Shogo Akiyama, who plays in the major league and the minor league under the Padres, hit the first home run in the United States in the 3A game on the 14th.
34-year-old Akiyama signed a free contract with the Reds just before the start of this season, and is aiming to be promoted to the major leagues by signing a minor contract with the Padres this month.
On the 14th, he started in the match held in El Paso, Texas, 3A under the Padres, as the "8th designated hitter", and caught the changing ball in the first at-bat, which was greeted twice without two outrunners. I hit a solo home run in the middle right.
Akiyama became the first home run in the official game in the third year after moving to the United States, and even in the second at bat, he hit a short grab hit and appealed to the promotion to the major league with 2 hits and 1 RBI in 4 at bats.
Akiyama said, "I heard that the altitude of the stadium is high (elevation 1140 meters) and the hit ball will fly very much, but I was able to catch it with a good feeling for the first time in a long time. I want to continue so that I can get it up as soon as possible without being satisfied with today's one. "