The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 11 batters and gave up just one hit as the Chiba Lotte Marines beat the reigning NPB champion Orix Buffaloes 2-0.
The two-time champions look to win back the World Baseball Classic title with some of the world's best players from NPB and MLB.
With manager Hideki Kuriyama gearing up for March, the two-time World Baseball Classic champion has an embarrassment of riches as it looks to regain the title.
Ponce, a former Pittsburgh Pirates player, became the Pacific League franchise’s first pitcher to throw a no-no since Yukihiro Nishizaki in 1995.
The 22-year-old would have joined four others on the NPB no-no list this season.
The 42-year-old lefty continues to impress for the high-flying Swallows.
The reigning Sawamura Award winner became the fourth NPB pitcher to accomplish the special feat this season.
The Hanshin Tigers pitcher excelled on the mound and at the plate in a recent big win over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are hoping the veteran infielder can get back into the swing of things down on the farm.
"I've done all I can in terms of preparation," Tanaka said of the upcoming season.
The Swallows third baseman and Buffaloes hurler received top vote totals in the Central League and Pacific League, respectively.
From losers in 2020 to winners in 2021, both teams exhibited mental toughness and confidence in their abilities and performed at a high level for six...
