Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally,it is often called Puro Yakyū (プロ野球),meaning simply Professional Baseball;outside of Japan,NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball."
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka,Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League. Founded on February 22,1938,as the Nankai Club,being the first Kansai team to play in Osaka proper,the team went through a few name changes before settling on Nankai Hawks in 1947,eventually changing ownership in 1988 and moving to Fukuoka in 1989. The team subsequently became known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks until 2005,when they were purchased by SoftBank Group,becoming the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Since 1993,the Hawks have played at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka,which has gone under several name changes and seats 40,000 people.
Bradley Wayne Penny is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Penny played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida / Miami Marlins,Los Angeles Dodgers,Boston Red Sox,San Francisco Giants,St. Louis Cardinals,and Detroit Tigers,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He was an All Star in 2006 and 2007.
Renyel Eligio Pinto Cumache is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Henricus "Rick" Nicolas van den Hurk is a Dutch former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins,Baltimore Orioles,and Pittsburgh Pirates,in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. In international play,he was a member of the Netherlands national baseball team.
Dennis Scott Sarfate is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers,Houston Astros,and Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp,Saitama Seibu Lions,and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). While an average reliever in MLB,Sarfate became one of the greatest closers in NPB history after moving his career overseas. Sarfate holds several NPB records,including most saves in a season and most by a foreign-born pitcher. As of 2020,his 234 career saves rank fifth-most in NPB history. He is a 3×NPB All-Star,a 3×Pacific League saves leader,a 5×Japan Series Champion,won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award,won the Pacific League MVP Award,and won the Matsutaro Shoriki Award.
Kyle Gregory Jensen is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Kazuhisa Makita is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher,and current the third squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Kodai Senga is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut in 2012 for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks,and played for them until 2022. He is a three-time NPB All-Star and a one-time MLB All-Star.
Nicholas Andres Martinez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres,and for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
American expatriate baseball players in Japan have been a feature of the Japanese professional leagues since 1934. American expatriate players began to steadily find spots on Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) rosters in the 1960s. More than 600 Americans have played NPB,although very few last more than a single season in Japan.
Colin David Rea is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres,Miami Marlins,and Chicago Cubs. He has also played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Akira Niho is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the Hanshin Tigers.
Kohei Arihara is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball (MLB) and for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters NPB.
Robert Alexander Suárez Subero is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Ren Kajiya is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Scott Carter Stewart Jr. is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Joseph Dillon Gunkel is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Masahiro Sakumoto is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher,and current the third squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Tomohisa Ohzeki is a Japanese professional baseball Pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.
