The Central League All-Star Guide Nobody Asked For (2025 Edition)
A guide to NPB's Central League All-Stars, minus the meaningful statistics.
The All-Star Series kicks off on July 23 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, home of the Orix Buffaloes. Game 2 follows on July 24 at Yokohama Stadium, home of the DeNA BayStars.
Instead of focusing on stats and numbers, I thought it’d be more fun to highlight the human side of the game—you know, hobbies, favorite foods, personal quotes. I’ve also noted the players who were originally selected but later withdrew due to injury.
Looking for the Pacific League? Find it here.
◎ = fan vote | ☆ = player vote | No symbol = manager selection
Pitchers:
Shoki Murakami ◎ - Hanshin Tigers - 2x All-Star
The only player in Central League history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, which he did in 2023.
Taisei ◎ - Yomiuri Giants - 2x All-Star
He was named Taisei because he arrived two weeks late, and lots of people kept asking, “Is the baby here yet?” The word 大勢 usually means “a large number of people” and is typically read ōzei, but his parents chose to read it Taisei—a nod to the crowd eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Shinya Matsuyama ◎ - Chunichi Dragons - 2x All-Star
Declined invitation. 421 consecutive batters without allowing a home run since his first appearance in 110 games over 105 innings pitched, all NPB records.
Iori Yamasaki ☆ - Giants - 2x All-Star - Declined Invitation
Declined to play. Pitched 36 consecutive scoreless innings from the start of the season in 2025, longest in CL history.
Foster Griffin - Giants - 1x All-Star
In 2023, he became the first non-Japanese pitcher to hit a triple for Yomiuri since 1952.
Raidel Martínez - Giants - 4x All-Star
Was the first player in history to record a save with 4 strikeouts in 1 inning (9/4/2020)
Masaki Oyokawa - Tigers - 1x All-Star
His nickname is “Oyoyo.”
Daichi Ishii - Tigers - 1x All-Star
The only player in NPB history to have graduated from a Kōsen (technical college).
Taisei Irie - Yokohama DeNA BayStars - 1x All-Star
His favorite food as a kid was strawberries, specifically those from Tochigi Prefecture.
Andre Jackson - BayStars - 1x All-Star
Loves miso soup so much he has it twice a day.
Hiromu Ise - BayStars - 2x All-Star
Injury replacement. Tends to only throw 3 warm up pitches before entering a game when it’s hot outside.
Daisuke Moriura - Hiroshima Toyo Carp - 1x All-Star
His changeup has become such a dominant weapon, it's been dubbed a “magic pitch.”
Sotaro Shimauchi - Carp - 1x All-Star
He loves to fish. Fitting for a player on a team named after one.
Taichi Ishiyama - Tokyo Yakult Swallows - 4x All-Star
Declined to play. Pitched an immaculate inning on April 5th of this year.
Hiroki Onishi - Swallows - 2x All-Star
Injury replacement. His hobby is listening to music.
Takahiro Matsuba - Dragons - 1x All-Star
His favorite food is CoCo ICHIBANYA, a Japanese curry chain.
Tatsuya Shimizu - Dragons - 1x All-Star
Named after Tatsuya Uesugi, the main character of the baseball manga Touch.
Kento Fujishima - Dragons - 1x All-Star
Keeps a “muscle diary” of his training routines and daily meals.
Catchers:
Takuya Kai ◎☆ - Giants - 4x All-Star
Because of his strong throwing arm, his nickname is “Kai Cannon,” a nod to Mobile Suit Gundam.
Seishiro Sakamoto - Tigers - 1x All-Star
Off the field, he’s a skilled skier.
Shogo Sakakura - Carp - 3x All-Star
Always brings his own pillows on road trips.
Infielders:
Yusuke Ohyama ◎ - Tigers - 3x All-Star
Once hit two home runs in the same inning (9/16/2018)
Tyler Austin ☆ - BayStars - 2x All-Star
Declined invitation. Became the 16th player to homer against every team in a single season in 2021.
Shugo Maki ◎ - BayStars - 4x All-Star
His parents run a beauty salon called “coco” in his hometown.
Naoki Yoshikawa ☆ - Giants - 1x All-Star
His personal motto: it’s all about results.
Teruaki Sato ◎☆ - Tigers - 4x All-Star
His favorite quote is Socrates’ “I know that I know nothing.”
Masaya Yano ◎☆ - Carp - 1x All-Star
Once saw 22 pitches in one at-bat, an NPB record. Also fouled off a record 17 balls during it.
Yuta Izuguchi - Giants - 1x All-Star
His favorite color is purple and his favorite phrase is “thank you.”
Takumu Nakano - Tigers - 5x All-Star
Winner of the Plus One vote. Tied for the highest stolen base success rate in NPB history among stolen base champions - 93.8% in 2021.
Outfielders:
Shota Morishita ◎☆ - Tigers - 1x All-Star
His favorite food is udon in a creamy soy milk–based tantan broth.
Koji Chikamoto ◎☆ - Tigers - 6x All-Star
Wrote his graduation thesis on the topic: “How to make baseball popular in France.”
Yuki Okabayashi ◎ - Dragons - 1x All-Star
The first player born in the 2000s to lead NPB in hits (2022).
Seiji Uebayashi ☆ - Dragons - 2x All-Star
Likes to eat chicken.
Keita Sano - BayStars - 4x All-Star
Injury replacement. His nickname is “Thanos.”
Sandro Fabian - Carp - 1x All-Star
It’s only his first season in Japan, but he said he hopes to play for 10 years.
And that’s your Central League roster. Some big arms, some weird hobbies, and at least one guy with a thesis on French baseball.
See you Thursday for the Pacific League.
This is way better than stats! 👏🏼
Kento Fujishima’s muscle diary might be more intense than the game itself.