2026-27 Offseason Updates
* The Japan Series champion Tokyo Yakult Swallows added LHP CC Mercedes from the Shizuoka Arrows, yielding RHP Konyo Nakayama.
* The Shizuoka Arrows have declined arbitration with 10 players: RHP Masaya Kyoyama, RHP Jumpei Takahashi, LHP Takeshi Watanabe, C Hideyuki Kuga, 2B Satoru Matsushta, IF Masaki Mimori, LF Motohide Kinoshta, CF Eddy Vizcaino, RF Yuta Takano, and RF Akiyoshi Yamane. They will become free agents.
>> Akiyoshi Yamane would re-sign on a minor league deal.
* The Baseball Federation of Japan (industrial league) announced the addition of 4 new teams: Nihon Seimei, Panasonic, Yamagishi Logisters, and Sumitomo Metal Kashima.
* The Shizuoka Arrows have announced the following personnel changes:
* Brian Schneider has been promoted from manager of Shinano Grandserows to Shizuoka's bench coach
* Kenji Tomura has been hired to take over the Shinano Grandserows club; it is his first managerial experience
* Fumikazu Takanami has joined the front office as an assistant GM - this is his first role
* Andre Ethier, former Los Angeles Dodger, has joined the Shizuoka Arrows as the new top-level manager. His smallball approach will blend well with the Arrows' contact-heavy lineup.
* The Arrows have made a swap of minor league players with the Ehime Honda Comets; notable returns were CF Jutaro Mori and SS Riku Masuda.
* The Shizuoka Arrows have signed right-fielder Soichi Shiotani to a 1yr/705K contract. Shiotani put up 2.0 WAR in his second full year with Yomiuri, but was declined arbitration. He'll compete with Malik Collymore for the starting role in right.
2026 First-Year Draft
The Shizuoka Arrows surprised fans and executives alike with a new uniform set, shown off by their first two draft picks below.
GM tehsuigi explained that it was high time to bring a green road jersey out, and adjust their look to something as unique and bold as their team identity is. That includes keeping the white-panel cap for home games, the only team in *** with one.
1. Kikuo Kawamoto, slugging first baseman from Urawa Gakuin. 5 HRs in 6 pre-tournament games, plus four in three Koshien games over last two years.
2. Tomonori Nitta, high-school third baseman with good defense and speed, plus a future strong bat.
3. Asakichi Shimoda, college catcher with top-notch ability and pretty good speed
4. Ikuma Yokoyama, right-handed reliever with three plus pitches already. If he can figure out how to increase his control and movement, he'll be dynamite.
5. Tsuyoshi Taguchi, high school second baseman with leadership traits and good range. If his bat develops, could be potent!
6. Kouchi Nakaoka, speedy right fielder out of high school
7. Makoto Sato, another big first baseman from high school
8. Masahiko Nishida, best available leftie reliever. His five pitches are all eh, but his movement is already decent
9. Tokuichi Shimabukuro, righty college reliever big on stuff.
10. Katsuki Takeda, switch-hitting outfielder