Kento Itohara

Kento Itohara
Kento Itohara playing for the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers – No. 33
Infielder
Born: (1992-11-11) November 11, 1992
Bats: Left Throws: Right
NPB debut
April 1, 2017, for the Hanshin Tigers
NPB statistics
(through 2017)
Batting average .259
Home runs 1
RBI 24
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kento Itohara (糸原 健斗, Itohara Kento, born November 11, 1992 in Unnan, Shimane) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Carrer

Early Career

Born and raised in Unnan City, Kento started playing ball in 2nd grade.[1] In his 1st year in Shimane Kaisei High, he recorded hits in 9 consecutive at bats in the Chuugoku regional tournaments.[2] His school made it to the Koshien national tournaments in his 2nd and 3rd year.[3] In their 1st round match against Sendai Ikuei High, despite hitting what would've been a winning 2-base hit in the 9th inning when they were just a point behind, the opposing defense caught Kento's hit and ended the game.[4] He hit a total of 29 home runs in high school.

He entered Meiji University and was a regular starter in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. He was awarded Best Nine as a 3rd baseman in his 3rd year.[5] He helped his team finish as runners-up in the Meiji Jingu Baseball Tournament in his 3rd and 4th year.[3] In 71 league games, he recorded a batting average of 0.229, 33 RBIs and 1 home run. He was one year ahead of soon-to-be Hanshin teammates Shun Takayama and Seishirō Sakamoto.[6]

When he went undrafted after graduation, he joined the Industrial Leagues under JX-ENEOS for two years. He debuted with a walk off hit, and finished his first season with .330 BA, and got to participate in the intercity tournaments. While his team didn't make it the following year, he joined Toshiba's team as a loaned player, and still got to play in the tournament, but didn't make it all the way to the championships.[1]

Hanshin Tigers

He was the Tiger' 5th pick at the 2016 NPB Draft.[6] He signed with the Tigers for a contract of 50 million yen, and an annual salary of 8 million. He was given the jersey number 33.[7]

In 2017, he joined the main roster during spring training,[8] and competed with Hiroki Uemoto for the 2nd base post during the pre-season games.[9] He debuted on as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning during the April 1st game against the Carps in Mazda Stadium. He continued as a shortstop from then on, but Hanshin lost the game 9-8 due to a fielding error he committed in the 10th inning.[10] On the next day, he recorded his 1st hit on his 3rd at-bat from Carp pitcher Ryan Brasier.[11]

He made it to the starting line up as shortstop/7th batter on April 14, and from then on, alternated between being a pinch hitter and starter. His starts gradually increased in May, and in May 19, he became the first rookie in Central League history to reach base in ten consecutive trips to the plate.[12] On July 9, he went 5 for 4 against the Giants, and batted in 3 runs, including his first pro career homerun off Shun Yamaguchi in the 5th inning. His last RBI on that game was a two-base center field hit that won the game in the 9th inning.[13]

He selected 2018 NPB All-Star game.[14]

Playing Style

Kento is a 175 cm infielder who has experience fielding as 2nd baseman, shortstop and third baseman. His right arm boasts a 110-meter throwing distance, while his 50-meter dash was clocked at 6.1 seconds.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "阪神ドラフト５位糸原がミスターばりに試合を決める". Nikkan Sports. 2016-12-05.
  2. ↑ "金本監督の"秘蔵っ子"糸原健斗 大学後輩の高山らとプロ競演を熱望". Daily Sports. 2016-12-05.
  3. 1 2 "ＪＸ－ＥＮＥＯＳ初戦敗退…糸原、好機で凡退／日本選手権". Sankei Sports. 2016-12-05.
  4. ↑ 楠淳生・中村健二『野球と実況中継』（2017年、彩流社）第3章「野球の実況とは」p.108に詳述
  5. 1 2 "阪神ドラ５糸原健斗、気持ちは社会人選手権へ". Daily Sports. 2016-12-05.
  6. 1 2 "阪神５位糸原、開幕一軍だ!高山、坂本へ先輩の意地]". Nikkan Sports. 2017-02-20.
  7. ↑ "ドラ５・糸原が仮契約「背中でガッツを見せていきたい」". Daily Sports. 2016-12-05.
  8. ↑ 2017年春季一軍キャンプメンバーについて Hanshin Tigers　2017-02-20
  9. ↑ "阪神ドラフト5位糸原　開幕一軍決定的　新人野手は鳥谷以来13年ぶり". Sports Nippon. 2017-03-29.
  10. ↑ "阪神ドラ5糸原が代打でプロ初出場、初打席は死球". Nikkan Sports. 2017-04-01.
  11. ↑ "阪神ドラ5糸原プロ初安打　狩野の言葉で切り替えた". Nikkan Sports. 2017-04-03.
  12. ↑ "阪神ドラフト5位糸原セ新人最長記録の10打席連続出塁". Nikkan Sports. 2017-05-19.
  13. ↑ "阪神ドラフト5位糸原　9回サヨナラ打　プロ1号含む4安打". Sports Nippon. 2017-07-09.
  14. ↑ "マイナビオールスターゲーム2018 出場者". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). July 3, 2018.
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