tryouts?

They generally have them in the fall at the various 2-gun (farm) sites. I've heard of some players trying out at spring camp before.

You should really read this FAQ question if you plan on pursuing playing in Japan.

How do you find out when and where all the tryouts are and are they open tryouts? I have professional American experience. I am a left handed pitcher and played all through college and am currently playing for the Southeastern Professional Baseball league.

- How do you find out when and where all the tryouts are and are they open tryouts?

Well, there are often short 50 character or less notices in the Japanese sports newspapers come fall. Unless you're paying special attention to that section (such as to see who's been brought up or dropped down (due to injury)), you'll miss it all together. I tend to just glance at that section and maybe notice it every other year.

Your best bet, as explained in several of the links above, is to get an agent with experience in Japan. They make it their business to know when and were tryouts are. They have contacts with the teams. They can help let you know what to expect and what teams are looking for. (Avoid most that placed players with the Hanshin Tigers through the '90's, though - especially Greenwell's agent. Thomas O'Malley's agent would be an exception to that rule.)

I've heard that there are "open" tryouts not only in the fall, but all through the year. However, I've never notced an announcment beforehand. I've always read about who made the cut (if anybody) afterwords. It seems to me that only people "in the loop" hear about these. The people "in the loop" are agents, (Japanese) college coaches, and the various industrial league staffs. Maybe someday, someone will think of including independent web sites in the loop for information distribution. But I'm afraid that that day is still quite a ways off.

Gambare!!!

I am an American stationed at Misawa Air Base. I just got here and I will be here for 2 more years. The base does not offer any baseball and I really want to play! I am 6'1", 210 lbs and I am a switch hitting catcher. I would like a little information on when tryouts for a team who would have any interest. I also throw the ball very hard.

I think you might have mis-understood the line of this thread. This is about professional baseball tryouts, not local leagues.

There are several people here who play with groups in our areas. I play with the softball team in the area I live in, and "PeeWee" plays with an industrial team near where he's stationed in Okinawa. I'm not sure about PeeWee, but I speak Japanese and learned about the team by paying attention to announcements at the local community center. If you don't speak or read Japanese, that method might be a little difficult.

I do find it hard to believe that you local MWR doesn't offer anything. (My dad spent 30 years in Recreation Services, which became MWR his last 10 or 15 years.) If they don't, there is probably an old hand there who can get you hooked up with a team. Many of the guys in MWR on the bases in Japan have been here a long time and know where to find recreation on and off base.

We tend to spend so much time talking about other peoples' play, it's good to hear that some are looking to play themselves, at any level of the game.

Gambatte kudasai. (Literally: "Please do your best." Figuratively: "Good luck!")