Niigata League Wins Final MLB CUP 2026 Minor Division

The 2026 MLB CUP minor‑division tournament for elementary‑school players was held from July 31 to August 2 at the Ishinomaki City Sports Park in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Sixteen regional leagues competed, with the Niigata League (Shin'etsu Federation representative) emerging as champion after a decisive 8‑2 victory over the Tama League Machida team in the final. The Niigata side also posted a 12‑2 win in the semifinal, showcasing a powerful batting lineup.

The event marked the 10th edition of the MLB CUP and the last year of the "minor‑division" format, which began in 2016 and was created as a symbol of recovery after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. MLB Managing Director Jiro Hozumi highlighted the tournament’s growth from a local youth competition to an international movement with similar events now held in China, Korea, Mexico and India. Former professional players Takashi Saito, Makoto Suzuki and Hisashi Iwakuma attended as guests, conducting baseball clinics for the participants.

Following the tournament, MLB announced plans to continue the competition under a new structure that will involve five hard‑ball youth leagues for players up to sixth grade, aiming to sustain baseball development in Japan and abroad.