西武・長谷川信哉外野手が１８日、日本生命セ・パ交流戦２０２６の「日本生命　最優秀選手賞」を受賞した。大阪市内のホテルで記者会見に臨み「率直にうれしいです」と喜びを語った。

　交流戦では１６試合に出場して６０打数２２安打、打率３割６分７厘、２本塁打、９打点。９、１０日の広島戦（ベルーナＤ）では２試合連続のサヨナラ打を放つなど、チームの交流戦初優勝に大きく貢献した。西武の選手では初受賞で、育成出身選手の同賞受賞はＮＰＢ初の快挙だ。

He became the third player in the team to finish hitter in interleague play. In the final game on the 16th, Hanshin Tigers (Koshien), where he ranked second in batting average, he started as the third batter and first baseman, recording 4 At Bat 2 hit. In the eighth inning with a one-run lead, he hit a slow ball to shortstop and headed it to first base. He claimed the infield hit and secured the title, saying, "Maybe I was lucky to snatch the top hitter with my head-sliding with determination. I want to succeed every day, but winning a proper title despite the short period gave me confidence," he said proudly.

Regarding being the first player to receive the award from the development league, he smiled and said, "I'm happy to have made my mark in the history of professional baseball. Professional baseball is a sport that gives dreams to children, so I want to become a player they can look up to. I want to show that even from the development league, you can succeed if you work hard." Similarly, Softbank Hawks 's Shuto and Makihara Dai, who also came up from the development league, are members of the Samurai Japan team. "I'm aware of it. I want to work hard with the aim of becoming a top-class player. (Samurai Japan) is my goal," he said, also dreaming of joining the national team in the future.

When asked how he plans to use the 2 million yen prize money, Hasegawa said, “My parents and family come to the games, so I want them to watch from good seats—like those on the bench or behind backstop.” He explained that he wants to use the money to repay his family for their continued support.Looking ahead, he expressed his determination: “Personally, my goal is to play 150 games this season hit, so I want to achieve that first. As a team, we’re aiming for the league championship and the national title, and we want to build up our wins one game at a time.”

　長谷川は敦賀気比から２０２０年育成ドラフト２位で入団。プロ２年目の２２年７月に支配下に昇格した。今季はここまで５９試合に出場して１７６打数５２安打、打率２割９分５厘、８本塁打、２４打点と安定した成績を残している。