Complete Roundup of Japanese Baseball News as of November 14, 2025

Shohei Ohtani’s Fourth MVP, NPB’s Early Offseason Moves, Samurai Japan’s Tune-Up Games, and the Launch of a New Middle Eastern League
MLB — Japanese Players Making Headlines
1. Shohei Ohtani Wins Unanimous NL MVP for the Fourth Time
2. Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto Named to All-MLB First Team
NPB — Trades and Contract News
Samurai Japan — Tune-Up Games vs. Korea
1. Starting Lineup Set for the Two-Game Series Beginning on the 15th
2. Series Realized After an Unusual Offer from Korea
Middle East Launches Its First Professional Baseball League
Amateur & High School Baseball Updates
Conclusion

Shohei Ohtani’s Fourth MVP, NPB’s Early Offseason Moves, Samurai Japan’s Tune-Up Games, and the Launch of a New Middle Eastern League

The first half of November 2025 has been packed with major baseball headlines across MLB, NPB, and international competition.
Among them, Shohei Ohtani’s unanimous fourth National League MVP stands out as a globally significant milestone.
NPB clubs are also moving unusually fast this offseason, and Samurai Japan’s exhibition series is just around the corner.

This article presents a clean, SEO-optimized WordPress version of the week’s biggest Japanese baseball stories.

MLB — Japanese Players Making Headlines

Shohei Ohtani Wins Unanimous NL MVP for the Fourth Time

Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) captured his fourth career National League MVP award—and his third straight unanimous selection—after a dominant 2025 season.

Key 2025 Stats

AVG: .282
HR: 55 (2nd in NL)
OPS: 1.056 (1st in NL)
Runs: 146 (1st in NL)
WAR: Over 10
Pitching: 10–3, 3.18 ERA

With a complete resurgence both at the plate and on the mound, Ohtani played a major role in the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series titles.
Analysts called his season “a rewrite of baseball history,” drawing global attention.

Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto Named to All-MLB First Team

Ohtani: Fifth consecutive selection
Yamamoto: Earned a First Team nod in his MLB debut season

The Dodgers’ Japanese duo solidified their status among the world’s elite, raising expectations even higher for 2026.

NPB — Trades and Contract News

Hanshin and Nippon-Ham Complete Key Trade

A balanced, needs-based trade drew significant praise.

Hanshin Tigers acquire

Torai Fushimi (C)
→ A veteran catcher expected to bring stability and leadership

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters acquire

Hiroya Shimamoto (LHP)
→ A direct boost to their 2025 bullpen

This marks the eighth aggressive trade move under manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo.

Rakuten Signs Pitcher Roansy Contreras

Former Colorado Rockies pitcher
GM Kazuhisa Ishii: “We expect him to anchor the starting rotation.”

Rakuten continues a clear push to strengthen its starting staff.

Seibu Lions Updates

Fifth-round pick Sowa Yokota officially joins the club
Daiju Nomura resumes catcher training and is open to a developmental contract
“I want another shot at proving myself,” he said.

Giants Move Closer to Signing Ryuji Kitaura

The left-handed reliever fits a key roster need and aims to restart his career after becoming a free agent.

Hanshin’s Yasuhiro Kusumoto Retires

Warm messages flooded social media as fans thanked him for his career.

SoftBank’s Ryosuke Otsu to Wear No. 19

Receiving an “ace number” signals the club’s high expectations.

Samurai Japan — Tune-Up Games vs. Korea

Starting Lineup Set for the Two-Game Series Beginning on the 15th

Projected lineup

3rd: Shota Morishita
4th: Kazuma Okamoto
5th: Shugo Maki
Starter: Ryuhei Sotani

A young roster with a powerful heart-of-the-order combination.

Series Realized After an Unusual Offer from Korea

Korea called Japan’s pitching staff “the perfect live training environment,” leading to this highly anticipated exhibition matchup.
The series has become a must-watch event across Asia.

Middle East Launches Its First Professional Baseball League

“Baseball United,” based primarily in the UAE, officially kicked off on the 14th.

Key Points

Backed by six Japanese sponsors
Several Japanese players participate
Official league baseball supplied by SSK
Seen as a new growth market for the sport in Asia and the Middle East

A new chapter in baseball globalization has begun.

Amateur & High School Baseball Updates

Industrial League Championship: Yamaha’s Ren Sato Named MVP

Sato pitched in all five games and delivered a dominant performance.
“I only focused on helping the team win,” he said—earning widespread praise for his durability.

Meiji Jingu Tournament: Kobe Kokusai Starts Strong

They grabbed a 2–0 lead over Chukyo University High by the second inning.
With numerous 2026 draft prospects on display, scouting interest is high.

NPB-Style Scoring Class Held at the Baseball Hall of Fame

A popular hands-on event taught by an official scorer.
Fans say learning scoring “makes baseball ten times more enjoyable.”

Sanrio × NPB Create a New Broadcast Format

The world’s first character-narrated baseball broadcast has attracted international media attention, signaling new possibilities for fan engagement.