Shogo Akiyama Explained

Shogo Akiyama
Team:Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Number:9
Position:Outfielder
Birth Date:16 April 1988
Birth Place:Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:NPB
Debutdate:April 12
Debutyear:2011
Debutteam:Saitama Seibu Lions
Debut2league:MLB
Debut2date:July 24
Debut2year:2020
Debut2team:Cincinnati Reds
Statyear:August 20, 2024
Statleague:NPB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.296
Stat2label:Hits
Stat2value:1,678
Stat3label:Home runs
Stat3value:129
Stat4label:Runs batted in
Stat4value:602
Stat2year:2021 season
Stat2league:MLB
Stat21label:Batting average
Stat21value:.224
Stat22label:Hits
Stat22value:71
Stat23label:Home runs
Stat23value:0
Stat24label:Runs batted in
Stat24value:21
Teams:
Awards:

NPB Records

  • Most hits in a single season (216) (2015)
Show-Medals:no

is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Saitama Seibu Lions.

Career

Saitama Seibu Lions

The Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) selected Akiyama with the third selection in the 2010 NPB draft.[1]

In 2015, Akiyama set the NPB record for hits in a single season with 216,[2] surpassing the 214 collected by Matt Murton of the Hanshin Tigers in 2010. He also batted a career-best .359 average for the year. In 2017, he led the NPB with a .322 average. Over the last 5 seasons of his career in NPB (2015–2019), Akiyama batted a .321 average[3] and appeared in 5 consecutive NPB All-Star games.

On October 29, 2019, Akiyama held a press conference to announce that he had filed for free agency for the rights to play overseas in Major League Baseball (MLB).[4]

Cincinnati Reds

On January 6, 2020, Akiyama signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. At the time, the Reds were the last team to have never had a Japanese-born player play for them.[5] On July 24, 2020, Akiyama made his MLB debut.[6] During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Akiyama hit .245/.357/.297 and made no defensive errors in 54 games. He was released by the Reds on April 5, 2022.[7]

San Diego Padres

On April 30, 2022, Akiyama signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. In 16 games for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, he batted .343/.378/.529 with three home runs and 21 runs batted in (RBIs). On June 16, Akiyama opted out of his contract and was released by the Padres organization.[8]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On June 27, 2022, Akiyama signed a three-year contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of NPB.[9] Akiyama was given uniform number 9, which was once worn by the legendary player and former manager of the Carp, Koichi Ogata. In 2022, Akiyama played in 44 games as an outfielder and batted .265 with five home runs and 26 RBIs.[10]

On April 15, 2023, Akiyama hit a game-ending home run (Sayonara home run) in the ninth inning, giving the Carp a 5–4 win over Yakult Swallows. It was the first game-ending home run for Akiyama in almost 11 years.[11] He played in 115 games for the Carp in 2023, hitting .274/.333/.376 with four home runs, 38 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Following the season on October 31, Akiyama underwent surgery to remove part of the lateral meniscus in his right knee.[12]

International career

Akiyama represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2012 exhibition games against Cuba, 2013 exhibition games against Chinese Taipei, 2015 WBSC Premier12, 2016 exhibition games against Chinese Taipei, 2016 exhibition games against Mexico and Netherlands, 2017 World Baseball Classic and 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.[13]

On October 1, 2019, Akiyama was selected to the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[14] But on October 31, he broke his right toe due to a hit by pitch (HBP) in a practice game with Canada,[15] and he withdrew from the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[16]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 埼玉西武ライオンズ 選択選手一覧 . Japanese . NPB.jp 日本野球機構 . October 12, 2018 .
  2. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/10/01/baseball/japanese-baseball/lions-akiyama-sets-single-season-hit-record/#.VrrIB1ZlxA9 Japan Times. Lions' Akiyama Sets Single Season Hits Mark. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  3. Web site: Report: Reds sign Japanese star Shogo Akiyama. sports.yahoo.com. en-US. 2019-12-31.
  4. Web site: 秋山選手フリーエージェント(FA)権利行使についての会見 . 埼玉西武ライオンズ 公式サイト . Japanese. October 29, 2019. December 4, 2019.
  5. Web site: Reds sign Japan's Shogo Akiyama to 3-year, $21M deal . January 6, 2020. ESPN Internet Ventures . www.espn.com . January 6, 2020.
  6. Web site: 秋山翔吾、メジャーデビュー初安打に同僚から祝福続々 シェービングクリームの洗礼 . Full-Count . Japanese . July 25, 2020 . July 27, 2020 .
  7. Web site: Reds Release Shogo Akiyama; Expected to Select Drury, Garcia, Farmer .
  8. Web site: Shogo Akiyama: Opts out of deal with Padres. November 4, 2023. cbssports.com. en.
  9. Web site: Former Reds outfielder Shogo Akiyama to return to NPB with Carp . 27 June 2022 .
  10. Web site: 一般社団法人日本野球機構 . 秋山 翔吾(広島東洋カープ) 個人年度別成績 . 2023-03-31 . NPB.jp 日本野球機構 . ja.
  11. News: 2023-04-15 . Baseball: Carp's Shogo Akiyama smacks down Swallows with sayonara homer . en . Mainichi Daily News . 2023-04-18.
  12. Web site: Partial resection of the outer meniscus of the right knee Shogo Akiyama (35) Today's surgery The time of return is undecided Hiroshima Carp. November 2, 2023. news.yahoo.co.jp. en.
  13. Web site: 「2018日米野球」出場選手6名、コーチングスタッフが決定 . Japanese . 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト . August 20, 2018 . October 12, 2018 .
  14. Web site: 「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」出場選手決定について . 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト . Japanese . October 1, 2019 . October 12, 2019 .
  15. Web site: Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 侍ジャパン秋山が右足に死球、5回守備で交代. ja-JP. Nikkan Sports. October 31, 2019. November 2, 2019.
  16. Web site: Japan national baseball team news (Japanese) 「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」、「第2回 WBSC プレミア12」の日本チーム出場選手変更について. ja-JP. Japan national baseball team Official site. November 1, 2019. November 2, 2019.