Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams, typically consisting of nine players each. It is played on a field with a diamond-shaped layout, which includes four bases: first base, second base, third base, and home plate. The objective of the game is to score runs by hitting a pitched ball with a bat and running around the bases in a counterclockwise direction to return to home plate.
The game includes two main roles: the offense, which attempts to score runs by hitting the ball and running the bases, and the defense, which tries to prevent runs from scoring by getting hitters out through various means, including strikes, catches, or tag-outs. The game is divided into innings, with each team having a turn to bat and a turn to field in each inning. The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins.
Baseball has a rich history and is often referred to as “America’s pastime,” though it is played and enjoyed worldwide, especially in countries like Japan, South Korea, and several Latin American nations. The sport is governed by specific rules and has numerous associated leagues, championships, and variations, including Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo, manager of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, made a surprising preseason move by having pitcher Sukeya Yamazaki bat as the "third designated hitter." Yamazaki, known for his pitching, hit…