[FuzzyRussianHat]

In the Japan League North Division, defending EAB champ Yokohama again had the best record, this time finishing 107-55 for their fourth straight division title. Sozen Murata, a two-time MVP in the outfield in Korea, hit 51 homers for the Yellow Jackets for his first Japan League MVP and third overall. Chiba's Yoshimatsu Sakamoto won his first Pitcher of the Year on a 11.6 WAR season, just missing a Triple Crown due to the lack of team support.

On the other side, Nagoya narrowly outraced defending division champ Fukuoka. Despite the Frogs winning 11 more games than last year, the 104-win Nightowls bested them by one for their second playoff berth. Yokohoma would prevail in six over Nagoya in the JLCS for back-to-back league titles and the third in four years for the Yellow Jackets.



In the Korea League, Gwangju and Hamhung both ran away with their division titles again. For the Heat, it's a third straight and fifth in EAB's first seven years. For the defending champ Grays, it's their fourth straight. Hamhung pitcher Chikara Ohkubo won his third Pitcher of the Year and for the second time, picked up the Triple Crown. Gwangju's Ji-Hoo Kim won his third MVP and back-to-back ones.

The Grays continued their postseason dominance of the Heat, as Gwangju won the KLCS in five games for their third straight Korea title over Hamhung. They'd be denied the overall EAB crown for the third straight year, falling in six games in a rematch with Yokoahama. Sozen Murata was series MVP as the Yellow Jackets picked up back-to-back EAB titles.