The Orix Buffaloes’ “super ace” Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, has won another award. This time, it’s a Golden Glove, which is awarded to the best defender at each position. He was named the Pacific League’s pitcher of the year for the 2023 Golden Glove Award, it was announced Tuesday. It’s his third consecutive year and third time winning the award. This reaffirms his status as the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball, not only for his pitching, but also for his defense.
Yamamoto told Japanese media, “I’m very honored to receive this award for the third year in a row because there are so many great players. I will continue to practice hard every day to become better at baseball.토토사이트
On his way to the major leagues, Yamamoto had another “super ace” performance this year. In 23 starts, he went 16-0 with a 1.21 ERA, 169 strikeouts, and a 7-2 record. For the third straight year, he led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage.
Last year, he became the first pitcher in history to win four titles in back-to-back years, breaking Nippon Professional Baseball history in one year. For the third year in a row, he is a lock to win the Pacific League MVP award. No competition.
For the third year in a row, Yamamoto won the Sawamura Award, which is given to the best pitcher in both leagues. He is only the second pitcher in 65 years to win the award three years in a row since Masaichi Kaneda from 1956-1958.
The second no-hitter of his career came against the Chiba Lotte Marines on September 9. He faced 29 batters until the ninth inning, throwing 102 pitches, giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out eight. It came one year and three months after his no-hitter against the Seibu Lions on June 18 last year.
Yamamoto tossed a nine-inning, one-hit shutout in Game 6 of the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on April 4. He struck out a game-high 14 batters. Earned his first win in five Japan Series games. He got some old homework done.
Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki, 28, who was on the battery with Yamamoto in the game, won his first Golden Glove. He beat out Takuya Kai (31-SoftBank), who was the starting catcher for Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Kai was seeking his seventh consecutive award.
The Central League was swept by Hanshin, who won their first Japan Series title in 38 years. Five players were honored, including Japan Series MVP Koji Chikamoto (29). Hanshin second baseman Takumu Nakano (27) took the honor over Ryosuke Kikuchi (33-Hiroshima), who has won the award 11 years in a row.
Nippon Professional Baseball selects its Golden Glove winners based purely on defense. There is a separate award for the “Best Nine,” which focuses on offense.