Pacific League: Rakuten Eagles vs. Softbank Hawks (5th, Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi)
The possibility of Softbank Hawks outfielder Kensuke Kondo winning the leading hitter title for the first time in two years has vanished. Before the game, his batting average was .310, trailing league leader Reyes by .003. The condition for a comeback was getting at least 3 hits in 4 At Bats. In his first plate appearance, he struck out swinging, and in his second, he flew out to center field. With his batting average dropping to .309, pinch-hitter Imamiya was sent in for his third plate appearance.
Kondo won his first leading hitter title in 2024 with a batting average of .314. After being substituted, he showed a refreshed expression on the bench.
![[Photo] Kensuke Kondo renews his determination at his former mentor's memorial service: "If I hadn't gone to Yokohama High School..."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/09/14/20260914-OHT1I51183-C.jpg)
![[Scoreboard] Rakuten Eagles vs. Softbank Hawks](https://hochi.news/assets/v2/img/hochi_news_sns.png)
![[Softbank Hawks] Kensuke Kondo 's hitter of winning the batting title are slim... He cleared the hurdle with 3 hit in 4 At Bat, but struck out in two consecutive at-bats.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/05/20261005-OHT1I51441-L.jpg)
![[NPB Today's Highlights] Softbank Hawks' Kondo, currently in second place and trailing batting average leader Reyes by .003, needs a three-hit game to reclaim the top hitter spot.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/04/20261004-OHT1I51434-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Kensuke Kondo, aiming for a comeback leading hitter in the final game on the 5th, says 'There is a possibility, so I feel motivated.' The condition is 3-for-4 or better. With 2 or fewer struck out, he would achieve a .300 average, 30 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 Walk, and fewer than 100 struck out for the first time in 25 years since Hideki Matsui.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/04/20261004-OHT1I51419-L.jpg)
