[Japan Series] Softbank Hawks' Yudai Yamamoto will face his former team in the championship battle as the 'No. 7 catcher'. This is his first time at Hamasta since transferring. He missed the interleague games due to a fracture... In 2024, DeNA won the Japan Series, but he did not play due to a fracture | Pacific League.com

[Japan Series] Softbank Hawks' Yudai Yamamoto will face the championship battle against his former team as the 'No. 7 catcher.' This is his first time at Hamasta since his transfer. He missed the interleague games due to a fracture... In 2024, DeNA won the Japan Series, but he did not play due to a fracture.

Sports Hochi

October 24, 2026 18:24

SMBC Japan Series 2026 Game 1 DeNA vs Softbank Hawks (24th, Yokohama)

Softbank Hawks catcher Yudai Yamamoto was named in the starting line-up as the number seven catcher. The 28-year-old joined from DeNA in May through a trade for Ogata and Inoue. He missed the interleague games in June due to a stress fracture of the hamate bone in his left hand. Now, at the familiar Yokohama Stadium, he faces his former team in the championship series.

Two years ago in 2024, after the Softbank Hawks won two consecutive games, DeNA won four in a row to become the champions of Japan. Yamamoto did not play due to a right ulnar fracture. In his first appearance on this grand stage, he will defeat his former team and lead his current team to a second consecutive championship in Japan.

Softbank Hawks 's starting line-up is as follows:

1 (One) Masaki

2 (middle) Zhou Higashi

3 (Right Field) Kondo

4 (3) Kurihara

5 (LF) Yanagita

6 (2) Makihara Dai

7 (Catcher) Yu Yamamoto

8 (SS) Shoji

9 (P) Uwasawa