Tomoya Masaki

Tomoya Masaki
Masaki with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 31
Outfielder
Born: (1999-11-05) November 5, 1999 (age 24)
Ōta, Tokyo, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
April 7, 2022, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.194
Home runs3
RBI6
Hits18
Stolen base0
Sacrifice bunt1
Teams

Tomoya Masaki (正木 智也, Masaki Tomoya, born November 5, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball Outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Early baseball career

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Masaki went on to Keio University and won the 50th Meiji Jingu Baseball Tournament in his sophomore year.[1] He hit two home runs in the 70th Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship during his senior year, helping Keio University win its first championship in 34 years.[2] He was also awarded as the Most valuable player at this tournament.[3]

Professional career

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On October 11, 2021, Masaki was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2021 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[4]

On April 7, 2022, Masaki made his first league debut in the Pacific League against the Orix Buffaloes, as a starting lineup for the No.3 and left fielder.[5] On April 9, he played as a no.8 and designated hitter against the Saitama Seibu Lions and recorded his first hit.[6] On August 24, he recorded his first home run against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[7] Masaki finished his rookie year with a .254 batting average, three home runs, and five runs batted in in 35 regular season games.

In 2023 season, Masaki performed well in spring training and was told by manager Hiroshi Fujimoto that he would be given a chance to get 50 at-bats, but his batting was sluggish and he did not get a chance to become a regular member.[8] He also spent the season rehabbing with soreness in his right shoulder.[9] As a result, he played only 15 games in the Pacific League.

References

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  1. ^ "The Asahi Shimbun baseball news 慶大が19年ぶりの頂点 関大に零封勝ち 明治神宮大会". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 慶大が福井工大に大勝し34年ぶり4度目の日本一/全日本大学選手権詳細". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 13, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 慶大V正木がMVPに輝く/全日本大学選手権表彰選手一覧". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンク2位・慶大・正木智也「福岡はご飯がおいしいイメージ ラーメンは硬めが好き」指名あいさつ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). October 13, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンク ドラ2・正木 中軸でデビュー戦". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). April 7, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンクのドラ2正木智也がプロ初安打". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). April 9, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 【動画】「まじでどうした筑後ホークス」ドラ2正木智也がプロ1号 連日の伏兵活躍にファン歓喜". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). August 24, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】藤本監督が正木智也に"柳田ロード"期待 無安打も「なんかのきっかけで」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 8, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトB・正木 1軍昇格諦めない!打撃不振、右肩痛で2軍調整の日々も「この期間をチャンスと捉えて」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
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