Takeshi Yamasaki

Takeshi Yamasaki
Takeshi Yamasaki
	First baseman, outfielder
	Born: November 7, 1968 (age 56); Aichi, Japan
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
	September 7, 1989, for the Chunichi Dragons
Last appearance
	2013, for the Chunichi Dragons
NPB statistics ; (through 2013 season)
Batting average	.257
Hits	1,834
HRs	403
RBIs	1,205
Teams
	Chunichi Dragons (1989 – 2002); Orix BlueWave (2003 – 2004); Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2005 – 2011); Chunichi Dragons (2012 – 2013);
Career highlights and awards
	6× All-Star (1996, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011); 2× Leader of Home Run (1996, 2007); 1× Leader of RBI (2007); 3× Central League Best Nine Award (1996, 2007, 2009); 2× NPB All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2008);

Takeshi Yamasaki (山﨑武司, Yamasaki Takeshi, born November 7, 1968, in Chita, Aichi, Japan) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player. During his 24 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, he played for the Chunichi Dragons, the Orix BlueWave, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Career

Yamasaki was selected at the number 2 draft pick for the Dragons in 1987. He helped lead the Dragons to the 1999 Japan Series (which they ultimately lost to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, 4-games-to-1).

On April 1, 2007, José Fernández and Yamasaki hit grand slams in the same inning for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Yamasaki led the Pacific League in home runs and RBI in 2007, also being selected for a Best Nine Award as a designated hitter.

Yamasaki was the MVP of the 2008 All Star Game #1. He had 2 home runs in the 2009 Climax Series.

Yamasaki was awarded the 2011 Golden Spirit Award, given to a NPB player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by members of the media.

Yamasaki played 24 years in NPB, retiring after the 2013 season with 403 home runs, placing him 17th all-time in Japanese professional baseball.

List

List of top Nippon Professional Baseball home run hitters

References

Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball.com

Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)

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