The May monthly MVP of professional baseball was announced, and in the Central League batter category, Hanshin's first draft rookie, Teruaki Sato, demonstrated his long hitting ability and won the award for the first time by hitting six home runs.

In May, Sato participated in all 19 games with a batting average of 30%, 6 home runs, and 19 RBIs.



He was appointed as No. 4 for the first time as a professional in the match against Hiroshima on May 2, and hit a home run on the reverse side. In the exchange match with Seibu on the 28th, he was the second player in the Central League rookie since Shigeo Nagashima. It became the driving force of the team running in the lead, such as marking three home runs in one game.



This is the first rookie award in Hanshin in eight years since pitcher Shintaro Fujinami.



In the Central League pitcher category, Hanshin's Suarez is also the first to win the award.



Suarez pitched in 12 games in May as a closer and showed outstanding stability with an earned run of 0 and 9 saves including 7 games in a row.



On the other hand, in the Pacific League batter category, Orix's Masataka Yoshida has won the award for the fourth time since last August.



Yoshida participated in all 23 games in May, with a batting average of 30% 8 minutes and 2 home runs, 6 home runs, 34 hits and 24 RBIs, both of which are league leaders, and a batting average of 50% 4 minutes and 5 RBIs. I showed the strength of the game.



In the Pacific League pitcher category, Softbank pitcher Martinez won the award for the first time in his fourth year in Japan, including during the Nippon-Ham era.



Martinez led the starting pitchers in the fight for the lead with a ERA of 1.97, which was the top of the league with 4 wins and 1 loss in May, starting in 5 games.

Hanshin Teruaki Sato Suarez's discourse

Hanshin's rookie Teruaki Sato, who won the monthly MVP for the first time in the Central League batter category, said, "I'm honestly happy that I was able to contribute to the team. I think it's the result of finding reflection and practicing in the match. "



Regarding entering No. 4 instead of Yusuke Ohyama who left, he said, "I felt that No. 4 should be noticed and hit. Eventually, I want to be a batter who can be entrusted with No. 4." talked.



Suarez, who won the monthly MVP for the first time in the Central League pitcher category, said, "I'm very happy because it's my first time. I'm glad I got a chance to save and it's the best way to contribute to the team." did.



On top of that, he mentioned that he had won the title with the most saves last season, and said, "I am trying to grow every day, so I want to exceed last year's results and do my best to win the team." ..



Hanshin's players were all selected as monthly MVPs by Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi in the pitcher category and Makoto Imaoka, head coach of Lotte, in the batter category in September 2005, when he won the previous league title. It's been 16 years since then.

Orix Yoshida Masataka's discourse

Orix's Masataka Yoshida, who won the Pacific League's fourth monthly MVP in the batter category, said, "I'm honestly happy. There are good times and bad times, but I just think about getting the conditions right and doing my best for the day. It's good for the team to hit points, so I'm glad I got as many points as possible. "



On top of that, regarding the atmosphere of the team that is in 4th place, 6 games behind the leader, aiming to regain the bottom for the second consecutive year in the Pacific League, "There is a sense of unity that everyone can connect and score points from anywhere. I think. I want to continue fighting as a team. "