Active with a .438 batting average, 2 Home Runs, and 2 RBI: "That walk-off home run was cool."

On the 28th, the Softbank Hawks achieved a 4-2 win over DeNA in Game 4 of the SMBC Japan Series 2026, becoming the champions of Japan for the second consecutive year. Tomoya Masaki was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Masaki showed a great performance in the Japan Series with a .438 batting average (7-for-16), 2 Home Runs, and 2 RBI. On the October 28th broadcast of Fuji TV ONE's 'Professional baseball News 2026', MC Yutaka Takagi marveled, 'That was cool. The way he took two pitches before connecting on the third for a walk-off home run (in Game 3); that Home Run was really cool.' Commentator Kenichi Yazawa also praised him, saying, 'He had injuries last year, but this year he firmly established himself as the leadoff man, bringing a different meaning to the number one spot. Since he hit 28 Home Runs this season, he is a leadoff hitter who really builds momentum. He is a type of leadoff hitter that the Softbank Hawks have never had before.'

Furthermore, Mr. Takagi said to the other commentator, Mr. Hatsuhiko Tsuji, "When the game started today, Tsuji-san was deeply saying how important the lead-off hitter is after Masaki easily got a hit during his at-bat." Mr. Tsuji looked back and said, "That massive foul on the first pitch of the first game of the Japan Series really made an impact on DeNA from that point on." Mr. Takagi analyzed, "It felt like he went there to instill fear. In recent baseball, games are often decided by Home Runs, and having that kind of hitter in the lead-off spot makes me think the Softbank Hawks are truly strong."

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"