Rakuten Golden Eagles replace manager Miki amid poor performance

The Rakuten Golden Eagles have made a rare late-night managerial change, placing manager Hajime Miki on leave due to the team's dismal performance. The Pacific League club announced the decision after midnight local time, following extensive consultation with Miki. Head coach Tatsunari Shiokawa, 43, will step in as interim manager.

This season marks Miki's second year at the helm, but the Golden Eagles have struggled significantly. They hold a 21-36-1 record through 58 games, placing them at the bottom of the Pacific League. Their win rate of just 0.368 is the only one below 40% in the league. The team also set a club record by losing their first six interleague games, and currently sit last in interleague play with a 2-10 record.

The team's owner, Hiroshi Mikitani, visited the stadium on May 28 to rally the players. On June 2, veteran Daichi Suzuki, 36, was appointed captain in a mid-season move. However, these efforts have not halted the slide, with the team recently enduring a four-game losing streak.

Shiokawa previously played for the Eagles for seven seasons. After retiring in 2011, he served as a coach for the team's infield defense and baserunning at both the minor and major league levels, and was promoted to head coach this season.

The Golden Eagles have a history of mid-season managerial changes. In 2018, then-manager Masataka Nashida was dismissed with the team at 21-41-1. Chief and hitting coach Yosuke Hiraiso then took over as interim manager, eventually being promoted to full-time manager the following year.