Kenji Akashi

Kenji Akashi (明石 健志, Akashi Kenji, born January 9, 1986) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball infielder, and current second squad hitting coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1] He played his entire 19-year career with Fukuoka.

Kenji Akashi
Akashi with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 88
Infielder / Coach
Born: (1986-01-09) January 9, 1986
Hokkaido, Japan
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
debut
May 2, 2004, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
Last appearance
September 24, 2022, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
Batting average.252
Home runs17
RBI213
Hits648
Stolen base93
Teams
As player

As coach

  • Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2023–present)
Career highlights and awards

He was an active player for the Fukuoka Daiei/SoftBank Hawks until 2022 season. He was the last active position player for the Hawks who played during the Daiei era at the time of his retirement.

Professional career

On November 19, 2003, Akashi was drafted by the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in the 2003 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]

2004–2010 season

On May 2, 2004, Akashi debuted in the Pacific League against the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, and he recorded his first hit.[3] In 2004 season, he played 7 games in the Pacific League.

In 2005 - 2006 season, Akashi was unable to compete in the Pacific League due to an injury in 2004 and surgery on his right shoulder in 2005.[3][4]

In 2007 season, he played 15 games in the Pacific League.

In 2008 season, Akashi was playing as a shortstop Starter in place of Munenori Kawasaki, who participated in the Japan national baseball team at the Beijing Olympics, but on August 27, he received a hit by pitch in and broke his right hand. As a result, he left the team and participated in the Pacific League in only 29 games.[3][5]

On August 26, 2009, Akashi recorded his first home run.[6] In 2009 season, he finished the regular season in 48 games with a batting average of .291, a one home runs, a RBI of 9, and a 6 stolen bases.

In 2010 season, Akashi played 39 games in the Pacific League. He injured his right leg in a practice match for autumn training and underwent surgery.[3]

2011–2015 season

In 2011 season, Akashi's return to the team was delayed in June due to the effects of surgical ankle rehabilitation.[3] Akashi finished the regular season in 58 games with a batting average of .278, a one home runs, a RBI of 15, and a 5 stolen bases. And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2011 Japan Series, played in Game 3 with a pinch runner.[7][8]

On July 7, 2012, Akashi made an Equal NPB Record by choosing walk with 19 pitches per turn at bat.[9] He was elected to the MAZDA All-Star Game 2012 and recorded a hit. He also won the Fighting Player Award for his good defense.[10] In 2012 season, Akashi finished the regular season in 135 games with a batting average of .254, a one home runs, a RBI of 27, and a 25 stolen bases.

In 2013 season, Akashi has played only 33 games in the Pacific League due to an injury to his right knee.[11]

In 2014 season, Akashi finished the regular season in 93 games with a batting average of .252, a one home runs, a RBI of 21, and a 17 stolen bases. In the 2014 Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers, he recorded his first hit in the Japan Series in Game 3.[12]

On April 29, 2015, Akashi hit his first reversal Grand Slam against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[13] In 2015 season, Akashi finished the regular season in 115 games with a batting average of .263, a 3 home runs, a RBI of 30, and a 11 stolen bases. In the 2015 Japan Series against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Akashi He won the Japan Series Outstanding Player Award with a batting average of .438 (7 hits in 16 at bats), 1 home run, 7 4 dead balls, and an OBP of .609.[14]

2016–2020 season

On March 28, 2016, Akashi left the team for treatment without recovering his right shoulder, which he had injured in spring training.[15] He returned to the team on July 29,[16] but his participation in the Pacific League for the 2016 season dropped to 47 games.

In 2017 season, Akashi changed his uniform number from 36 to 8.[17] Akashi finished the regular season in 103 games with a batting average of .279, a one home runs, a RBI of 23, and a 5 stolen bases. In the 2017 Japan Series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, he contributed to the team's Japan Series champion by hitting a double in Game 2 that led to a come-from-behind victory.[18]

On February 27, 2018, Akashi was hospitalized with acute low back pain.[19] In 2018 season, he played only 45 games due to back pain, but his batting average was .282, up from the previous year. In the 2018 Japan Series against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Akashi hit a home run in Game 5 and contributed to the team's second consecutive Japan Series champion.[20]

On February 21, 2019, Akashi underwent total spinal endoscopic herniation surgery.[21] On April 24, he returned to the team.[22] On April 25, Akashi hit his first Walk-off home run against the Orix Buffaloes, and he did somersaults at home base.[23] In 2019 season, Akashi finished the regular season in 99 games with a batting average of .248, a 5 home runs, a RBI of 21, and a 6 stolen bases. In the 2019 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, Akashi He participated in defensive and pinch runners and contributed to the team's third consecutive Japan Series champion.[24]

In the match against Saitama Seibu Lions on October 31, Akashi recorded 4 hits per game for the first time in 3 years.[25] In 2020 season, Akashi finished the regular season in 63 games with a batting average of .253, a 2 home runs, and a RBI of 17, and a 4 stolen bases. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, He participated in game 2.[26]

2021–2022 season

In 2021 season, Akashi finished the regular season in 57 games with a batting average of .202, and a RBI of 7, and a one stolen bases.

On June 24 2022, Akashi recorded 1000 games appearances against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[27] On September 23, he announced his retirement after the 2022 season.[28]

After retirement

On October 31 2022, The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have announced that he will be their coach from the 2023 season.[1]

References
  1. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks team's news 2022/11/2(水) 明石コーチ、金子コーチ、高波コーチ、髙田コーチが就任会見「責任ある立場」". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  2. ja:2003年度新人選手選択会議 (日本プロ野球)
  3. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Game report (Japanese) 2011/10/21(金) 選手 週刊☆若鷹News!♯20 (明石健志選手)". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 21, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  4. "SPAIA Baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク一筋の明石健志 ファンに愛される理由はここぞの一打". SPAIA (in Japanese). July 28, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  5. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB明石が2軍戦で右手指骨折". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 27, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  6. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Game report (Japanese) 2009/08/26(水) 第17回戦 千葉ロッテ vs 福岡ソフトバンク". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). August 26, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  7. "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) コナミ日本シリーズ2011 出場資格者 福岡ソフトバンクホークス". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  8. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Game report (Japanese) 2011/11/15(火) 中日ドラゴンズ vs 福岡ソフトバンクホークス". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 15, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 【ソフトB】明石19球粘り四球=日本タイ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 7, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  10. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB明石賞金の使い道は…/球宴". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 21, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  11. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 【ソフトB】明石は900万減の3000万". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 28, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  12. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB明石 本拠地で走攻魅せた". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 29, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  13. "Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB、道産子の明石が地元で大仕事「自分でもビックリした」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). April 29, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  14. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) 2番明石大当たり 優秀選手賞 出塁率6割9厘". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 30, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  15. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク明石登録抹消 右肩回復せず治療へ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 29, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  16. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク川島＆明石が1軍合流 工藤監督も期待". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 29, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  17. "Fukuoka Softbank Hawks news (Japanese) 2016/12/14(水) 選手 明石選手が背番号「8」で来季に！牧原選手も変更". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  18. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB明石、代打で千金二塁打". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 30, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  19. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク明石が救急車で搬送、急性腰痛で入院". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). February 27, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  20. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB明石驚き 「奇跡」の同点弾". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 2, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  21. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク明石ヘルニア摘出手術 復帰まで3カ月". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). February 21, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  22. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 巨人野上ら登録、ＤｅＮＡ桑原ら抹消／24日公示". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 24, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  23. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 秋山幸二級明石バック宙V弾「平成最後できるとは」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 25, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  24. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Game report (Japanese) 2019/10/23(水) 巨人 vs 福岡ソフトバンク". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 23, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  25. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク明石「いい感じ」3年ぶり4安打の活躍". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 31, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  26. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Game report (Japanese) 2020/11/22(日) 巨人 vs 福岡ソフトバンク". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 22, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  27. "Daily Sports baseball news ソフトバンク・明石健志が通算1000試合出場　19年目　ダイエー唯一の現役野手". Daily Sports (in Japanese). June 24, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  28. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 明石健志、第二の人生は得意のバク宙生かす？　「球団から打診があれば」". Nishinippon Shimbundate=September 23, 2022 (in Japanese). Retrieved November 1, 2022.
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