Under manager Hajime Miki, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Rakuten Eagles started their 2025 season with a record of 67 wins, 74 losses, and 2 ties, a winning percentage of .475, and finished in 4th place in Pacific League. While it was a disappointing result, marking their fourth consecutive 4th place finish, many young players emerged, and it can be said that it was a year with many takeaways for the next season. This time, we will look back at the 2025 season for the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles fielder position players.

With their aggressive offense that makes the most of their speed, the team has by far the most stolen base bases.

Looking back at this season, the team's batting average of .244 and RBI were fourth in the league, almost on par with last year, but what is particularly noteworthy is the number of stolen base. The team recorded 110 stolen base bases, the most in the league. Looking at the breakdown, we can see that it was not one specific player who stolen base bases, but rather multiple players who consistently succeeded in stolen base bases, with Hiroto Kobukata​ ​Daisuke Nakashima 28, Ryosuke Tatsumi having 22, and Tatsumi Ryosuke having 20. In this way, their bold attacking style, making use of their speed to aim for the next base, was impressive.

Although the team's Home Run total was the lowest in the league, power hitters such as Voit and Fumiya Kurokawa made their presence felt from the middle of the season onwards, and it can be said that the team's offensive power has definitely improved compared to last season.

Hideto Asamura hits 2,000 career home runs! A first for a player born in the Heisei era, but a tough year ahead

He entered this season needing just 36 more hits to reach a major milestone. Hideto Asamura He was a player, but this year has been a tough one. He had maintained a record of consecutive appearances since 2015, becoming only the fourth player in history to do so, but his batting performance was sluggish from the start of the season, and his record came to an end at "1346 games" after his appearance on May 18th.

Nevertheless, Asamura has continued to show his leadership by leading the team as a key player. On May 24th, in the game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, Fukuya Yamazaki He hit pitcher 's breaking ball and finally achieved his 2000th hit, becoming the 56th player in history to do so. He is also the first player born in the Heisei era to achieve this record.

However, Asamura struggled even after achieving the record, and in July he was forced to adjust in the minor leagues, making it a difficult season for him. In the end, he played in 96 games with a batting average of .239, 9 Home Run runs, and 34 RBI, failing to achieve double-digit Home Run for the 13th consecutive year, but we can only hope to see him make a comeback next season.

Rui Muneyama completed his first-team season without injury and became the first Pacific League rookie in 44 years to receive the Best Nine award in the short stop category.

​Rui Muneyama, who was drafted first overall after a bidding war among five teams, made his debut in the opening game (March 28 against Orix Buffaloes) on the road. Starting as the number two hitter and short stop in that game, he came up to bat for the fourth time in the top of the ninth inning with one out and a runner on third base, with his team trailing by one run. He hit the first pitch from pitcher Machado for his first professional hit, a crucial game-tying hit. He went on to record hit in five consecutive games, getting off to a great start.

Furthermore, on April 16th, in a game against Fukuoka Softbank, he hit his first professional home run, a go-ahead shot off pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa. He continued to play without injury thereafter, completing the season with the first team. He became the fourth rookie fielder in the team's history to achieve 100 hit, and reached the required number of plate appearances faster than any other rookie in the 12 teams. In addition, he was named to the Best Nine in Pacific League short stop category, the first time a rookie had done so in 44 years, ending his rookie year with more than enough achievements.

Itsuki Murabayashi won the Most hit Award and was also selected for the Mitsui Golden Glove Award and Best Nine.

In his 10th year, Itsuki Murabayashi performed even better than last season. Last season, Murabayashi was a regular at short stop, but with the addition of Muneyama, he has mainly played as third baseman this season. Despite the position change, he continued to play without a single absence, and posted consistent results, with batting averages over 30% in April, May, and July. Although his performance declined towards the end of the season, he continued to lead the batting lineup, becoming the team's leading hitter in the summer.

He also saved the team from numerous tight spots with his excellent defense combination with short stop Muneyama, forming an impenetrable third baseman. As a result, he recorded 144 hit 513 At Bat bats in 137 games, a batting average of .281, both of which were the best results on the team. He won the title for most hit, was also selected for the Mitsui Golden Glove Award and Best Nine, and grew into an indispensable member of the team.

Daisuke Nakashima, in his second year, is the leadoff hitter

In his second year, Daisuke Nakashima made his presence felt by appearing in 124 games, a significant increase from the previous year. Last season, Nakajima only played in 37 games due to injury. This season, he missed the opening day spot on the first team, but was promoted in mid-April. He made his mark in May, recording a batting average of .304, and from the middle of the season onwards, he made his presence felt as the leadoff hitter, remaining in the first team throughout the season.

Fumiya Kurokawa has a breakout season, achieving a high batting average despite not reaching the required number of plate appearances.

​Fumiya Kurokawa, a sixth-year high school graduate, had a breakout year. He played in 83 games, hit 90 At Bat 301 at-bats with 4 Home Run, 33 RBI, and a batting average of .299. While he didn't reach the required number of at-bats, he still had a batting average of nearly 30%, showing glimpses of his potential. In the game against Orix Buffaloes on August 5th, with neither team scoring a run, Asamura walked with one out Walk of the 11th inning. Kurokawa's classmate, Atsuki Muto came in as a pinch runner. Then, with two outs and a runner on second base, Kurokawa hit a single, and Muto made a run to score. This classmate duo, who had been working hard together since joining the team, finally put an end to their fierce battle.

Despite joining the team mid-season, Voit hit a team-leading 13 Home Run.

​Voit, who joined the team this season, also played a key role in the batting lineup. Voit, who joined the team in June, was registered with the first team on July 2nd and starting line-up as the "number 6 DH" in the game against Chiba Lotte Marines that same day. He immediately got his first hit in Japan in his second at-bat, and in his third at-bat, he connected with breaking ball from pitcher Yuto Kimura, sending a powerful hit into the middle of the left field stands. He made a spectacular NPB debut.

Since then, he has led the offense with his clutch hitting, recording a team-high 13 Home Run despite joining the team midway through the season. Voit is also loved by fans, as he always shouts "TOHOKU is the best!" on the victory podium, energizing the stadium. Next season, when he will play his first full season in NPB, he is sure to hit even more Home Run.

Rookies Tsubasa Yoshino and Po Hsiang Yang make their first-team debut; 2021 draft pick Soshi Yoshino also takes to the first team stage.

Draft pick #5, Tsubasa Yoshino, and draft pick #6, Po Hsiang Yang, have also made their first-team debuts. Yoshino recorded 5 Home Run and a batting average of .223 in 95 games in the minor leagues, and was promoted to the first team for the first time on September 29th. Although he did not get his first hit, he appeared in two games. It has been announced that he underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair surgery for recurrent left shoulder dislocation in November, and will require 5 months to return to playing.

Yang was promoted to the first team on October 3rd, and in that same day's game against the Saitama Seibu Lions, he made his NPB debut as a pinch hitter, recording hit on a 3-2 count. After that, he continued to showcase his strengths, such as aggressive base running that made use of his speed, even with limited playing time. He made a strong case for himself for next season.

Furthermore, Soshi Yoshino, the 2021 first-round draft pick, made his first appearance on the first-team stage this season, his fourth year since graduating from high school. Having gained a lot of experience in the minor leagues since joining the team, fielder’s choice was finally promoted to the first team on September 29th. He recorded his first hit in his second game on September 30th against Chiba Lotte Marines, and then made his home debut on October 3rd against Saitama Seibu Lions. In that game, he recorded his first RBI and first timely RBI, and expressed his joy with a powerful fist pump on the base.

After 14 years with The Eagles, Takero Okajima retires, finishing on hit in his final at-bat

While many young players shone brightly, another veteran who had fought for the team for many years ended his playing career.

​Takero Okajima, who led the offense as the leadoff hitter in 2013 when the team won its first-ever Japan Series championship and continued to be a key player thereafter, has decided to hang up his bat at the end of this season. Okajima, who was loved by his teammates and fans alike for his gutsy play and cheerful personality, ended his career on a high note in his final at-bat on October 4th against the Saitama Seibu Lions Lions, hitting hit fellow Tohoku native pitcher Kosei Takahashi. It has also been announced that from next season he will serve as a team ambassador, promoting the charms of Tohoku and the team.

Aiming for first league title in 13 years since 2013

As we've looked back at, this season Tohoku Rakuten Eagles was notable for the outstanding performances of its young players, but Daichi Suzuki, the oldest position player fielder, not only played all infield positions and sometimes even outfield defense, but also actively encouraged his teammates in both tense and opportune moments, once again serving as a mental pillar for the team this year.

With a league championship for the first time in 13 years since 2013, and a chance to become the best in Japan, they should have more than enough talent. With manager Miki's continued tenure confirmed for the 2026 season, can they bring glory back to Tohoku?