The "Taiju Life Monthly MVP Award" for September and October 2026 has been announced, and in the Pacific League, pitcher Kosei Shoji of Tohoku Rakuten Eagles won the pitcher category, while Kensuke Kondo of Fukuoka Softbank won the hitter category.

Shoji won for the first time in his fourth year. He made five starts in September and October, pitching 36 innings and delivering a superb performance with a league-leading 41 strike out, a league-high-tying 3 wins (1 shutout game), and the league's second-best ERA of 1.00.

In the game against Chiba Lotte Marines on September 16, he recorded his first professional shutout game with 125 pitches, 6 hit, and no walks or Hit by Pitch with 7 strike out over 9 innings. From September onwards, he showed stable pitch with HQS in three games.

Meanwhile, Kondo won the award for the sixth time, his first since July 2026. He appeared in 24 games in September and October, leading the lineup by recording a league-best .630 slugging percentage, a .461 on-base percentage, 21 runs, tied for second in the league with 7 Home Run, and fourth in the league with 16 RBI.

Starting from the game against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on September 26, he recorded Home Run in four consecutive games. He also recorded RBI in six consecutive games starting from the game against Saitama Seibu Lions on September 23.

▼pitcher Shoji Comment▼
"I feel very honored (to receive the Monthly MVP). I am happy because it was a month where I felt a response myself. I was able to face the games with my own form of pitch by utilizing the reflections from each game, and I believe that being able to accomplish that until the end without breaking down led to good results.

Looking back, it was a season with many difficult things, but because there were fans who supported me until the end, I was able to finish pitching until the end. I want to continue to devote myself so that we can achieve the goal of winning the championship next season, so please continue to support me."