SMBC Japan Series 2026 Game 4: Softbank Hawks vs. DeNA (28th, Mizuho PayPay)

The Softbank Hawks won four consecutive games against DeNA, shining as Japan Series champions for the 13th time and the second year in a row. They have built an overwhelming depth of talent through an organization that can be called the best in Japan, maintaining a four-tier team system and boasting 118 players, by far the most among the 12 professional teams.

The Softbank Hawks have 118 players, consisting of 70 on the main roster and 48 developmental players (according to the NPB official website). This is a gap of 40 players compared to Hiroshima and Yakult, which have the fewest players at 78 (68 on the main roster and 10 developmental). The 48 developmental players significantly exceed the 35 of The Giants, the most in the Central League, and the 33 of the Seibu Lions, the second most in the Pacific League.

It is the Softbank Hawks' specialty for players from the developmental draft, such as Makihara and Shuto, to become core members. They have established a four-team system, where players in the second and third squads have periods where they do not participate in games and instead focus on specialized practice for defense, hitting, and other skills. Kawamura, who hit the game-winning home run in the 10th inning of the extra inning in Game 2, also joined the team as the second developmental draft pick in 2021.

In the draft meeting held on the 22nd, they selected a total of 24 players, the most in history, including 9 for the main roster—the highest among all 12 teams—and 15 developmental players. Tomohiro Nagai, the General Manager of Scouting and Player Development, stated, "We want to continuously implement specialized initiatives to raise the level of our players," indicating that the foundation for sustaining a golden era is being established.