"Sent him out to win this year's title" — Five months after the trade, starting catcher delivers 3-RBI revenge against former team, blocking Yokohama's Japanese championship: "I had a mix of emotions"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Yamamoto Yutai (28), who was traded to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in May despite being a starting catcher, blocked Yokohama DeNA BayStars' path to the Japanese championship on the most decisive stage. It was a perfect revenge game against his former team, which had sacrificed him for the sake of winning the title.

SoftBank defeated Yokohama 4-2 in a comeback victory in Game 4 of the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Japan Series (best-of-seven series) on the 28th at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan. With a series record of four wins and no losses, SoftBank secured its second consecutive and 13th overall Japan Series championship.

SoftBank won all four games of this series with comeback victories, and Yamamoto was the one who turned the tide in Game 4.

The most decisive moment came in the bottom of the fourth inning when SoftBank trailed 0-2. With two outs and runners on second base, Yokohama issued an intentional walk to Kurihara Ryoya, choosing to face Yamamoto. Entering the batter's box with two outs and runners on first and second, Yamamoto faced Daira Kenta.

Yamamoto and Daira had been a battery playing together at Yokohama just five months prior. In a matchup between players who knew each other better than anyone else, the catcher came out on top. With a count of one ball and two strikes, Yamamoto pushed a 145 km/h fastball located high and outside for a triple down the right-field line. As the ball sailed away, both runners scored. It was a tying two-RBI triple.

Upon reaching third base, Yamamoto clenched his fist and roared. According to Nikkan Sports, he reflected on the moment, saying, "There was something that heated me up. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity no matter what."

SoftBank then took a 3-2 lead on Yagi Yuki's RBI hit. Yamamoto also delivered a sacrifice fly to left field with one out and runners on first and third in the sixth inning to make it 4-2. He was directly responsible for three of the team's four runs that day. As a catcher, he also contributed to holding the DeNA lineup scoreless after the first inning, earning him the Japan Series Most Valuable Player award.

Just five months earlier, this scenario would have been difficult for anyone to predict easily. In May, Yokohama executed a one-for-two trade, sending Yamamoto to SoftBank in exchange for pitcher Ogata Shuto and infielder Inoue Tomoya. Yamamoto joined Yokohama in the ninth round of the 2017 NPB amateur draft, grew into a starting catcher, and in 2024, he recorded a .291 batting average in 108 games while winning both the Central League Best Nine for catchers and the Golden Glove.

Sending out such a starting catcher mid-season was a shocking decision even in Japan. At the time, Yokohama President Kimura Yota stated, "The biggest reason is to win this year's championship. SoftBank had a strong request for Yamamoto. We cannot create a plus without giving something up."

Conversely, it was a desperately needed card for SoftBank. After Kai Takuya left for the Yomiuri Giants following the 2024 season, the team had been searching for a reliable offensive catcher, and the result proved to be a great success.

Of course, the process after the transfer was not smooth. Although Yamamoto quickly secured the starting catcher role after joining SoftBank, he underwent surgery in June due to a fractured scaphoid bone in his left hand. A return of two to three months was expected, but he returned to the first division on July 22, approximately 40 days later. Ultimately, after transferring to SoftBank, he recorded a .267 batting average, six home runs, and 41 RBIs in 55 regular-season games.

The Japan Series was also personally special for Yamamoto. In 2024, when Yokohama defeated SoftBank to claim the title, Yamamoto himself did not make the roster due to a fractured right ulna. This year marked his first-ever appearance in the Japan Series. Although there was a scary moment in Game 1 where he was hit on the left hand by a 150 km/h fastball in the 11th inning of extra innings, he played through the entire series.

The opponent was his former team, where he had spent nine years. After winning the championship, Yamamoto told NHK, "Many emotions came to mind. They were former teammates, and we had built a lot together." He candidly shared his feelings, adding, "I suppose I should say I hardened my heart. I tried to focus by not talking or looking as much as possible."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original