is a Japanese 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
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.
Standard arrangement of positions
In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...
and current manager of the
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League.
The team was formerly known as the Nankai Hawks and was based in Osaka. ...
.
He previously played for the
Nankai/Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and the
Orix Blue Wave
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team formed as a result of the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment by the merger of the Orix BlueWave of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of Osaka, Osaka Prefect ...
.
Early baseball career
Fujimoto went on to Tenri High School, where he competed in the 62nd
Japanese High School Baseball Championship
The of Japan, commonly known as , is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament. It is the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan.
The tournament, organized by the Japan High School Baseball Federation and ''Asahi Shimbun'', t ...
in the summer of his sophomore year.
Professional career
Active player era
On November 25, 1981, Fujimoto was drafted by the
Nankai Hawks
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League.
The team was formerly known as the Nankai Hawks and was based in Osaka. ...
in the 1981
Nippon Professional Baseball draft
The Nippon Professional Baseball Draft Meeting is a conference held by the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB) to select rookie players. The official name of the conference is the Rookie Selection Meeting. Since , the Grand Prince Hot ...
.
On July 7, 1990, He accomplished hit for the cycle against the
Nippon-Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Fighters also host a s ...
.
He was
traded
Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.
An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
to the
Orix Blue Wave
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team formed as a result of the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment by the merger of the Orix BlueWave of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of Osaka, Osaka Prefect ...
early in the 1998 season and retired after that season.
Fujimoto played a total of 1103 games,
batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
.235 with a 715
hits
Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* ''H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block
* ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998
* ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album se ...
, a 105
home runs
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
, and a 419
RBI.
His active player era
fight song
A fight song is a rousing short song associated with a sports team. The term is most common in the United States and Canada. In Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand these songs are called the team anthem, team song, or games song. First associated ...
is still the Hawks's chance theme (the song played during scoring chances) as of the 2022 season.
After retirement
Fujimoto ran a restaurant until 2010 while commentating on
TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting
is a television station affiliated with the TX Network, broadcasting in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
History
During the time of its establishment, the company was named as "TXN Kyushu" because the name "TV Kyushu", which the owner intended to us ...
's baseball broadcasts and critiquing
Nishinippon Sports.
He has been the hitting coach for the second squad since the 2011 season and has served as the first squad hitting coach, second squad manager, and third squad manager before being named first squad manager for the 2022 season.
References
External links
Career statistics - NPB.jp
- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site
1963 births
Living people
Baseball people from Osaka Prefecture
Japanese baseball players
Nippon Professional Baseball infielders
Nankai Hawks players
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks players
Orix BlueWave players
Managers of baseball teams in Japan
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks managers
{{Japan-baseball-manager-stub