2025 Nippon Professional Baseball season

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2025 NPB season
LeagueNippon Professional Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationMarch 28 – October 5
Games143
Teams12
Total attendance27,040,286[1]
Central League pennant
League championsHanshin Tigers
  Runners-upYokohama DeNA BayStars
Season MVPTeruaki Sato (Hanshin)
Pacific League pennant
League championsFukuoka SoftBank Hawks
  Runners-upHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Season MVPLiván Moinelo (SoftBank)
Climax Series
CL championsHanshin Tigers
  CL runners-upYokohama DeNA BayStars
PL championsFukuoka SoftBank Hawks
  PL runners-upHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Japan Series
Venue
ChampionsFukuoka SoftBank Hawks
  Runners-upHanshin Tigers
Finals MVPHotaka Yamakawa (SoftBank)

The 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the 76th season of professional baseball in Japan since Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) was reorganized in 1950. There were 12 NPB teams, split evenly between the Central League and Pacific League. The Yokohama DeNA BayStars entered the season as the defending champions.

The 12 clubs of NPB drew a total of over 27 million attendees or an average of 31,515 per game, setting a second consecutive year of new records for Japanese baseball attendance.[1]

Regular season standings

2025 Central League regular season standings[2]
Pos Team GTooltip Games played W L T Pct. GBTooltip Games behind Home Road
1 Hanshin Tigers† 14385544.612—41–29–144–25–3
2 Yokohama DeNA BayStars* 14371666.5181336–32–335–34–3
3 Yomiuri Giants* 14370694.5041544–26–126–43–3
4 Chunichi Dragons 14363782.4472335–36–128–42–1
5 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 14359795.42825½37–32–322–47–2
6 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 14357797.41926½32–35–525–44–2
2025 Pacific League regular season standings[3]
Pos Team GTooltip Games played W L T Pct. GBTooltip Games behind Home Road
1 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks† 14387524.626—44–24–343–28–1
2 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters* 14383573.5934½43–2840–29–3
3 Orix Buffaloes* 14374663.52913½38–32–236–34–1
4 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 14367742.4752135–36–132–38–1
5 Saitama Seibu Lions 14363773.45024½35–34–228–43–1
6 Chiba Lotte Marines 14356843.40031½33–38–123–46–2
 †  League champion and advanced directly to the final stage of the Climax Series
 *  Advanced to the first stage of the Climax Series

Interleague

2025 regular season interleague standings[4]
Pos Team GTooltip Games played W L T Pct. GBTooltip Games behind Home Road
1 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks†181251.706—7–1–15–4
2 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters181170.6111½6–35–4
3 Orix Buffaloes181170.6111½7–24–5
4 Saitama Seibu Lions181080.5562½7–23–6
5 Chiba Lotte Marines181080.5562½7–23–6
6 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles18981.52935–44–4–1
7 Hiroshima Toyo Carp18990.5003½6–33–6
8 Hanshin Tigers188100.4444½6–32–7
9 Chunichi Dragons188100.4444½5–43–6
10 Yokohama DeNA BayStars187110.3895½4–53–6
11 Yomiuri Giants186111.35365–41–7–1
12 Tokyo Yakult Swallows185121.29473–5−12–7
 †  Interleague champion

Climax Series

First stage

Central League

DeNA won the series, 2-0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 11Yomiuri Giants – 2, Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 6Yokohama Stadium2:5433,783[5] 
2October 12Yomiuri Giants – 6, Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 7Yokohama Stadium4:3133,767[6]

Pacific League

Nippon-Ham won the series, 2-0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 11Orix Buffaloes – 0, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 2Es Con Field Hokkaido2:5234,165[7] 
2October 12Orix Buffaloes – 4, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 5Es Con Field Hokkaido3:2035,024[8]

Final stage

Central League

Tigers won the series, 4-0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 15Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 0, Hanshin Tigers – 2Koshien Stadium3:3642,643[9] 
2October 16Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 3, Hanshin Tigers – 5 (10)Koshien Stadium4:3042,647[10] 
3October 17Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 0, Hanshin Tigers – 4Koshien Stadium3:0042,649[11]

Pacific League

Hawks won the series, 4-3.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 15Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 2 Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:2540,066[12] 
2October 16Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 0, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 3Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:0739,337[13] 
3October 17Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 6, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 0Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:1440,142[14] 
4October 18Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 9, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 3Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:2440,142[15] 
5October 19Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 7, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 1Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:0339,410[16] 
6October 20Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 2Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka2:4439,942[17]

2025 Japan Series

Hawks won the series, 4-1.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 25Hanshin Tigers – 2, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 1Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:1736,882[18] 
2October 26Hanshin Tigers – 1, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 10Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka3:1336,910[19] 
3October 28Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 2, Hanshin Tigers – 1Koshien Stadium3:2741,594[20] 
4October 29Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 3, Hanshin Tigers – 2Koshien Stadium3:3041,591[21] 
5October 30Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – 3, Hanshin Tigers – 2 (11)Koshien Stadium4:0941,606[22]

Note: All dates and times are in JST (Japan Standard Time).

League leaders

(Updated through September 20)

Central League

Hitting leaders
Stat Player Total
AVG Kaito Kozono (HIR) .310
OPS Teruaki Satō (HAN) .930
HR 38
RBI 96
R Shota Morishita (HAN) 80
H Kaito Kozono (HIR) 158
SB Kōji Chikamoto (HAN) 31
Pitching leaders
Stat Player Total
W Katsuki Azuma (YKO) 14
L Masato Morishita (HIR) 14
ERA Daichi Ishii (HAN) 0.18
K Shoki Murakami (HAN) 132
IP Hiroki Tokoda (HIR) 168.2
SV Raidel Martínez (YOM) 43
WHIP Taichi Ishiyama (YKU) 0.69

Pacific League

Hitting leaders
Stat Player Total
AVG Ryōma Nishikawa (ORX) .312
OPS Franmil Reyes (NPN) .884
HR 32
RBI 86
R Kotaro Kiyomiya (NPN)
Franmil Reyes (NPN)		 58
H Itsuki Murabayashi (TOH) 138
SB Ukyo Shuto (FKA) 34
Pitching leaders
Stat Player Total
W Hiromi Itoh (NPN) 14
L Ryota Takinaka (TOH)
Chihiro Sumida (SEI)
Austin Voth (LOT)		 9
ERA Naoto Nishiguchi (TOH) 0.94
K Hiromi Itoh (NPN) 175
IP 175.2
SV Kaima Taira (SEI)
Kazuki Sugiyama (FKA)		 28
WHIP Yuki Matsumoto (FKA) 0.79

Awards and honors

The following players were bestowed awards ranging from the Best Nine to MVP on November 26[23][24][25]

Central League

Award Player Team
Most Valuable Player Teruaki Sato Hanshin Tigers
Rookie of the Year Kota Shoji Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Best Nine
Pitcher Shoki Murakami Hanshin Tigers
Catcher Seishiro Sakamoto
First Base Yusuke Ohyama
Second Base Takumu Nakano
Third Base Teruaki Sato
Shortstop Yuta Izuguchi Yomiuri Giants
Outfield Yūki Okabayashi Chunichi Dragons
Koji Chikamoto Hanshin Tigers
Shota Morishita

Pacific League

Award Player Team
Most Valuable Player Liván Moinelo Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Rookie of the Year Mishō Nishikawa Chiba Lotte Marines
Best Nine
Pitcher Livan Moinelo Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki Orix Buffaloes
First Base Tyler Nevin Saitama Seibu Lions
Second Base Taisei Makihara Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Third Base Itsuki Murabayashi Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Shortstop Rui Muneyama
Outfield Ukyo Shuto Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Keita Nakagawa Orix Buffaloes
Tatsuru Yanagimachi Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Designated Hitter Franmil Reyes Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Foreign player signings

The following list includes players formerly playing for other professional baseball leagues who signed with NPB teams during and prior to the 2025 season.

Date Player NPB team Former team Source
July 15, 2025 Shintaro Fujinami (RHP) Yokohama DeNA BayStars Seattle Mariners (MLB) [26]
July 14, 2025 Grant Hartwig (RHP) Hanshin Tigers New York Mets (MLB) [27]
July 11, 2025 Michael Chavis (IF) Chunichi Dragons Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) [28]
J. D. Davis (IF) Seibu Lions Los Angeles Angels (MLB) [29]
June 22, 2025 Luke Voit (IF) Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Tigres de Quintana Roo (LMB) [30]
May 22, 2025 Oscar Gonzalez (OF) San Diego Padres (MLB) [31]
February 16, 2025 Pedro Avila (RHP) Tokyo Yakult Swallows Cleveland Guardians (MLB) [32]
February 9, 2025 Austin Voth (RHP) Chiba Lotte Marines Seattle Mariners (MLB) [33]
February 6, 2025 Yunior Marte (RHP) Chunichi Dragons [34]
January 26, 2025 Trevor Bauer (RHP) Yokohama DeNA BayStars Diablos Rojos del Mexico (LMB) [35]
January 11, 2025 Edward Olivares (OF) Orix Buffaloes New York Mets (MLB) [36]
January 10, 2025 Jordan Díaz (IF) Athletics (MLB) [37]
January 9, 2025 Tyler Nevin (IF) Seibu Lions [38]
January 6, 2025 Trey Wingenter (RHP) Chicago Cubs (MLB) [39]
December 20, 2024 Nick Nelson (RHP) Hanshin Tigers Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) [40]
December 18, 2024 Naoyuki Uwasawa (RHP) SoftBank Hawks Boston Red Sox (MLB) [41]
December 17, 2024 Trey Cabbage (1B/OF) Yomiuri Giants Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) [42]
December 16, 2024 Jon Duplantier (RHP) Hanshin Tigers Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) [43]
December 15, 2024 Kyle Muller (LHP) Chunichi Dragons Athletics (MLB) [44]
December 14, 2024 Peter Lambert (RHP) Yakult Swallows Colorado Rockies (MLB) [45]
December 13, 2024 Bryan Sammons (LHP) Chiba Lotte Marines Detroit Tigers (MLB) [46]
December 10, 2024 Spencer Howard (RHP) Rakuten Eagles San Francisco Giants (MLB) [47]
December 9, 2024 Mike Baumann (RHP) Yakult Swallows Miami Marlins (MLB) [48]
December 4, 2024 Tayron Guerrero (RHP) Chiba Lotte Marines Los Angeles Angels (MLB) [49]
November 30, 2024 Emmanuel Ramirez (RHP) Seibu Lions Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) [50]
Jason Vosler (IF) Chunichi Dragons Seattle Mariners (MLB) [51]
November 20, 2024 Sandro Fabian (OF) Hiroshima Toyo Carp Texas Rangers (MLB) [52]
November 8, 2024 Elehuris Montero (IF) Colorado Rockies (MLB) [53]

See also

Notes

References

  1. "2025 Central/Pacific Official Match Attendance". NPB. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  2. "2025 Central League Standings". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  3. "2025 Pacific League Standings". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. "2025年度 交流戦" [2025 Interleague Play] (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  5. "Saturday, October 11, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  6. "Sunday, October 12, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  7. "Saturday, October 11, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  8. "Sunday, October 12, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  9. "Wednesday, October 15, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  10. "Thursday, October 16, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  11. "Friday, October 17, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  12. "Wednesday, October 15, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  13. "Thursday, October 16, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  14. "Friday, October 17, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  15. "Saturday, October 18, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  16. "Sunday, October 19, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  17. "Monday, October 20, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  18. "Saturday, October 25, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  19. "Sunday, October 26, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  20. "Tuesday, October 28, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  21. "Wednesday, October 29, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  22. "Thursday, October 30, 2025". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  23. "Voting Results (Best Nine): 2025 Honorees - Nippon Professional Baseball". NPB.jp. Retrieved January 4, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. 鳥谷越直子 (10 November 2025). "コミッショナー特別表彰は阪神石井、カムバック賞は中日大野 最優秀監督賞は藤川＆小久保両監督" [The Commissioner's Special Award went to Hanshin's Ishii, the Comeback Award went to Chunichi's Ohno, and the Best Manager Award went to Managers Fujikawa and Kokubo.]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  25. https://npb.jp/award/2025/
  26. Franco, Shintaro (July 15, 2025). "Shintaro Fujinami Signs With NPB's Yokohama DeNA BayStars". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  27. Franco, Shintaro (July 14, 2025). "Grant Hartwig Signs With NPB's Hanshin Tigers". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  28. McDonald, Darragh (July 11, 2025). "Michael Chavis Signs With NPB's Chunichi Dragons". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  29. Adams, Steve (July 11, 2025). "J.D. Davis Signs With NPB's Seibu Lions". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  30. Polishuk, Mark (June 22, 2025). "NPB's Rakuten Eagles Sign Luke Voit". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  31. Adams, Steve (May 22, 2025). "Oscar Gonzalez Signs Two-Year Deal With NPB's Golden Eagles". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  32. Polishuk, Mark (February 16, 2025). "NPB's Tokyo Yakult Swallows Sign Pedro Avila". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  33. Deeds, Nick (February 9, 2025). "Austin Voth Signs With NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  34. McDonald, Darragh (February 9, 2025). "Yunior Marté Signs With NPB's Chunichi Dragons". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  35. Polishuk, Mark (January 26, 2025). "NPB's Yokohama DeNA BayStars To Sign Trevor Bauer". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  36. Polishuk, Mark (January 11, 2025). "NPB's Orix Buffaloes Close To Signing Edward Olivares". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  37. Franco, Anthony (January 10, 2025). "NPB's Orix Buffaloes Sign Jordan Diaz". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  38. Adams, Steve (January 9, 2025). "J.D. Davis Signs With NPB's Seibu Lions". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  39. McDonald, Darragh (January 6, 2025). "Trey Wingenter Signs With NPB's Seibu Lions". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  40. McDonald, Darragh (December 20, 2024). "Nick Nelson Signs With NPB's Hanshin Tigers". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  41. Adams, Steve (December 20, 2024). "NNaoyuki Uwasawa Signs With NPB's SoftBank Hawks". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  42. Franco, Anthony (December 16, 2024). "Trey Cabbage To Sign With NPB's Yomiuri Giants". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  43. Adams, Steve (December 16, 2024). "Brewers Grant Release To Jon Duplantier To Pursue NPB Opportunity". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  44. Polishuk, Mark (December 15, 2024). "NPB's Chunichi Dragons Sign Kyle Muller". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  45. Deeds, Nick (December 14, 2024). "Peter Lambert To Sign With NPB's Yakult Swallows". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  46. Adams, Steve (December 13, 2024). "Bryan Sammons Signs With NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  47. Morgenstern, Leo (December 10, 2024). "Rakuten Eagles Sign Spencer Howard, Miguel Yajure". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  48. Franco, Anthony (December 9, 2024). "Marlins Release Mike Baumann To Pursue NPB Opportunity". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  49. McDonald, Darragh (December 4, 2024). "Tayron Guerrero Signs With NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  50. Polishuk, Mark (November 30, 2024). "NPB's Seibu Lions Sign Emmanuel Ramirez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  51. Polishuk, Mark (November 30, 2024). "NPB's Chunichi Dragons Sign Jason Vosler". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  52. McDonald, Darragh (November 20, 2024). "Sandro Fabian Reportedly Agrees To Three-Year Deal With NPB's Hiroshima Toyo Carp". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  53. Adams, Steve (November 8, 2024). "NPB's Hiroshima Carp Sign Elehuris Montero, Re-Sign Taylor Hearn". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 28, 2025.