Matsui Reportedly Set to Manage Yomiuri Giants

Hideki Matsui is set to become the next manager of the Yomiuri Giants for the 2027 season, according to reports on Oct. 23, 2026. The former Giants slugger and New York Yankees star will replace interim manager Hideki Hashigami, who took over after Shinnosuke Abe resigned in May. The team finished second in the Central League regular season and was eliminated in the first round of the Climax Series. Matsui won three Central League home run titles and three RBI titles before moving to MLB in 2003. He was named 2009 World Series MVP and retired in 2012. He hit 507 home runs across Japan and the United States, with a .304 average, 332 home runs and 889 RBIs in Japan and a .282 average, 175 home runs and 760 RBIs in the majors. Nippon.com says he joined the Giants in 1993 as a first-round pick; Nikkei cites the 1992 draft, one batting title, and ages Matsui at 52 and Abe at 47. CONTESTED: Nippon.com says Abe resigned following a scandal. Nikkei reports Abe was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his teenage daughter and that prosecutors later declined to indict him. Matsui is set to take over for the 2027 season.