On the 7th, the Nippon baseball Organization announced the final results of the fan voting for the "Mynavi All-Star Game 2026".
Three players from the Lotte Marines—Shota Suzuki reliever pitcher, Ryusei Ogawa second baseman), and Misho Nishikawa Nishikawa outfielder)—were selected for the All-Star Game through fan voting.
This marks the first time a player from the team has qualified for the All-Star Game through fan voting since Roki Sasaki (starter starter) in 2023, and Roki Sasaki (starter) and Ko Matsukawa (catcher) in 2022.
There is value in the fact that players who have come up through the team's ranks were selected for the All-Star Game by fan vote. We asked three players how they feel about being selected for the All-Star Game by The Marines vote as representatives of the Marines.
"It's an honor to be selected by fan vote, and I hope to show a performance worthy of that honor," (Shota Suzuki)
"As I will be representing The Marines, I want to play in a way that will bring them no shame," (Ryusei Ogawa)
"Above all, I want to play with energy and give it my all." (Misho Nishikawa)
The reason is that the performance and presence of homegrown players Suzuki, Ogawa, and Nishikawa were recognized not only by The Marines fans but also by fans of other teams through fan voting.
Considering the era when talented players often struggled to make the All-Star team through fan voting, there's nothing more gratifying than this.
◆ Number one in Japan for the past 2005 and 2010
Three players from the Lotte Marines have been selected for the All-Star Game by fan vote for the first time in four years, since Roki Sasaki (starter), Ko Matsukawa (catcher), and Brandon Laird (DH) in 2022. Since the 21st century, there have only been four instances where three or more Lotte players have been selected for the All-Star Game by fan vote: Yasuhiko Yabuta (reliever pitcher), Masahide Kobayashi (closer), and Tsuyoshi Nishioka (second baseman pitcher in 2005, and Tomoya Satozaki (catcher), Tae-Kyun Kim (first baseman), and Tadahito Iguchi (second baseman) in 2010.
In 2022 they finished in fifth place, but in 2005 they won the league championship and became the best team in Japan, and in 2010 they came third in the league to become the best team in Japan again. Excluding 2026, they have achieved the national championship in two out of three instances. So, expectations are high that they will become the best team in Japan again this year.
Lotte is currently in 5th place, 8 games behind the league leaders, Softbank Hawks. Although they are far behind the leaders, they currently have a record of 36 wins, 35 losses, and 3 ties, giving them a positive win-loss record of 1. The key will be how they perform during the summer months, which has been a long-standing challenge for the team. However, that is all in the past, and I would like to see them win the league championship and the Japan Series. Just because three players were selected by fan vote does not necessarily mean they will win the league championship and the Japan Series, but I would still like to see them win the pennant race.
It's a bit premature, but I hope that not only this year, but in the years to come, many players will be selected for the All-Star Game by fan vote. I hope this year will be the "first year" of that system.
▼Since the 21st century, three or more players have been selected for the All-Star Game by fan vote.
2005: Yasuhiko Yabuta (reliever pitcher), Masahide Kobayashi (closer), Tsuyoshi Nishioka (second baseman pitcher
10th year: Tomoya Satozaki (catcher), Tae-Kyun Kim (first baseman), Toshihito Iguchi (second baseman)
2022: Roki Sasaki (pitcher), Ko Matsukawa (catcher), Brandon Laird (DH)
2014: Shota Suzuki (reliever pitcher), Ryusei Ogawa (second baseman), Misho Nishikawa (outfielder)
Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita
