TOKYO (Kyodo) -- All 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams began their spring training workouts Saturday, with many of them in indoor facilities due to bad weather.

Seven teams started their training in Okinawa Prefecture, including the DeNA BayStars, who last year finished third in the Central League but won their first Japan Series title in 26 years, and the Hanshin Tigers, who are managed by rookie skipper Kyuji Fujikawa.

The Pacific League champion SoftBank Hawks and the CL champion Yomiuri Giants, who acquired former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, are among the five clubs based in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Preseason games will start on Feb. 22 before the CL and PL regular seasons kick off on March 28.