As spring camp enters its final phase, Nippon Professional Baseball has officially shifted into full game mode.

February 22 marked the true beginning of preseason momentum across Japan — and the headlines revealed both optimism and uncertainty.

■ Giants: Iori Yamasaki Strengthens Opening Day Case

The Yomiuri Giants continue trending in a stable direction.

Starter Iori Yamasaki delivered:

His fastball had life.
His command remained steady.
His tempo controlled the pace.

Within manager Shinnosuke Abe’s framework, the Opening Day picture appears to be narrowing.

The next step: extend pitch count and sharpen stamina.

The Giants may not be explosive yet — but structurally, they look composed.

■ Yakult: Ikayama Era Opens with Energy

At Jingu Stadium, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows delivered an emotional preseason win under manager
Takahiro Ikeyama.

A three-run rally flipped momentum, powered by:

The bullpen relay — including newcomer Walters and key middle relievers — preserved the edge.

Even in preseason, atmosphere matters.
And the early mood around Yakult feels positive.

The Hanshin Tigers finished in a draw, and fan reaction remained notably measured.

Pitching continues to define this roster:

Meanwhile, cleanup hitter
Yusuke Oyama collected three hits.

It’s preseason — and Hanshin supporters understand that form matters more than final score in February.

Still, competitive expectations remain high in Koshien country.

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters opened their preseason schedule in Nago — a location fans describe as “once-a-year baseball festival.”

Young arm
Tamon Asari seeks rotation footing, while veteran
Naoki Miyanishi entered his 19th season with another composed outing.

Manager
Tsuyoshi Shinjo kept the tone relaxed:

“No need to press. Just play free.”

Meanwhile,
Kotaro Kiyomiya continues on a modified program — a reminder that spring also carries risk.

Even in preseason, patterns begin forming:

✔ Opening Day pitcher races
✔ Young player auditions
✔ Bullpen hierarchy shaping

Preseason baseball isn’t about standings.

It’s about structure.

It’s about who can handle rising pitch counts.
Who adapts fastest.
Who stays healthy.

By late March, speculation becomes reality.

For now, the league stands at the threshold —
where optimism and uncertainty coexist.

And that’s exactly what makes February baseball compelling. ⚾