Former I-Cubs Fight for NPB Title in Japan
An exciting World Series is underway in Los Angeles with former Iowa Cubs Rich Hill and Marwin Gonzalez battling for a ring. Halfway across the globe, another pair of former Iowa Cubs play for a title.
An exciting World Series is underway in Los Angeles with former Iowa Cubs
Right-hander Spencer Patton and infielder Munenori Kawasaki went from teammates in Iowa in 2016, to foes overseas. Saturday, the two will face off in the Japan Series - the championship match-up of the Nippon Professional Baseball League - with their respective teams, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and the Yokohama BayStars.
After spending 2016 on a shuttle between Iowa and Chicago, Patton signed with the BayStars in the offseason and has been a rewarding addition. In 62 games, Patton is 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA (18ER/60.0IP) and 66 strikeouts compared to 19 walks.
The BayStars punched their postseason ticket with a third-place finish in the Central League and fought their way through the playoffs. They are just the second team in NPB history to secure a spot in the Japan Series after a third-place finish.
A fan favorite in both Iowa and Chicago in 2016, Kawasaki returned to Japan after a five-year playing career in the United States. Kawasaki is an eight-time All-Star in the NPB and collected four Golden Gloves between 2001-2011, prior to his stint in the MLB. He returned to the Hawks in March of this year, after previously suiting up for the team from 2006-11.
The infielder began his season in the farm system in Japan, before getting promoted in late-April. Kawasaki appeared in 42 games with the Hawks, batting .241 (33-for-137) with 22 runs, 10 doubles and four RBI. Nursing a calf injury earlier in the postseason, it is undetermined whether Kawasaki will appear in any Japan Series games.
Softbank has claimed the NPB title in three of the last six seasons ('11, '14, '15), while Yokohama holds a championship drought dating back to 1998, which is also the last time the team played in the Japan Series. The best-of-seven series begins on Saturday, October 28 and, potentially, runs through Sunday, November 5.