Japanese professional baseball players face contract terminations over conduct

Professional baseball in Japan is seeing a trend of contract terminations driven by behavioral and compliance issues. In the Yakult Swallows organization, pitcher Reito Taguchi was released following a season hampered by injury and a reputation for causing trouble with fans and social media users.

Similarly, Rakuten Eagles player Naoki Hinato was released after a scandal involving messages regarding borrowing money from minors surfaced on social media. This incident led to a formal apology from the player regarding his lack of social responsibility.

In Hiroshima, the Toyo Carp face ongoing scrutiny regarding allegations of “zombie tobacco” use among players. Reports suggest several players, including Kaito Kozono, Masaya Yano, Shunsuke Tamura, and Seita Maekawa, have faced contract implications, with further allegations involving players Osamu Kubo and Kanato Shimizu. The club has reportedly implemented AI to manage a surge in fan complaints regarding these issues.