Although Fukuoka Softbank struggled in the early stages with injuries and poor performances among their key players, they ultimately led the league with a batting average of .257 and scored 551 runs, winning Pacific League for the second consecutive year. We look back at the performances of fielder.

Taisei Makihara is the first hitter from the development league to win stolen base base title, while Ukyo Shuto leads the team in hitting, fielding, and baserunning.

​Taisei Makihara became the first hitter from the development team to win the batting title. He had a rough start in March and April, batting .230, but he improved from May onwards, winning the monthly MVP award in August with a .385 batting average, 18 RBI 3 Home Run. He won the Golden Glove Award for defense at second baseman and also showed good defensive skills in outfield. He played in 125 games and reached the required number of at-bats for the first time. He had a breakthrough year with 127 At Bat 418 hit, a .304 batting average, 5 Home Run runs and 49 RBI.

Entering his second season as team captain, Ukyo Shuto was primarily used as the leadoff hitter. Despite concerns about his left knee, which he had surgery on the previous season, he got off to a good start in the opening game with multiple hit. He maintained his good form thereafter, setting a team record with 19 consecutive games with hit to start the season. However, in late April, he was hit by Hit by Pitch and fractured his right fibula, forcing him to take a break from the game.

He returned to the first team on May 20th, and in July he posted an excellent monthly batting average of .313, while also recording 13 stolen base with his impressive speed. He showed no signs of being affected by defense, making a diving catch to save one run in a game against Orix Buffaloes on September 2nd. Although he was an indispensable player both offensively and defensively, he was removed from the roster again at the end of September due to being hit by Hit by Pitch, ending his season. In 96 games, he had a batting average of .286 and stolen base, winning his fourth stolen base title in three consecutive years, as well as his second consecutive Best Nine and Golden Glove awards.

Tatsuru Yanagimachi wins his first title Isami Nomura and Akira Kawase also shine

Although the loss of key players was a blow, Tatsuru Yanagimachi Tatsuya played in 131 games this season, the most on the team. Although he missed the opening day first team, he was promoted on April 1st following the departure of Kensuke Kondo. Upon his promotion, he recorded 3 hit 2 RBI, including Home Run, on April 23rd. This led to him improving his form, and he was entrusted with playing as the core of the batting lineup. In the interleague games, he was the leading hitter with a batting average of .397, and was named MVP.

After returning to league play, hit hitless in six consecutive games and had a batting average of .203 in July, but gradually recovered and recorded a batting average of .337 in September. In 131 games, he batted .292 with six Home Run, 50 RBI, and an on-base percentage of .384. Towards the end of the season, he competed with Dai Makihara for the batting hitter, but unfortunately lost. However, he won two titles: his first highest on-base percentage and was named to the Best Nine.

　Although Isami Nomura was on the opening day first team, he continued to start on the bench in the early stages. Nevertheless, on April 11th he hit his first Home Run in two years, which became the game-winning hit, and on May 1st he made his first appearance starting line-up. On May 6th he achieved his first four hit in a single game, and thereafter he continued to give the team momentum by hitting a hitter Home Run and a game-winning Home Run.

He played all infield positions, including shortstop and third base, and contributed with solid defense. He continued to perform well throughout the second half of the season, and although he fell just short of the required number of at-bats, he still had a career-high 413 at-bats in 126 games, a batting average of .271, 12 Home Run (second on the team), and 18 stolen base.

　Akira Kawase The player hit a shot against Chiba Lotte Marines on May 2 that manager Hiroki Kokubo later described at the championship press conference as "a big turning point." With the score tied at one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the player stopped the losing streak with a substitute walk-off hit from bases loaded with two outs to give the sluggish team a chance to rise.

On May 20, in a game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, Hiromi Ito pitcher Home Run In 102 games, he had 224 at-bats, a .263 batting average, and 2 Home Run 23 RBI runs batted in. He hopes to increase his appearances starting line-up next season.

Akira Nakamura leads a struggling team without key players

Amid a team that had lost a number of key players and veterans, Akira Nakamura was a key player, supporting the struggling team. With Kondo out for the opening game, Nakamura made his first starting line-up of the season on April 1st. He contributed to the team's first win of the season with hit. Since May, he has often batted fourth in place of the struggling Hotaka Yamakawa, and on August 26th against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, he hit his third solo home run, achieving his 1,500th hit.

Even when he wasn't in starting line-up, he performed well as a pinch hitter. He hit a game-winning doble against Saitama Seibu Lions on August 20th, and a tying hit against Orix Buffaloes on September 2nd. He demonstrated his vast experience in a variety of situations, contributing to the team's victory.

Ryoya Kurihara, who had been struggling with injuries, played a key role in the final stages of the game.

　Ryoya Kurihara was removed from the lineup just before the start of the season. He had a multi-hit in his first appearance of the season on April 17th, and three hit including his first solo home run, on the 22nd. However, he struggled in May, batting just .132, and his condition did not improve. In early July, he was again removed from the lineup due to pain in his right side.

He returned at the end of August, hit a timely hit in his first at-bat since his return, and continued to perform well thereafter. On September 18th, in a battle for the top spot against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham he had three hit and one RBI, including a tying home defense, and showed good defensive performance at third base, livening up the team. In September and October, he batted .359 with three Home Run and 20 RBI in 24 games, earning him the Monthly MVP award. This season was plagued by injuries, but we can't wait to see him perform as a key player next season.

Takashi Umino and Hiroki Minei make an appeal to seize the key role of the fan

With the departure of longtime starting catcher Takuya Kai, the team's catcher have been given a great opportunity. Among them, Takashi Umino has worn the mask in the most games, 105 in total, and has gained a lot of experience, including leading pitcher Moinelo to his first shutout game win shutout. At the plate, he has struggled with a batting average in the .100s to the low .200s, but in September he recorded a .302 batting average, including a 10-game hit. Next season, he will aim to earn the team's trust with his bat and solidify his position as the starting catcher.

The next player to play as catcher after fielder’s choice with 56 games, was Hiroki Minei. He started in the minor leagues at the beginning of the season, but was promoted on April 10th. On the 11th, he came in as a substitute and performed well on both offense and defense, hitting a hit that created a chance to tie the game and preventing stolen base. On May 11th, he recorded 3 hit 7 RBI, including 2 home runs in consecutive at-bats. Furthermore, towards the end of the season, he made his presence felt with the bat, appearing in starting line-up as the "4th batter and DH" for the first time in his professional career.

Kensuke Kondo and Hotaka Yamakawa struggled with injuries and poor performance

Kensuke Kondo starting line-up in all games of the opening series, but was forced to take a long break due to a herniated disc and its treatment, limiting him to just 75 games. In July, he achieved his 100th Home Run and 300th career doble. After that, his clutch hitting brought stability to the batting lineup. Although he was sidelined again towards the end of the season, he still managed to post a batting average of .301, 10 Home Run and 41 RBI. The absences were a blow, but he still managed to put up impressive numbers.

Last season's double crown winner, Hotaka Yamakawa, also had a tough season this year. He seemed to get off to a good start, hitting the leadoff hit in the opening game, but his form struggled, and he was removed from the No. 4 position for the first time in mid-May. He continued to struggle in June, even returning to the farm team for a second training session, but on the 27th of the same month, he hit his 10th bases loaded slam. In August, he showed signs of recovery, batting .271 in 24 games.

Yamakawa ultimately finished the season with a batting average of .226, 23 Home Run, and 62 RBI in 130 games, but only a batting average of .176 in scoring position, meaning he was unable to fully demonstrate his potential. However, he was named MVP in the Japan Series with a batting average of .385, 3 Home Run 7 RBI. Will he be able to utilize his recovered batting skills in the regular season next season?

The emergence of new talent and the revival of existing players will lead to an even stronger batting lineup

This season, Fukuoka Softbank came from last place to win the championship thanks to the emergence of new talent. Meanwhile, Yuki Yanagita who only played in 20 games this season due to a long absence, still had a significant impact, batting .455 in the Japan Series. Next season, with the full return of their main players, they hope to form an even stronger batting lineup and secure a third consecutive league championship and a second consecutive Japan Series title.

Written by Aoi Nemoto