NPB's senior circuit: players in their 40s still grinding

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Masanori Ishikawa, the 46-year-old pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, remains the oldest active player in Nippon Professional Baseball and has pitched parts of 25 consecutive seasons despite recent physical challenges. His longevity highlights the rare presence of veteran players in NPB, many of whom continue to contribute meaningfully despite advancing age and intense competition from younger athletes.

Masanori Ishikawa, the 46-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, continues to defy age in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as the oldest active player in the league. Having pitched in parts of 25 consecutive seasons, Ishikawa made an appearance on Thursday at Jingu Stadium against the Yomiuri Giants, where he struggled early and was charged with six runs while recording only one out. His fastball velocity reached just 132 kph (82 mph), possibly affected by a shoulder issue. Over his career, Ishikawa has amassed a 3.94 ERA in 3,165⅔ innings, all with the Swallows. Despite recent challenges, he remains popular among fans and intends to continue pitching as long as possible, though he currently stands 12 wins short of joining the Meikyukai, a Japanese Hall of Fame reserved for pitchers with 200 wins or 250 saves.

This season, Ishikawa is among eight players aged 40 or older still active in NPB, a group that is notable given the physical demands and competition from younger players. These veteran athletes typically receive limited playing time but persist due to their experience and value to their teams.

The Seibu Lions boast the two oldest position players in the league: 43-year-old Takeya Nakamura and 42-year-old Takumi Kuriyama, both in their 25th seasons. Nakamura, once a top slugger with multiple seasons hitting 30 or more home runs, has played in 17 games this year and maintained a streak of 23 consecutive seasons with at least one homer, most recently on August 21. Kuriyama, who announced he will retire following the season, appeared in 11 games, including his retirement game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Sunday. Kuriyama recorded a single in the eighth inning during his farewell game, marking the 2,152nd hit of his career. His former teammate and starting pitcher in that game, 41-year-old Takayuki Kishi, who also spent time with the Lions, retired Kuriyama in the second inning.

Kishi remains an effective pitcher in limited duty this season for the Eagles, with nine starts, a 4-4 record, and a 2.67 ERA over 54 innings. Before this season, he consistently pitched over 100 innings annually, highlighted by a 2.85 ERA over 143⅓ innings just two years ago.

Other veteran pitchers over 40 include Yoshihisa Hirano of the Orix Buffaloes, a former standout closer and Meikyukai member with 250 NPB saves plus MLB experience, who has appeared twice this season before announcing plans to retire. The Chunichi Dragons’ Hideaki Wakui, 41, has pitched 51⅓ innings with a 2.79 ERA across nine appearances, showing sustained effectiveness. Also on the Dragons roster is 40-year-old Yohei Oshima, who has over 2,000 career hits but has played sparingly this year.

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters’ reliever Naoki Miyanishi, 41, leads the league’s career holds and ranks fourth in all-time appearances, though he has been used only four times this season.

Historically, several players have posted impressive numbers well into their 40s, including Hiromitsu Kadota, who hit 44 home runs and was named Pacific League MVP at age 40 in 1988. Sadaharu Oh and Katsuya Nomura also had strong late-career seasons with significant offensive production. Veteran pitcher Masahiro Yamamoto pitched until age 50, throwing a no-hitter at 41 and maintaining solid performance into his early 40s.

As NPB sees more star players depart for Major League Baseball and teams increasingly depend on bullpens, veteran pitchers like Ishikawa, Kishi, and Wakui stand out as potential candidates to reach or surpass the 200-win milestone—a feat that may remain rare for years to come. Ishikawa currently has 188 wins, Kishi 174, and Wakui 170, with the next closest active pitcher still a decade younger.

While professional baseball is predominantly a younger athlete’s sport, these veteran players continue striving to contribute, extending their careers through resilience and adaptability.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.