The Central League announced that a 30-year-old left-handed pitcher from the Hanshin Tigers has earned the Monthly MVP award for May, recognizing his outstanding performances on the mound this season.
In other developments, the Saitama Seibu Lions’ developmental player Lamal has resumed batting practice after recovering from a severe leg injury suffered in March. The team confirmed that the 22-year-old is targeting a full-power return by next spring, as he gradually ramps up his training regimen.
Meanwhile, the Chiba Lotte Marines face a setback as leadoff hitter Kyota Fujiwara has been sidelined with a right shoulder anterior subluxation. The 25-year-old, who had been enjoying a hot streak at the plate, will undergo treatment and is expected to miss several weeks.
The Yomiuri Giants are implementing a strategic rotation management for their starting pitchers, periodically sending them to the farm team for rest and then bringing them back. This unconventional schedule aims to keep the staff fresh as they push for their first league title in two years, with the key battle set for the second half of the season.
A video highlight from Baseball LIVE on May 11 shows the top plays from Week 7 of the 2026 season, featuring a sequence of strong defensive stops and home runs.
In a postgame interview from May 10, SoftBank Hawks’ Yuta Shoji, Yuto Maeda, and Ukyo Shuto discussed their team’s 6-1 victory over the Rakuten Eagles, with Shuto noting the importance of timely hitting.
The latest standings show the Central League led by the Yakult Swallows (23-14), followed by the Hanshin Tigers (21-14). In the Pacific League, the Orix Buffaloes top the table at 22-14, with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks close behind at 19-16.