Cubs will use two different kinds of baseballs in NPB exhibition games this weekend

The baseball world is looking ahead to next week's two-game Tokyo Series between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams are already in Japan, soaking up all that they can before they open the 2025 MLB regular season next Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome.

As far as the Cubs are concerned, though, they'll get their first taste of game action on Friday night at 10p CT against the Hanshin Tigers - and will play another exhibition this weekend against the Yomiuri Giants. Watching the Cubs in that environment (there were reportedly 10,000 fans in attendance each team's practice at the Tokyo Dome this week) will be incredibly exciting, to say the least.

Another element of these international exhibition matchups is the balls that will be used: MLB pitchers for the Dodgers and Cubs will use the official MLB ball, made by Rawlings, while NPB pitchers will use their league's official ball, which features a slightly difference size and design.

NPB balls are, notably, smaller than the pearls found in Major League Baseball. Every time a Japanese pitcher makes the jump to the U.S., everyone wonders how the change in ball shape will affect his pitches. We heard this story prior to Shota Imanaga joining the Cubs ahead of the 2024 season - and he answered by pitching like a legitimate Cy Young candidate all season long.

Balls in professional baseball in Japan also have notably smaller seams - with wider 'sweet spots'. But both carry 108 pairs of stitches - it's strictly in the size that you have a difference. The differences between baseball in the United States and Japan stretch far beyond the balls, with small ball still very much alive and well in the NPB, while it's all about the long-ball in MLB.

These two exhibitions mean no more than Cactus League action, but it will let the team get their feet under them ahead of the raucous environment they'll experience next week against the Dodgers. It'll have a postseason-like feel for U.S. fans and make for an amazing way to kick off the 2025 season.