Sports · Baseball · 9 hrs ago
SoftBank tells 14 players it will not renew their contracts
Japan's SoftBank Hawks have told 14 players they will not renew their contracts for next season.
The group includes infielder Yuto Akihiro, who joined from the Yomiuri Giants midway through last season.
Akihiro had no first-team appearances this year and hit .205 in the minor leagues, his lowest batting season as a professional.
Some of the players may have been offered development contracts, but the reports do not confirm this for everyone.
Pitcher Sota Tanoue, who has recovered from a rare disease, said he hopes to take part in a tryout and show he is healthy enough to pitch.
All 14 players want to continue their careers, so they may seek opportunities with other teams.
The next step for Tanoue is the tryout; the reports do not say what the other players will do next.
SoftBank told 14 players it would not renew their contracts for next season.
All 14 players want to continue their playing careers.
Infielder Yuto Akihiro, who joined SoftBank from the Giants last season, had no first-team appearances this season.
Pitcher Sota Tanoue said he hopes to take part in a tryout and show that he is healthy.
Two pitchers are recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- Who
- SoftBank told 14 players, including Yuto Akihiro and Sota Tanoue, their contracts would not be renewed.
- What
- The players were told they would not be offered contracts for next season.
- When
- October 26, 2026.
- Where
- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Japan.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tanoue started two games in the first team.
Tanoue disclosed that he had Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
SoftBank told 14 players it would not renew their contracts for next season.
- Players notified
- 14
- Akihiro’s first-team appearances this season
- None
- Akihiro’s second-team batting average
- .205
- Tanoue’s tryout plan
- He hopes to take part and continue his playing career.
3 sources
What people are saying
I was prepared for it. It was the season in which I hit the worst since turning professional. I’m frustrated.
I want them to see the strength of my pitches. I hope they can see that I’m healthy and able to pitch.
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福岡ソフトバンクホークスは以下の選手に対し、来季の支配下選手契約を締結しない旨を通達しましたのでお知らせします。 岩井 俊介 投手 安德 駿 投手 中村 稔弥 投手 相良 雅斗 投手 木村 大成 投手 秋広 優人 選手 また、以下の選手に対し、来季の育成選手契約を締結しない旨を通達しました。