◆Mynavi All-Star Game 2026: Central League 5-7 Pacific League (July 28, Tokyo Dome)

Even when off-balance, Nippon-Ham Fighters outfielder Chusei Mannami (26) hit the ball with power. In the 7th inning with two outs and a runner on second, he connected with Dolis's outside slider for a timely triple that hit the right-center wall fence. In his third at-bat in the 5th inning, he hit a game-winning RBI single to right field, and had a spectacular performance with 4 hit 2 RBI, earning him his second MVP award since the second game of the 2023 season. "This might be the happiest moment of the year for me. It's something I definitely couldn't have imagined when I was little, so I'm really very happy." The boy from Nerima Ward in Tokyo, who has been going to the Tokyo Dome since he was a child, flashed a bright smile as he received the award.

There was also an unexpected coming out. In the player introductions on the Jumbotron, which displayed each player's appealing points, he wrote, "26 years old, single. I recently got my heart broken (laughs)," causing a stir in the stadium. "I had a huge crush on someone, but I got my heart broken. Well, I hope that little kids will think, 'baseball players are like that too.' It wouldn't be interesting to write something ordinary," he said, deliberately expressing himself as he is, and he did a great job. "I feel much better now," he said with a refreshing smile.

Manager Shinjo praised Manami highly, saying, "The Fighters players are good at this every year. I can already tell that Manami will hit well in the All-Star game. He has a very dynamic batting style." The second game will be held in Toyama on the 29th. "I'm aiming for five home runs. I just want to avoid any silly injuries," said Manami. The party man who has received the most votes in the league for three consecutive years will be going all out to win the MVP award for the second consecutive game. (Haruki Kawakami)

◆Record Notes ▼First time in team history that Manami (Nippon Ham) had a great performance hit hit 2 RBI. In the 5th inning, he also hit a game-win hit RBI. Four or more hit in a single All-Star game is the first time since Kondo (SoftBank) and Sato (Lotte) had 5 hit in the 2012 Game 2. In a 9-inning game, 5 hit has been recorded by 4 players (4 times), 4 hit by 18 players (20 times), and 4 or more hit in a single game by 22 players (24th time). In the team's history, Kashiwabara Junichi recorded four hits in the 1982 Game 2, but his fourth hit was recorded in the 10th inning. Manami is the first in the team's history to record four or more hits in a 9-inning game.

▼Third player in team history to win multiple MVP awards Manami has won the MVP award for the second time, the first being in the 2023 (Game 2). The only other players in team history to win the MVP award more than once are Kotaro Kiyomiya 2 times: in the 2022 (Game 1) and last year (Game 2), making Manami the third. (Tomoki Fukuyama)