Professional Baseball's monthly MVP for July was announced, and Yakult's Munetaka Murakami, who hit the league's top eight home runs, including three home runs in three consecutive at-bats, in the Central League batter division, won the third consecutive season for two months. Awarded.
Central League batting division Yakult Munetaka Murakami
Murakami has played in all 20 games as No. 4 and has a league-leading 8 home runs, a slugging percentage of 70%, 4 minutes and 2 minutes, and an on-base percentage of 40% and 2 minutes and 1 minute. left a good result.
And, for the second year in a row, he reached No. 30 home run fastest in both leagues, and while the team lacked many of the main players due to the spread of the new coronavirus, he led the team as No. 4 and contributed to keeping Yakult at the top. .
Also, in the match against Hanshin Tigers held at Koshien Stadium on July 31, he hit a home run in three consecutive at-bats for the first time. .
Murakami also hit a home run in the first at-bat three times in the second at-bat in the Chunichi match held at Jingu Stadium on August 2nd, and has hit five consecutive home runs since the game on July 31st. achieved a new professional baseball record.
Murakami said, "It's a great honor, and I'm glad I was able to get good results for the second month in a row.In July, due to the new coronavirus, it was a tough battle because the regular members couldn't get together, but one game. I'm glad I was able to concentrate and play for one match," he said.
Regarding the fight after August, he expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "There are only a few games left, and I think we can see the victory, but I want to do what I need to do without being caught up in it."
Central League Pitcher Division Hanshin Nishi Yuki
In the pitcher category of the Central League, Hanshin pitcher Yuki Nishi won the award for the first time in three years since September 2019, and for the third time, including the award in the Pacific League, where he belonged to Orix. .
Pitcher Nishi pitched in 4 games as a starting pitcher, achieved 3 wins in line with the top of the league, and marked an ERA of 0.66, which was second in the league. recorded a quality start.
In addition, in the match against Yakult held at Koshien Stadium on July 29, he kept a clean sheet in the 7th inning and gave away a win against Yakult, who was leading the league. It was a driving force for my contribution.
Pitcher Nishi said, "The batting line was reassuring, and I was able to pitch with confidence. The starting pitchers were all stimulating each other, and there was a good sense of tension, but it was a result of friendly rivalry."
For the rest of the season, "All the starting lineup know what they're doing, and the whole team is very aware that 'I have to do it,' so when I'm on the mound, I always try to do what I can do. I want to play with that in mind," he said enthusiastically.
Pacific League Batting Division Orix Masanao Yoshida
In the Pacific League batting division, Orix's Masanao Yoshida won the award for the fifth time since last May.
Yoshida played 4th in all 24 games, and his on-base percentage was the league's top at 40%, 5 minutes, and 4 rins.
With 20 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 40%, 5 minutes and 4 minutes, he finished second in the league.
He also had multiple hits in 10 games and was on base in 21 of 24 games.
Thanks to Yoshida's performance, the team recorded the highest monthly winning percentage, giving momentum to the team trying to come back to win the league championship for the second year in a row.
Yoshida said, "I'd like to win the monthly MVP award once a year, but I'm very happy that I was able to win the award this time due to luck and matchmaking. I'm not satisfied with the results. , I think I was able to contribute to the team at key points," he said with joy.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, “In the Pacific League, the standings have changed due to the close competition, but if each player can play without regrets, I think it will naturally lead to victory, so even when we make mistakes, we will all cover up. I want to fight with everyone until the end,” he said enthusiastically.
Pacific League Pitcher Division Seibu Mizukami Yoshinobu
In the Pacific League pitcher category, Seibu pitcher Yoshinobu Mizukami won the award for the first time in his second year as a professional.
In July, Mizukami pitched in 11 games as a middleman, recording 2 wins and 1 save, as well as a league-leading record of 7 holds and an ERA of 0.00.
Among them, in the match against Rakuten on the 8th, he pitched in the 7th inning immediately after the team caught up with the tie, and held down the opponent's batting line to 3 to draw the flow to the team and lead to the win after that.
Mizukami is in his second year of training, and it is the first time that a player from Seibu's training has won the monthly MVP.
Mizukami said, "I didn't think I could get the MVP of the month, so I'm very happy. It's my first time pitching in a game like this, and to be honest, I'm a little tired, but I'm glad I was able to keep it under control, and I think I was able to grow. I think," he said happily.
In July, Mizukami, who pitched well in 11 games as a reliever and pitched well without conceding a goal, said, "I wasn't particularly conscious of it, but I'm glad I didn't score as a result. I was able to finish an inning with three men. It's my ideal, so I want to be conscious of not sending out useless runners in the future."
As the team battled hard for the win, he said, "I want to win, so I'll do my best to help."