I was beaten by Muneyama A painful walk-off loss in the 11th inning, a rookie shortstop praised by the enemy

Apr 28, 2025

I was beaten by Muneyama A painful walk-off loss in the 11th inning, a rookie shortstop praised by the enemy
Rakuten rookie shortstop Muneyama had three hits against Softbank on the 27th. In the bottom of the 11th inning, he hit a double that fell on the left-field line with no outs and no outs, laying the groundwork for the finishing win. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS



I was beaten by Muneyama A painful walk-off loss in the 11th inning, a rookie shortstop praised by the enemy
In the rookie draft in October last year, five clubs selected Muneyama, a shortstop at Meiji University. Muneyama joined Rakuten through a lottery. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS
I was beaten by Muneyama A painful walk-off loss in the 11th inning, a rookie shortstop praised by the enemy
Rakuten players who cheer after winning the game. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS
Softbank Hawks struggling with a slump in their main batters. He swallowed his disappointment in the game against the Rakuten Eagles on the 27th. He was dragged 0-2 and followed one run in the sixth inning, tying the game 2-2 in the ninth inning. In the ninth inning, leadoff hitter Tatsuru Yanagimachi hit a one-run home run to bring the game to square one. He lost in the 11th inning of extra time without being able to bring about a turnaround atmosphere. The bullpen, which had been holding out well, collapsed at the end. He won his first game on the road in Sendai and lost two consecutive games. Seven losses in the last 11 games. Softbank lost to Rakuten two weeks ago in a sweep of three consecutive home games. He recorded one win and five losses against Rakuten.

Softbank coach Hiroki Kokubo mentioned one opponent in a post-match interview. However, he was not a batter who had a walk-off hit in the 11th inning. He was beaten by Muneyama. It's a great rookie."

The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) rookie draft held in October last year. Five teams, including Softbank, named the Meiji University shortstop as the top priority. Rakuten embraced this player after a lottery. Louis Muneyama (22), who is considered the best rookie this season.




the bottom of the 11th inning of extra time when the score was 2–2. Daisuke Nakajima, the leadoff hitter, hit the right-handed hit against the changed pitcher Yuki Smori. first base with no outs. Usually, in this situation, a bunt sign is sent from the bench. However, Rakuten coach Mickey Hajime broke this formula. Number 7 ordered Muneyama to make a strong attack. I believed in Muneyama's sense of hit.

Director Mickey's choice was right. At ball count 1S, Smori threw a fastball of 146 km/h. Stabbed the low course in the strike zone. Muneyama kicked the ball up and connected it with a double flying to the left-field line. 2nd and 3rd base with no outs. The bases are loaded with no outs on four pitches, and pinch hitter Yoshiaki Watanabe makes a finishing hit
I was beaten by Muneyama A painful walk-off loss in the 11th inning, a rookie shortstop praised by the enemy
Watanabe hit a walk-off hit with no outs and a full base in the bottom of the 11th inning of overtime. Rakuten won the game 3-2 and won the game for the second time in a row. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS
It's crooked.

'Rookie' Muneyama laid the stepping stone to the finish. It was my first walk-off victory in the professional league. Muneyama said "It wasn't a bunt sign, so I thought I should hit it somehow to continue the chance." He focused calmly on the game, not like a rookie.




The batting was good. He hit a heavy hit in his first at-bat in the second inning and a right-handed hit in the fourth inning. The second three-hit game of the season. Muneyama played 23 games until the 28th and posted a batting average of 278 with 25 hits in 90 at-bats. He scored two home runs, seven RBIs and five runs. He is ranked eighth in batting average in the Pacific League. He is second in hitting and hitting, and third in RBIs in the team after Asamura Hideto (35), a senior player who is the main catcher.

Coach Kokubo did not mention Muneyama after seeing the hit. Not only the batting but also the defense is outstanding. Since college, he has had a reputation as the best shortstop. Some praise him as a shortstop who can come out for the first time in 20 years.

Muneyama handled Kawase Hikaru's tricky hit with a smooth defense in the seventh inning.
I was beaten by Muneyama A painful walk-off loss in the 11th inning, a rookie shortstop praised by the enemy
Rakuten won the game against Softbank 3-2 with pinch hitter Watanabe hitting a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 11th inning of extra time on the 27th. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS
It created a situation. Japanese media said Muneyama's good defense broke the flow of Softbank's attacks.

Muneyama is likely to soon become Japan's representative shortstop.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.