The ``Golden Glove Award'', which is given to a player who excels in defense in professional baseball, was announced, and Hiroshima's Ryosuke Kikuchi won the award for the 10th time in a row, breaking the record for the second in both leagues.
The "Golden Glove Award" was decided by the votes of reporters in charge of professional baseball, and a total of 18 people were selected by position from both the Central and Pacific leagues.
Central League
[Pitcher]
▽Pitcher Nobuhito Morishita won the award for the first time in his third year in Hiroshima.
Pitcher Morishita commented, "The Golden Glove Award is one of the awards I wanted to win, so I'm very happy to be selected. I will continue to do my best to contribute to the team on the defensive side."
[Catcher]
▽Yakult's Yuhei Nakamura won the award for the third consecutive year.
He collected 231 votes, the most in both leagues.
Nakamura commented, "I'm very happy to have been recognized for my defense after working hard for a year as a catcher. I also want to do my best to win the award every year."
[First]
▽ Giant Sho Nakata is the first time in the Central League, and the fifth time including the Nippon-Ham era.
Nakata commented, "Personally, I've always been aware of the importance of defense, so I'm happy that he was recognized and won the award."
[Second]
▽ Hiroshima's Ryosuke Kikuchi won the award for the 10th time in a row.
Last year, Kikuchi was the second most awarded player, and this year, he updated it further.
Also, for the 10th consecutive year, Koji Yamamoto of Hiroshima, who won the award as an outfielder until 1981, was at the top of the league.
Kikuchi said, "I am very happy and honored to be lined up with Carp's great senior, Koji Yamamoto, for the 10th consecutive year. I will continue to work hard every day so that I can continue to be selected. ” commented.
[Third]
▽ Giants Kazuma Okamoto won the award for the second time in two consecutive years.
Okamoto commented, "I'm very honored to be selected. I wasn't satisfied with my defense, so next year I want to work even harder and do my best for the team and the pitchers."
[Short]
Yakult's Hideki Nagaoka, 21, won his first award in his third year after graduating from high school.
Nagaoka said, "Including Coach Takatsu, who has been with us for a year, and Coach Tsuchihashi, who has taught me the basics of defense in the first and second years, he kindly taught me every day during the season. I think it's all thanks to Coach Morioka. I will continue to work hard so that I can continue to win this award."
[Outfielder]
Yakult's Yasutaka Shiomi is his first award in his fifth year.
Shiomi commented, "This is one of the awards I've wanted to receive since becoming a professional, so I'm honestly very happy and motivated. I will continue to work hard so that I won't be ashamed of this award." did.
▽ Yuki Okabayashi, in his third year at Chunichi, is his first award.
Okabayashi commented, "Although he made a lot of mistakes, he was determined to do what he did and worked hard. It's not an easy award to win, so I'm really happy."
▽Hanshin's Koji Chikamoto won the award for the second time in a row.
Chikamoto said, "I've been trying new things every day with the aim of further improving my level, so I'm happy to be able to win this award. I hope I can play to lead to as many wins as possible. But I will continue to contribute to the team in defense, and I will do my best to be selected again next year.”
Pacific League
[Pitcher]
▽ ORIX pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto received the league's top 225 votes, winning the award for the second time in two consecutive years.
Yamamoto said, "I am very honored to have been selected for the second year in a row. Being selected from among many wonderful pitchers gives me confidence and encouragement. I hope to improve my baseball even more. I want to continue to improve day by day,” he commented.
[Catcher]
▽ Softbank's Takuya Kai won the award for the sixth time in a row.
Kai said, "I'm really happy because it's a special award that I'm personally conscious of every year. I'm particular about defense, and I think that's my strength as a player, so it will be an encouragement for me in the future." I would like to further improve my technology so as not to be ashamed of winning the award."
[First]
▽ Softbank's Akira Nakamura won the award for the third consecutive year.
Nakamura said, “I am honored to receive this award because my defense has been recognized. I am in a position where I can directly help pitchers who are doing their best, so I want to make sure that good throws get outs. I'm playing defense with the feeling that I can win.I'm happy if the accumulation of that has led to the award.I made some mistakes in the final stages, so I hope I can improve my defense next season and lead the team to victory. I think," he commented.
[Second]
▽Seibu's Shuta Tonozaki won the award for the second time after two years.
Tonozaki said, “For defense, the first thing is to not panic, and I have been working on details such as positioning, making use of my accumulated experience. It was one of the titles I wanted to win. I am happy because I think that it is proof that I have been evaluated for what I have always been conscious of.I would like to do my best so that I can win consecutively next season.
[Third]
▽ ORIX's Yuma Souma won the award for the second time in two consecutive years.
So said, “I am very honored to have been selected for this prestigious award for the second time in a row. I will do my best so that I can be selected again next year."
[Short]
▽Seibu's Sosuke Genda won the award for the 5th time in 5 consecutive years.
Genda said, "Frankly, I'm happy. I'm really honored that my defense, which is my selling point, has been evaluated. I will play with," he commented.
[Outfielder]
Eito Takabe, in his third year at Lotte, is his first award.
Takabe said, "I've been aiming for this award ever since I entered the professional league, so I'm very happy to be selected. I will continue to practice hard and work hard so that I can become a player who can win this award." I am commenting.
▽Rakuten's Ryosuke Tatsumi won the award for the second consecutive year.
Tatsumi said, "I've been aiming for this year, so I'm very happy that I won the award for the second year in a row. Thanks to the people involved in the team who support me every day, my family, and the fans who always support me. I will do my best to win the award every year from next year, with a defense that gives the opponent a sense of security and a sense of despair.”
▽ Orix's Shuhei Fukuda is his first award in his fifth year.
Fukuda said, "I never thought that I would become a professional infielder and receive this award as an outfielder, so I was really surprised, but honestly, I am very happy. People who helped me with field practice. And thanks to the coaches who gave me guidance.I am confident that the fact that my defense was evaluated will give me confidence and I will do my best to be selected again next year.”
The "Golden Grab Award" award ceremony will be held in Tokyo on November 29th.