Spanish right-hander Jorge Balboa and former French Minor League catcher Frederic Hanvi were successful in tryouts in Japan. Both will most likely play for the Kochi Fighting Dogs in the Shikoku Island League, which is operated by Independent Baseball League of Japan Inc. IBLJ Inc. had been founded by former professional baseball player Hiromichi Ishige. The Shikoku Island League was founded in 2005. Each team is playing 90 games per season, mostly on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. The Kochi Fighting Dogs have won the title twice. The most recent champion are the Kagawa Olive Guyners, the team where Alessandro Maestri started his Japanese career in 2012.