Asics Corp. announced that t is shuttering its baseball equipment business to focus on sneakers, reported first by Bloomberg. The Kobe, Japan-based owner of the Onitsuka Tiger brand will stop selling gloves, bats and other gear in late September 2025, a company spokesperson said Thursday, August 29.
The company is exiting a business that once sponsored LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani; however, it will continue manufacturing cleats.
Bloomberg noted that Asics made the decision following a review of its domestic business portfolio, adding that its resources for baseball equipment have been “limited” compared to other sports products it produces.
Asics currently has sponsorship deals with 11 baseball players, including San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Ohtani was under contract with the company from 2014 to 2022, collaborating on product development and was featured in Asics’ marketing campaigns until he signed with New Balance in 2023.
Apparel and equipment, including baseball gear, has been Asics’ worst-performing category, with a profit margin of just 2.8 percent last year. The company’s profits have steadily grown since 2021, driven by the increase in popularity of its running shoes at home and abroad. Last month, it raised the outlook for operating profit this year to a record ¥95 billion ($657 million) due to demand for its shoe models, including the Gel-Kayano 14 and a weaker yen.
Images courtesy Asics
