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| Rakuten infielder Murabayashi hit a two-run final double in the sixth inning against the away Seibu on May 29. He added two hits and raised his batting average to 0.336. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS |
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| Murabayashi, who became the main shortstop last year, is mainly playing as a third baseman this year. Super Rookie Muneyama gave way to shortstop. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS |
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| Murabayashi exceeded 100 hits for the first time last year. This year, in his 10th year as a professional, he is leading the batting. Joining Super Rookie Muneyama became a stimulus. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS |
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Two-run final hit after a failed squeeze bunt. It is a blessing in disguise that made the Rakuten Eagles bench embarrassed, which ordered the Pacific League first hitter to bunt.
The away Seibu Lions match was held at Tokoroza and Beruna Dome in Saitama Prefecture on the 29th. Rakuten, which was being dragged 0-3, tied the score 3-3. He created a chance to turn the tables in the top of the sixth inning. The center batting line shook left-hander Takeuchi Natsuki, the Pacific League Rookie of the Year last year. Leading hitter Hiroto Kobukata walked. No. 3 Hideto Asamura hit the right field.
The second and third bases with one out. No. 5 Natsuki Murabayashi (27) took the batter's box. Murabayashi is at the top of the batting order. Until the previous day, he had seven hits in the last four games, but he couldn't hit in the previous two at-bats. He was out with a straight hit to the third baseman and a ground ball to shortstop.
Ball count 1B. Squeeze sign is out. It would have been a decision made by the Rakuten bench after much consideration. The runners on the second and third bases got off to a start. The opponent's battery caught Murabayashi off guard when he saw his bunting position. I threw a breaking ball one bound. However, Murabayashi fouled the ball with difficulty. It was a foul with a will to save the chance somehow.
Squeeze bunt failures have produced better results. Murabayashi hit a body fastball from 1B1S and hit a bullet to the fence on the left-handed side. Both runners were brought home. The final double that made it a 6-3 victory. Rakuten, who is in fifth place, took the Winning Series in two weeks with Murabayashi's shot. Murabayashi was fortunate to be bunt. It was an at-bat that I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity somehow"
Murabayashi added one hit in the top of the eighth inning. 2 hits and 2 RBIs in 4 at-bats. He reported his 17th multi-hit this season. It's the most in Rakuten. He also raised his batting average for this season to 0.336 (49 hits in 146 times at bat). It is the whole of both leagues 'Top'. He has been 9 for 21 in the last 5 games and 0.429.
The 7th pick of the 2016 rookie draft. He wasn't a particularly noticeable player. Murabayashi, who has good infield defense, gradually developed his presence. 입단 9년차였던
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| Muneyama, who has been playing as the main shortstop since his first year as a rookie. Five clubs selected him as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 Rookie Draft. Rakuten succeeded in recruiting through a lottery. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS |
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| Muneyama, who joined as a rookie, is a shortstop who boasts the highest level of defense. While attending Meiji University, he was selected as a samurai Japan and played in the warm-up match. Photo capture = Rakuten Eagles SNS |
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In 2024, he finally became the main shortstop and filled the regular at-bats. He played 139 games as a shortstop and hit 125 hits. He hit a `77 hit' in 2023, and had a triple-digit hit for the first time.
This year, in his 10th year as a professional, he is mainly playing as a third baseman. He gave way to Louis Muneyama (22), a college rookie. He was beaten by the rookie 'Super Rookie' who joined with the first nomination. Muneyama was the best player in both offense and defense during his time at Meiji University. Shortstop defense was evaluated as good as one every 10 years. He participated in the warm-up match as a member of the `Samurai Japan' team. In the rookie draft, five clubs selected him as the No. 1 pick. Rakuten was brought in through a lottery. The club has no choice but to pamper.
It was difficult to become the main player, but a reef appeared. Right after the rookie draft ended last year, there were talks about defensive positions. However, the emergence of 'Super Rookie' became a stimulus, not a setback.
Murabayashi said "Playing in the game is the most important thing. Position is not a problem for the team." Coach Miki Hajime said, `It seems like the power accumulated over a long period of time is coming out.' Mickey has been watching Murabayashi for a long time as the head coach of the second division.
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| Seibu left-hander Takeuchi. He won the Pacific League Rookie of the Year award last year. Photo capture = Seibu Lions SNS |
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As of the 28th, there are only two batters in the Pacific League, including Murabayashi. Murabayashi was 11 for 31 with a batting average of 0.355 in scoring this season. Run second in this category.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
