NPB AWARDS 2025 supported by Lipovitan D (26th, Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa)

The "NPB Awards 2025 supported by Lipovitan D," which recognizes this season's professional baseball title winners, was held in Tokyo on the 26th, and Softbank pitcher Liván Moinelo (29) won Pacific League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the first time.

Moinelo, who received his first medal, sent a video message expressing his joy, saying, "Other players played well too. I'm very honored to have been selected among them." He is the first foreign player to win the MVP award since his senior, Sarfate, won it in 2017 when Moinelo came to Japan. Along with being selected as a Best Nine for the first time, he reiterated, "It's a great honor."

This season, he started in 24 games, winning 12 and losing 3. With ERA of 1.46, he won the title for the second consecutive year. He started eight times against Nippon-Ham, who were fighting for the championship until the very end, winning 4 and losing 1. The most memorable games were also showdowns with their rivals. Although not eligible for the award, this was Game 6 of the final CS series. With only four days between Game 1 and Game 2, he proudly stated that he "led the team to the Japan Series," and manager Kokubo, who received the Shoriki Matsutaro Award, praised him, saying, "It's all thanks to him that he's received this award. There's no one else who could have been MVP (Moinelo)."

This is his ninth year in Japan as a helper. Last year, he struggled during the summer, but he continued to improve, saying, "It's a time when everyone else is in a downturn, but I was able to maintain good form," and he vowed, "I want to surpass all of this year's results next season." (Ando Osamu)

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