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, Destrade hit 42 home runs to win Home Run title, and in 2002, Cabrera won Home Run title with a then-Japanese record of 55 Home Run in a single season. Furthermore, in 2014, Mejia and Takeya Nakamura each hit 34 Home Run to win Home Run title. In seasons born in the Year of the Horse, Seibu Lions players have won Home Run for three consecutive years.

Seven or eight years ago, when the team boasted a bandit batting lineup and was feared by other teams, we could have expected Home Run Wang from Seibu Lions, but last season, the team ranked fourth in the league Home Run 80 runs. At present, the birth of Home Run Wang from Seibu Lions is unlikely.

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 League Home Run King of 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 - Cabrera (Seibu Lions)

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