Tohoku Rakuten vs. Saitama Seibu 25th game (4th, Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi)

Rakuten of Tohoku Takero Okajima, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, came in as a pinch hitter and hit hit hit in his final at-bat as an active player.

This was Okajima's first appearance in the first team this season. In the bottom of the eighth inning, when he was called up as a pinch hitter for leadoff hitter Itsuki Murabayashi, number "27" created by fans on a board appeared in the left field stands. With an emotional expression on his face, Okajima stepped up to the plate and, with count at 2-1, hit a fastball from opposing starting pitcher Takahashi Mitsunari, sending the ball past short stop.

In the top of the ninth inning, he played right defense, and then with one out he moved to left defense. When he returned to the bench with two outs, the fans in the stadium erupted in cheers.

He joined Tohoku Rakuten as the fourth pick in the 2011 draft. He made a name for himself in his first year, appearing in 43 games, and in his second year he posted a batting average of .323 in 79 games, contributing to the team's first league championship and Japan championship. On May 24, 2024, he became the 529th player in NPB history to play in 1,000 games in total, playing in a game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham. This season, he has appeared in 75 games for the minor leagues, batting .194, and has not yet played in the major leagues. He is scheduled to address the fans at his retirement ceremony after the game.

◇Okajima's overall performance
1,011 games, 3,583 at-bats, 813 hit 41 Home Run 311 RBIs, 41 stolen base RBI, batting average .257

Written by Aoi Nishijima

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