Nippon-Ham 23-year-old rising star announces himself as a member of the WBC outfield team, saying, "It would have been unthinkable two years ago," and debuts as the first Samurai Japan player to hit a leadoff home run in his first at-bat.

Sports Hochi

2025.3.6(木) 05:50

◆LUXAS Samurai Japan Series 2025 Japan 5-0 Netherlands (5th, Kyocera Dome)

First-time representative Nippon-Ham Shun Mizutani outfielder (23) hit a ball that flew into the center field of Kyocera D. In his first at-bat for the Samurai in the top of the first inning, he caught a 148-pound pitch from Dutch starter right-hander Kelly and hit a solo shot for the first time in the first inning. It was the first time since '99 that a professional participated in the first hitter Home Run of his debut, and he proudly said, "The view from here is amazing, I couldn't have imagined it two years ago."

The 23-year-old made a brilliant debut on November 5, 2010, hitting Home Run, the first since Maki (DeNA), in a training match against Nippon-Ham. He did not play in the first team for Softbank until 2013, and transferred to Nippon-Ham in the off-season draft that year. Last season, he was named MVP of the interleague games, and had a batting average of .287 and 39 RBI in 97 games. Although he only hit 9 Home Run, he caught the eye of manager Ibata as a potential next-generation long-distance hitter.

The favorites for outfield in the 2026 WBC are Yoshida Masa (Red Sox), Suzuki (Cubs), and Kondo (Softbank), with Mannami (Nippon-Ham), Morishita (Hanshin Tigers), and Tatsumi (Rakuten) also competing fiercely, but manager Ibata emphasizes, "Not all of them have to be in the majors. Everyone has a chance." The pineapple-haired man is determined to "get good results this season, or we won't get there (WBC)," and is set to hit a lot of home runs in regular season and crack open the narrow gate.

◆Record memo Mizutani (Sun), who was selected for hitter Japan for the first time, Home Run Home Run hitter the first inning. This is the first time since 1999 that a professional player has joined the Japanese national team that he has hit a home run as the leadoff Home Run in the first inning of his debut game, and he is the third professional player to hit a home run in his first at-bat after Sumitani (Nishi) batting eighth in a training match Nippon-Ham on November 5, 2022. Also, the last time hitter Home Run hit a home run was Murabayashi (Rakuten) in a match against Taiwan in the Premier 12 on November 23, 2024.