Yuma Tongu Explained

Team:Orix Buffaloes
Yuma Tongu
Number:44
Position:Catcher / Infielder
Birth Date:17 November 1996
Birth Place:Bizen, Okayama, Japan
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:NPB
Debutteam:Orix Buffaloes
Debutyear:2019
Debutdate:March 29
Statleague:NPB
Statyear:2023 season
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.264
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:37
Stat3label:RBIs
Stat3value:112
Teams:
Awards:

is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. He plays catcher and infielder, specifically on every infield position outside of shortstop.[1] [2]

In elementary school, Tongu was friends and teammates with future Buffaloes teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and at the time, Yamamoto also played catcher, so both played catch with each other.[3]

He is often nicknamed "Yumer", as he chose the number 44 used by former Hankyu Braves foreign slugger Greg "Boomer" Wells. When he picked it, he stated that he wanted to be called that once he lived up to the number 44. Eventually, he also got one of Wells's gloves, which he said he would treat like a family heirloom.

References

  1. Web site: Organization . Nippon Professional Baseball . Tongu,Yuma(ORIX Buffaloes) Players . 2023-07-30 . Nippon Professional Baseball Organization . ja.
  2. Web site: 44 頓宮 裕真 選手名鑑2023 . 2023-07-30 . オリックス・バファローズ . ja.
  3. Web site: 頓宮裕真 オリックス・バファローズ 選手 . 2023-07-30 . 週刊ベースボールONLINE . ja.