noguchi a new contract for 2019. … [10/15] Noguchi is not expected to return next year. Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018 | 10/15 |
| OUT | 赤堀元之 | Motoyuki Akahori | Ni-gun Pitching Coach | [10/15] The Swallows announced they will not offer Akahori a new contract for 2019. … [10/15] Akahori is not expected to return next year. Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018 | 10/15 |
| – | 衣川篤史 | Atsushi Kinugawa | Scorer | [10/15] The Swallows could offer Kinugawa a job as Ichi-gun battery coach. Sanspo 10/15/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018, Sponichi 10/16/2018 | |
| – | 松岡健一 | Kenichi Matsuoka | Retiring | [10/15] Matsuoka could remain in the organization as a Ni-gun pitching coach. Sanspo 10/15/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018, Sponichi 10/16/2018 | |
| – | 三木肇 | Hajime Miki | Ni-gun Chief Coach | [10/15] There is a good chance Miki will not return next year. Sponichi 10/15/2018 | |
| – | 野村克則 | Katsunori Nomura | Ni-gun Battery Coach | [10/15] There is a good chance Nomura will not return next year. Sponichi 10/15/2018 |
| Status | Name JPN | Name ENG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | ハフ | Dave Huff | [10/16] Huff is interested in returning to the Swallows next year. Source: Sponichi 10/16/2018 |
| – | ブキャナン | David Buchanan | [10/15] Buchanan will be in the second year of a two-year contract next season. Sports Hochi 10/15/2018 |
| – | バレンティン | Wladimir Balentien | [10/15] Balentien would like to play for the Swallows for another two to three years. However, money is an issue for the Swallows. They may not be able to give him much more than he is currently making. However, they could offer more years. Tokyo Sports 10/15/2018 … [10/15] Balentien could earn his domestic free agent option next year. Sports Hochi 10/15/2018 … [10/15] The Swallows are planning to make Balentien an offer. Nikkan Sports 10/15/2018 … [10/14] Balentien told reporters that he hoped to return to the Swallows next year. Sponichi 10/14/2018, Daily Sports 10/14/2018 |
| – | 館山昌平 | Shohei Tateyama | [10/07] Not ready to retire. Next year will be his seventeenth season. Sponichi 10/7/2018 |
| Pos | Name JPN | Name ENG |
|---|---|---|
| P | 秋吉 亮 | Ryo Akiyoshi |
| P | 寺島 成輝 | Naruki Terashima |
| P | 蔵本 治孝 | Harutaka Kuramoto |
| P | 山田 大樹 | Hiroki Yamada |
| P | 村中 恭兵 | Kyohei Muranaka |
| P | 高橋 奎二 | Keiji Takahashi |
| P | 沼田 拓巳 | Takumi Numata |
| P | 中澤 雅人 | Masato Nakazawa |
| P | 屋宜 照悟 | Shogo Yagi |
| P | ウルキデス | Jason Urquidez |
| P | 平井 諒 | Ryo Hirai |
| P | 山中 浩史 | Hirofumi Yamanaka |
| P | ジュリアス | Julius Higuma |
| C | 松本 直樹 | Naoki Matsumoto |
| C | 大村 孟 | Hajime Omura |
| C | 山川 晃司 | Koji Yamakawa |
| INF | 谷内 亮太 | Ryota Yachi |
| INF | 渡邉 大樹 | Daiki Watanabe |
| INF | 藤井 亮太 | Ryota Fujii |
| INF | 村上 宗隆 | Munetaka Murakami |
| INF | 三輪 正義 | Masayoshi Miwa |
| OF | 山崎 晃大朗 | Kotaro Yamasaki |
| OF | 田代 将太郎 | Shotaro Tashiro |
Source: Yakult 10/4/2018
0 CommentsThe Yakult Swallows secured second place in the Central League with their 3-2 victory over the Yokohama Bay Stars. The Nippon Ham Fighters settled for third in the Pacific League after they dropped their game against the Seibu Lions 3-2 and the Softbank Hawks beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 4-2.
The First Stage of the Central League Climax Series will take place at Jingu Stadium. The First Stage of the Pacific League Climax Series will take place at YafuOku Dome.
Source: Sponichi 10/2/2018, Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Sanspo 10/2/2018
0 CommentsNorichika Aoki was replaced by a pinch-runner after he hurt his left hamstring while running out a bunt single in the eighth inning of a game against the Yokohama Bay Stars at Jingu Stadium on October 2. He will most likely be examined at a hospital on October 3. The Yakult Swallows are planning to take him off the active roster.
Source: Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Sponichi 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018, Sanspo 10/2/2018
0 Comments| Name JPN | Name ENG | Notes | Official |
|---|---|---|---|
| 由規 | Yoshinori Sato | [10/15] The Eagles could offer Yoshinori an Ikusei contract. Sanspo 10/15/2018 … [10/04] The Rakuten Eagles are planning to take a look at Yoshinori. They tried to select him in 2007, but lost to Yakult. Sponichi 10/4/2018 … [10/02] The club was ready to offer him a job in organization, but he is not ready to retire. Open to playing for teams outside the NPB. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Sanspo 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018, Sponichi 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 成瀬善久 | Yoshihisa Naruse | [10/02] Would like to keep playing. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018, Sports Hochi 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 久古健太郎 | Kentaro Kyuko | [10/02] Undecided. Not planning to attend NPB tryout. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 菊沢竜佑 | Ryusuke Kikusawa | [10/02] Will most likely retire. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 古野正人 | Masato Furuno | [10/02] Undecided. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 大松尚逸 | Shoitsu Omatsu | [10/02] Would like to keep playing. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Sanspo 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 比屋根渉 | Wataru Hiyane | [10/02] Would like to keep playing. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
| 鵜久森淳志 | Atsushi Ugumori | [10/02] Undecided. Daily Sports 10/2/2018, Nikkan Sports 10/2/2018 | 10/2 |
Milestones
2018
October 1 vs Yomiuri at Jingu Stadium – Obiki hit home runs in back-to-back trips to the plate. Both home runs came off Mitsuo Yoshikawa. He hit a two-run home run in the second inning and a solo home run in the fourth inning. This was Obiki’s first two-homer game of his career.
Source: Sponichi 10/1/2018, Sports Hochi 10/1/2018, Sanspo 10/1/2018
0 CommentsThe Yakult Swallows and Yokohama Bay Stars set a new Eastern League record by using a combined forty-eight players during a game at Yokosuka Stadium earlier today. The Bay Stars won the game, 4-2.
Other records:
Source: Sanspo 9/30/2018
0 CommentsThe Yakult Swallows announced that thirty-three-year-old Tetsuya Yamamoto and thirty-six-year-old Kenichi Matsuoka will be retiring at the end of the season. They posted the following comments from the players.
Yamamoto
To the fans, thank you for supporting for nine years. Even though I missed a full season with a year of rehab, the support from many people allowed me to end my career with no regrets. Please continue to root and cheer for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Matsuoka
A very big thank you to the fans that supported me for fourteen years. I was able to get through the good and the bad because of your support. I am nothing but grateful. Thank you.
Source: Yakult 9/30/2018
0 Comments