Makoto Imaoka Explained

Makoto Imaoka
今岡 真訪
Team:Hanshin Tigers
Number:77
Position:Infielder / Coach
Birth Date:11 September 1974
Birth Place:Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:NPB
Debutdate:April 8
Debutyear:1997
Debutteam:Hanshin Tigers
Finalleague:NPB
Finaldate:June 5
Finalyear:2011
Finalteam:Chiba Lotte Marines
Statyear:2011 season
Statleague:NPB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.279
Stat2label:Hits
Stat2value:1,284
Stat3label:RBIs
Stat3value:594
Stat4label:Home runs
Stat4value:122
Teams:As player

As coach

  • Chiba Lotte Marines (–)
  • Hanshin Tigers (–, -present)
Awards:

, nicknamed "Makochan",[1] is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan.

Career

Imaoka spent several uneventful seasons in the Japanese professional leagues before being chosen as the leadoff batter by Senichi Hoshino, who managed the Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2004. Imaoka won the batting title in 2003 with a .340 batting average, and his team won the Central League pennant the same year. He had previously played shortstop and second base, but was converted to third base in 2004. He continued his hitting prowess, and led the league with 147 RBIs in 2005. He fell into a huge slump in 2006, and missed half of the season due to injuries.

He won a silver medal playing for the Japanese national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.

Career statistics (through 2011)

!SEASON!!TEAM!!Squad number!!G!!AB!!R!!H!!2B!!3B!!HR!!RBI!!SB!!AVG
1997T79825218631112201.250
1998133471481382037446.293
1999128457361151116394.252
20004011382450120.212
2001123400361071504403.268
20021225054616040015560.317
20031204856716535112721.340
20041385728717529028830.306
200514655971156262291471.279
2006592041645327291.220
2007853232390804240.279
2008551691529307290.172
200923300420020.133
2010M2264431020060.227
201113232310010.130
Total1309460747612842111012259417.279

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ニックネーム . 千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト 「マリンフェスタ」特設サイト . ja . April 23, 2019 .