Sports · Baseball · 2 hrs ago
Giants release six players, including Shogo Asano, and drop Da Yuasa
On October 25, the Yomiuri Giants said they will not renew Da Yuasa’s contract for next season.
The team also made six players, including outfielder Shogo Asano, free agents.
The Giants are expected to offer those six players development contracts, which would keep them with the team under a different status.
Asano, a former first-round draft pick, is recovering from surgery on his right knee after tearing a meniscus in August.
He played nine games this season, while Yuasa appeared in four.
The decisions affect the players’ status with the Giants, and the six will have to consider the expected development-contract offers.
The Yomiuri Giants notified six players that they would become free agents and are expected to offer them developmental contracts.
The six are outfielder Shogo Asano, pitcher Ryuji Kitaura, outfielder Yamato Suzuki, outfielder Taisei Chinen, outfielder Rui Mitsuka and infielder Aoi Utsunomiya.
The club also told infielder Dai Yuasa that it would not renew his contract for next season.
Asano, 21, had surgery on his right knee in August and is continuing his rehabilitation.
The announcements came two days after the club announced Hideki Matsui as its new manager.
- Who
- The Yomiuri Giants and seven players: Shogo Asano, Ryuji Kitaura, Yamato Suzuki, Taisei Chinen, Rui Mitsuka, Aoi Utsunomiya and Dai Yuasa.
- What
- The Giants notified six players that they would become free agents and told Yuasa it would not renew his contract. The six are expected to be offered developmental contracts.
- When
- October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Asano injured his right knee while running during a farm-league game against DeNA.
Asano underwent surgery for a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.
Asano resumed throwing and tee batting while seated.
The Giants announced the six free-agent notifications and said it would not renew Yuasa’s contract.
- Players notified of free agency
- 6
- Free-agent players
- Shogo Asano, Ryuji Kitaura, Yamato Suzuki, Taisei Chinen, Rui Mitsuka and Aoi Utsunomiya
- Contract not renewed
- Dai Yuasa
- Asano’s surgery
- Right medial meniscus repair, August 27
- Yuasa’s age
- 26
- Announcement date
- October 25, 2026