This year's zodiac sign is "horse." Looking at Pacific League players who have won Home Run title in the year of the horse, Seibu Lions players are the most popular.

In 1990, De Strada hit 42 home runs to become Home Run king, and in 2002, Cabrera hit 55 Home Run, a Japanese record at the time, to become Home Run king. In 2014, Mejia and Takeya Nakamura both hit 34 Home Run to become Home Run king. In the Year of the Horse season, Seibu Lions players have won Home Run three times in a row.

Seven or eight years ago, when the team boasted a lineup that was feared by other teams as a bandit lineup, there was hope for Home Run king from Seibu Lions, but last season the team Home Run 80 home runs, fourth in the league. In the current situation, it is hard to imagine Home Run king coming from Seibu Lions.

However, that doesn't mean there aren't any candidates. Last season, in his first year in Japan, Nevin hit 21 Home Run, third in the league. If he can get used to Japanese pitcher and demonstrate his power in this second season, it's entirely possible that he could join the race for Home Run title. At present, it's disappointing that there aren't many Japanese power hitters in the running, but it will be interesting to see if Home Run king will emerge from Seibu Lions Lions this season.

▼ Pacific League Home Run King in the Year of the Horse

1954: 31 home runs by Futoshi Nakanishi (Nishitetsu)

1966: 34 Katsuya Nomura (Nankai)

1978: 36 home runs - Mitchell (Nippon-Ham)

1990: 42 home runs by Destrade (Seibu Lions)

2002: 55 home runs by Cabrera (Seibu Lions)

2014: 34 homers Takeya Nakamura (Seibu Lions) and Mejia (Seibu Lions))