is a former

Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''. Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...

infielder. In 2001, his pinch hit

walk-off grand slam In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. For a home run to end the game, it must be hit in the bottom of the final inning of the game and generate enough runs to exceed the opponent's score. Because the opponent will not ...

erased a 3-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning and secured the pennant for the

Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes The were a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team based in Osaka, Japan, which was in the Pacific League. In 2005 the team was merged with the Orix BlueWave to become the team now known as the Orix Buffaloes. The team played in Fujiidera Stadi ...

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1972 births Living people Baseball people from Hyōgo Prefecture Nihon University alumni Japanese baseball players Nippon Professional Baseball infielders Hanshin Tigers players Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes players Orix Buffaloes players Japanese baseball coaches Nippon Professional Baseball coaches {{Japan-baseball-infielder-stub