Yamakawa Hotaka (32, Seibu), a winning member of the WBC (World Baseball Classic), hit a home run as soon as he returned to the team. On the 25th, in an exhibition game against the Yokohama Baystars held at the Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, he played as the designated hitter number 4 and hit a one-run home run in June.
Yamakawa entered the third plate with no 메이저사이트runners out. In the ball count 2B2S, Yokohama’s foreign pitcher Robert Gsselman threw a two-seam in the middle of the strike and sent it over the left middle of the fence.
It was a home run that provided the key to the team’s victory at 0-4.
It is the first home run of the first comeback as a WBC player. Yamakawa said, “I’m glad I hit a home run.” Yamakawa’s home run is the first since March 7 against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome in Osaka.
As a Seibu Lions player, Yamakawa’s shortstop Genda Sosuke (30) participated in the WBC.
Last year’s Pacific League home run champion (41), Yamakawa, had few chances to play in this tournament. He appeared in three games, going 5-for-6 with one hit and two RBI.
In the first round against the Czech Republic, he was the only starter as a 7th-1st baseman. He stood at bat as a pinch hitter in the first round match against Australia and the semifinal match against Mexico. Kazuma Okamoto (27, Yomiuri) started as the first baseman.