Tetsuto Yamada

Tetsuto Yamada (山田 哲人, Yamada Tetsuto, born July 16, 1992 in Toyooka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infield for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[1]

Tetsuto Yamada
Yamada with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows – No. 1
Second baseman
Born: (1992-07-16) July 16, 1992
Toyooka, Hyōgo, Japan
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
April 5, 2012, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
NPB statistics
(through 2019 Season)
Batting average.300
Hits968
Home runs176
Runs batted in513
Runs624
Stolen bases147
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
WBSC Premier12
2015 Tokyo Team
2019 Tokyo Team

Professional career

In 2010 NPB draft, Tokyo Yakult Swallows selected him in the first round.[2]

In 2012, at age 19, Yamada debuted in his rookie season. He was limited to 24 games and hit one home run with a .250 batting average, in only 49 plate appearances.

In 2013, Yamada played 94 games but greatly improved his hitting ability by striking out 37 times versus 39 base on balls. He hit 3 home runs, stole 9 bases, hit .283 with an OBP of .354.

In 2014, Yamada had a breakout season in his first full season as an everyday player. In 143 games, he hit 29 home runs, with 39 doubles and 89 RBI. He scored 106 runs, stole 15 bases and hit .324 with an OBP of .403.

In 2015, Yamada was named Central League MVP in 2015 after leading the league in home runs (38), doubles (38), runs scored (119), and stolen bases (34). This marked the first time any NPB player led the league in home runs and stolen bases in the same year. He also drove in 100 RBI with a batting average of .329 and an OBP of .416. The Swallows reached the Japan Series in the same season. In Game 3 of the series, Yamada hit three home runs in consecutive plate appearances.[3] In assessing his MVP season in October 2015, the Japan Times wrote, "Yamada had a 2015 the likes of which is seldom seen in Japanese baseball."[4]

In 2016, he followed up his MVP campaign with another great season. He hit 38 home runs, 26 doubles, and had 102 RBI. He also scored 102 runs, stole 30 bases, hit .304 and had an OBP of .425.

In 2018, he was selected 2018 NPB All-Star game.[5]

International career

Yamada represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series, 2015 exhibition games against Europe, 2015 WBSC Premier12, 2016 exhibition games against Chinese Taipei, 2016 exhibition games against Mexico and Netherlands, 2017 World Baseball Classic, 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series and 2019 WBSC Premier12.

On October 10, 2018, he was selected at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.[6]

On October 1, 2019, he was selected to Team Japan for the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[7]

References
  1. "Yamada,Tetsuto（Tokyo Yakult Swallows） | Players". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. "2010年 新人選手選択会議(ドラフト会議) 東京ヤクルトスワローズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese).
  3. Nagatsuka, Kaz (2015-11-25). "Yakult's Yamada, Softbank's Yanigata win MVP Awards". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  4. Coskrey, Jason (2015-10-28). "Yamada Stakes Claim as Top Player". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  5. "マイナビオールスターゲーム2018 ファン投票結果". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  6. "「2018日米野球」に出場する侍ジャパントップチーム選手全28名が決定". 野球日本代表　侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  7. "「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」出場選手決定について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.


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