Manager Kudo and Dominance
Under Kimiyasu Kudo from 2015, SoftBank won 5 pennants and 4 Japan Series in 6 years. They swept the Giants in both 2019 and 2020 Japan Series with 4-0 victories.
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Deepest Roster in NPB
SoftBank depth was unmatched. Yuki Yanagita achieved a triple-three in 2015 (.363, 34 HR, 32 SB). Kodai Senga rose from development draft to ace. Takuya Kai threw out 6 runners in the 2018 Japan Series.
Financial Power and Development
SoftBank combined corporate financial backing with NPB first three-tier farm system. Development draft graduates Senga, Kai, and Makihara became key players. Total payroll reached approximately 6 billion yen, tops in NPB.
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End and Next Generation
After 2021, SoftBank entered a transition period. Senga left for the Mets in 2023, but acquisitions of Yamakawa and Kondo via FA continued. PayPay Dome draws over 2.5 million fans annually.