The upcoming MLB opening series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, set to electrify the Tokyo Dome on March 18th and 19th, is already a massive event. Not only are exclusive Chiikawa merchandise collaborations selling out, but ufotable, the studio behind "Demon Slayer," even produced a special promotional animation. All signs point to the immense hype and importance both MLB and Japan place on this international series.
However, the real buzz today (March 15th) isn't about the main event, but the spring training exhibition games between NPB teams and the Cubs/Dodgers. This morning's matchup saw the Hanshin Tigers shut out the Chicago Cubs 3-0. Yet, the final score was overshadowed by a far more explosive topic: Japanese professional baseballs "barely fly"! This stark difference between "baseballs used in the US and Japan" quickly became the hottest discussion on X.
▼ "NPB ball" shot straight to the top of X's trending topics.
What made this game particularly unique was the ball-use rule: NPB teams used official NPB baseballs when playing defense, while MLB teams used official MLB baseballs when on defense. In essence, batters faced different types of baseballs depending on who was pitching.
The controversy ignited when The Wrigley Wire, an X account closely following the Cubs, posted about a play in the top of the fourth inning. Seiya Suzuki absolutely crushed a fastball, sending a loud shot deep into center field, drawing gasps from the crowd. By all accounts, it should have been a long extra-base hit, possibly even a home run. But to everyone's astonishment, the ball suddenly lost all its steam in the air, ultimately becoming nothing more than a routine flyout to center!
The stats were baffling: an exit velocity of 111.7 mph (approximately 179.7 km/h) and a launch angle of 20 degrees. Such a powerful swing, yet the ball only traveled 343 feet before being caught. The post highlighted the massive disparity between the baseballs used by the two leagues.
Japanese netizens quickly chimed in, citing official MLB data. According to MLB analytics, an exit velocity over 110 mph combined with that launch angle typically yields a .970 batting average, with only a 3% chance of an out. Yet, in this game, it resulted in an out and a surprisingly short flight, leading many to lament the poor quality of NPB balls.
Another user pointed out that similar exit velocities and launch angles in the MLB record books almost always result in balls flying over 380 feet, often clearing the fences for home runs. The NPB ball, however, inexplicably flew over 40 feet shorter.
This sparked a flurry of complaints from Japanese netizens, who slammed NPB's baseballs for being "super dead," noting that the international community was now witnessing this bizarre phenomenon. Many connected it to the recent decline in NPB batting averages and home run production.
Fans are now demanding immediate improvements to NPB's baseballs, frustrated that the league's peculiar situation is now on full display for the world to see.
It wasn't just American fans; many Japanese fans joined the chorus: "Is there really such a huge difference between MLB and NPB balls?", "Even MLB sluggers can't hit NPB balls far?!", "Just how hard is it to hit an NPB ball?", "The data doesn't lie, NPB balls just don't carry."
Last season, NPB saw a significant surge in pitching dominance and a sharp drop in home runs, leading many to suspect the balls were the culprit. The outcome of this exhibition game has once again thrust the "painful ball" debate back into the spotlight.