From Nomo to Ichiro to Ohtani: Japan's baseball rise in MLB hits high point in Dodgers-Cubs series

TOKYO (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki was having his typical day on a baseball field in 2000, putting on a power display during batting practice before ripping line drives all over the field for the Orix BlueWave during a preseason doubleheader.

American infielder Torey Lovullo — who was in the other dugout playing the final year of his career in Japan with the Yakult Swallows — couldn't believe his eyes.

The 26-year-old's combination of speed, power and skill was off the charts. How did he not know about this guy?

“I told my translator, get me three baseballs,” the current Arizona Diamondbacks manager said. “He needs to sign them. That’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen.”

Lovullo was ahead of the curve in identifying a future Major League Baseball legend. Suzuki came to the United States the following year, signing with the Seattle Mariners, and embarked on a Hall of Fame career that included 3,089 MLB hits and a lasting legacy.

Nearly 25 years after Suzuki's MLB debut, the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will face the Chicago Cubs in two regular-season games in Tokyo, and Japanese players will be the centerpiece of the experience. Two-way Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is widely considered the best player in the world while teammates Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are important parts of the pitching staff.

Over on the Cubs, Seiya Suzuki is one of the best hitters in the lineup, while Shota Imanaga is the ace pitcher. He'll face Yamamoto on Tuesday in the first all-Japanese starting pitcher duel in MLB history.

It's quite a moment for Japan, Japanese baseball and the dozens of players who slowly paved the road for today's generation to be such a big part of the American baseball scene.

“Very excited — my family's very excited,” Seiya Suzuki said. “I think it's a great opportunity to make memories over there.”

The first Japanese-born player in the big leagues was Masanori Murakami, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants during the 1964 and 1965 seasons.

But it was thirty years later when pitcher Hideo Nomo came to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 that Japan's presence in the big leagues really started to be felt. His unorthodox delivery — turning his back toward home plate during his windup — helped make him an immediate sensation and he won National League Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team after finishing with a 13-6 record and 2.54 ERA.

“It was on TV, so as a kid growing up, you'd see him pitch in the major leagues and that became a thing in Japan,” said Atsuya Furuta, who was a star catcher in Japan from 1990-2007. “Baseball kids wanted to play in the major leagues.”

At first, it was mostly pitchers who came from Japan to play in the U.S. Shigetoshi Hasegawa was a quality reliever for the Angels and Mariners starting in the late 1990s, and Kazuhiro Sasaki was an All-Star closer for the Mariners in the early 2000s.

But Suzuki was the one who opened the door for Japanese hitters, signing with the Mariners in 2001.

“When Ichiro finally came over and began his rise in this game, it showed the way for other young Japanese players to see it was possible to come here,” Lovullo said. “There was always an insecurity that they weren’t big enough or strong enough and couldn’t compete at this level.

"But that’s certainly never been the case in my opinion.”

After Suzuki's arrival, several Japanese hitters found success in the big leagues. Outfielder Hideki Matsui was an integral part of the New York Yankees from 2003-12, making two All-Star teams, hitting 175 homers and helping the franchise win the 2009 World Series.

Outfielder So Taguchi helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 2006 and the Phillies earn the title in 2008. Kosuke Fukudome was an All-Star for the Chicago Cubs in 2008.

That paved the way for the current generation that includes Ohtani, Seiya Suzuki and Boston's Masataka Yoshida, who has hit 25 homers over the past two seasons. Once a curiosity, players who come over from Japan are no longer a curiousity for American fans, instead becoming part of the game's landscape.

It's no accident that the Dodgers are at the forefront of showcasing Japanese baseball excellence.

The franchise has a long history of seeking out racially and ethnically diverse talent. Jackie Robinson — baseball's first Black player — debuted with the franchise in 1947 when they were located in Brooklyn. In 1981, Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela turned into a sensation and ended up having a stellar 17-year career. Then in 1994, pitcher Chan Ho Park was the first Korean in the big leagues.

Nomo's arrival in 1995 was an extension of the franchise's ethos. Grace McNamee — who worked for the Dodgers in the mid-1990s — was one of Nomo's translators during his first few seasons and said former owner Peter O'Malley was always a champion for the sport's worldwide growth.

“With the O'Malley family, they were all about globalizing the game,” McNamee said. “It was really important for Peter to make sure that everyone — including the Japanese media — was able to be accommodated.”

Current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been a good caretaker of that legacy. His father was Black, his mother Japanese and the former MLB outfielder was born in Okinawa, Japan, on a U.S. military base. That background didn't hurt when recruiting the likes of Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki.

The Dodgers manager visited Japan over the winter, dining with legendary slugger Sadaharu Oh, and takes pride in knowing the franchise is a destination for Japanese players.

“Their experiences here playing in the states with the Dodgers has been truly a good one, and I think it’s a responsibility for the Dodgers because I do think we’re the epicenter globally for baseball,” Roberts said.

The current generation of Japanese baseball players in America might be the deepest ever.

Even outside of the Dodgers and Cubs, there are plenty of other players making their mark. Yu Darvish is a five-time All-Star who is still an important part of the San Diego Padres pitching rotation, while Yoshida is a key cog of the Red Sox lineup.

Veteran Kenta Maeda is trying to have a bounce back season with the Detroit Tigers and finished second in the AL Cy Young award voting in 2020 when he was with the Minnesota Twins. The New York Mets are hoping Kodai Senga can regain his 2023 form, when the right-hander was an All-Star at the top of the rotation.

Lefty Yusei Kikuchi — a 2021 All-Star — signed a $63 million, three-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels during the offseason. Kikuchi actually made his MLB debut in Japan with the Seattle Mariners when they played against the Oakland Athletics in the first two games of the 2019 season. He said the trip was a great chance to build camaraderie with teammates as they traveled the country.

That trip was defined by the last two games of Ichiro Suzuki's career — a retirement party celebrating a baseball legend. This week, Ohtani will be the centerpiece.

“It's a chance to showcase some Japanese talent over there and I think all of Japan is pretty excited about that,” Kikuchi said.

Even in American baseball's lower levels, Japanese players are making their presence felt. Two young stars — 19-year-old Rintaro Sasaki and 18-year-old Shotaro Morii — have made an early move to the U.S.

Sasaki's a slugging first baseman who plays at Stanford while Morii is a potential two-way player who signed a $1.5 million minor-league deal in January with the Athletics.

Lovullo — who was so in awe of Suzuki 25 years ago — can rightfully say he saw the revolution coming.

“I felt like it was just a matter of time before more started to emerge," Lovullo said. "We want to have the greatest players in the world playing here in America and they come and represent themselves very well and make our game better.”

AP Sports Writer Stephen Wade in Tokyo contributed to this story.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui belts a solo home run, his second of the game, off Boston Red Sox starter Josh Beckett during the eighth inning of their baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Sunday Aug. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, of Japan, pauses at second base with a double against the Texas Rangers as umpire Mike Muchlinski, right, calls for time during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, smiles as he celebrates in the dugout after hitting a single against the Texas Rangers and being replaced by a pinch runner in the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Hideo Nomo throws during the first inning against the Houston Astros, April 25, 1996, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE - FILE - In this March 20, 2019, file photo, Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki pops out in the third inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball opening series against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

LONDON (AP) — After 70 long years the wait is over for Newcastle.

The Saudi-backed club beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday to win the English League Cup and end an agonizing trophy drought.

Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of halftime to seal victory at Wembley. And even though Liverpool substitute Federico Chiesa set up a tense finish to the final with a goal in added time, nothing was going to stand in Newcastle's way.

“After 70 years we can now say we are the champions again," a tearful Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said. "It's one of the best days of my life."

Newcastle’s last major domestic trophy was the FA Cup in 1955. It won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

This was its first piece of silverware since being bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021 - a deal that was expected to transform the fortunes of one of English soccer's most iconic clubs.

Burn’s powerful header opened the scoring just before halftime and Isak doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a sweeping shot from close range.

Chiesa raced through to pull a goal back in the fourth minute of added time, but Newcastle held on to spark raucous celebrations from its long-suffering fans.

While Liverpool is 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and looks on course to win a record-equaling 20th English title this season, coach Arne Slot was forced to wait for his first trophy since succeeding Jurgen Klopp last year.

The defeat ended a painful week for the Merseyside club, which was also knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout.

"It took us 7, 8, 9 months to lose twice in a row," Slot said. “You know that if you go far in tournaments that the opposition you face gets stronger and stronger. And even Liverpool can lose football games.”

There have been near misses and painful lows during Newcastle's trophy wait, including back-to-back FA Cup final losses in 1998 and ’99 and defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup final two years ago.

On this occasion Eddie Howe's team was a worthy winner against a Liverpool team that has been too good for its top flight rivals this season - losing just once in the league.

“You don’t get many shots at a cup final. Today we had to try to take our opportunity and that’s where the players delivered under pressure so well and so impressively," Howe said. “It also proves proves we can mix our game against the very, very best."

Newcastle fans, whose joyous singing dominated Wembley, will hope this is the start of things to come under its new owners.

Despite being backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund which counts its assets at around $925 billion, soccer’s financial fair play restrictions have limited Newcastle’s spending, meaning it has not been able to make the type of lavish signings seen by Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City and Qatari-backed PSG. Last summer it only spent around $36 million and recouped around $100 million in sales.

Burn and Isak were two of the big signings under the Saudi era and they delivered at Wembley.

“Hopefully with one (it) can become more," Howe said about winning more trophies in the future. “There’s no guarantee, I just think it proves we can do it.”

Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League to close the gap on Liverpool to 12 points.

Arsenal’s title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but Merino’s first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

“The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard’s near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Arsenal since Feb. 15.

Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four-time defending champion City.

Three days after beating Real Sociedad 4-1 in the last 16 of the Europa League, Manchester United enjoyed a 3-0 win at struggling Leicester in the Premier League.

Rasmus Hojlund ended his goal drought to open the scoring for United at the King Power Stadium and, after having a goal disallowed, Alejandro Garnacho doubled the advantage.

Bruno Fernandes wrapped up three points with a late goal as the visitors climbed to 13th and inflicted a sixth successive loss on the relegation-threatened Foxes.

United's win was marred by a serious-looking injury to teenager Ayden Heaven. The 18-year-old arrived from Arsenal last month and gave an impressive first-half display on Sunday.

But Heaven’s full Premier League debut came to an agonizing end shortly after halftime, with the United center back taken off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment, having been hurt stopping Patson Daka reaching a cross.

Another setback for Tottenham is likely to increase the pressure on coach Ange Postecoglou heading into the international break after a 2-0 loss at Fulham.

Spurs, in 14th, have only won one of their last five in all competitions and this was a 15th league defeat of the season.

“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games,” Postecoglou said. “It’s another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we’re ready for when we come back.”

Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team’s lead 10 minutes later.

Fulham is eighth and four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes scores his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Manchester United, at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Sunday March 16, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, top right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Manchester United, at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Sunday March 16, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa, right, scores his side's opening goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and Liverpool's Curtis Jones on the pitch disappointed after losing the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Dan Burn, left, and Newcastle's Fabian Schaer celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle United players celebrate with the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle players celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes lifts the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle players celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe lifts the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez reacts during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe, front, celebrates at the end of the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa, right, scores his side's first goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Dan Burn and Newcastle's Fabian Schaer celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Dan Burn celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Arsenal's Mikel Merino, center, greets supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between FC Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, bottom, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Rodrigo Muniz during the English Premier League soccer match between FC Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez fails to save the goal from Arsenal's Mikel Merino, second left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta applauds supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's Mikel Merino, centre, greets supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)