Go Kamamoto

Go Kamamoto
Kamamoto with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 015
Outfielder / Coach
Born: 釜元 豪
(1993-09-03) September 3, 1993 (age 31)
Isahaya, Nagasaki, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
NPB debut
September 14, 2016, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.222
Home runs5
RBI16
Hits48
Stolen base16
Sacrifice bunt4
Teams
As player

As coach

  • Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards

Go Kamamoto (釜元 豪, Kamamoto Gō, born September 3, 1993) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder, and current the fourth squad outfield defense and base running coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.[1]

He previously played in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Professional career

Active player era

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On October 27, 2011, Kamamoto was drafted as a developmental player by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2011 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2][3]

On June 1, 2012, Kamamoto underwent surgery for a broken left hand.[4]

In 2012 - 2015 season, he played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues.

On July 31, 2015, Kamamoto signed a 6 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control[5]

On September 14, 2016, Kamamoto debuted against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[6] And he was honored with the 2016 Western League Most Stolen base Leader Award.[7]

In 2017 season, Kamamoto played two games in the Pacific League. And he recorded a 26 stolen bases in the Western League and was honored with the 2017 Western League Most Stolen base Leader Award and 2017 Western League Excellent Player Award.[8]

In 2018 season, Kamamoto played 6 games in the Pacific League.

On April 6, 2019, Kamamoto recorded his first hit against Chiba Lotte Marines.[9] On the 7th of the following day, he recorded his first home run.[10] In the 2019 season, he finished the regular season in 86 games with a batting average of .270, a 4 home runs, a 11 stolen bases.

In 2020 season, Kamamoto finished the regular season in 32 games with a batting average of .192, and a RBI of 2. And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2020 Japan Series.[11]

In 2021 season, Kamamoto finished the regular season in 18 games with a batting average of .500, a RBI of 3. On October 26, the Hawks announced release him.[12]

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

On December 9, 2021, Kamamoto signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles as a developmental player.[13]

In 2022 season, Kamamoto played in 96 games with a batted .259, one home run, and a 26 RBIs in the Eastern League, but the Eagles announced his release on October 19.[14][15]

After retirement

On January 20, 2023, Kamamoto announced his retirement from active player. He has been a team staff member for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks since the 2023 season.[16]

On October 31, 2023, kamamoto became the fourth squad outfield defense and base running coach of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2023/12/03 (日) 新コーチ4名（小笠原孝・奥村政稔・釜元豪・中谷将大）が就任会見". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Fukuoka Softbank Hawks news (Japanese) 2011/10/28(金) 球団 ドラフト会議で高校生No.1の武田投手ら12人を指名！武田投手「やるからには頂上を！」と早くも意気込み". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 28, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  3. ^ In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under control (active roster of players), each team can have developmental players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under control within the 3 year contract period (Non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  4. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 【ソフトＢ】育成・釜元が手術". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 30, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク 釜元豪外野手を支配下登録 背番60". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 31, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  6. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク釜元1軍デビュー 初打席は空振り三振". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 15, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2016年度 表彰選手 （ウエスタン・リーグ）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  8. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2017年度 表彰選手 （ウエスタン・リーグ）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) ソフトＢ釜元、育成出身８年目で初安打 巡ってきたチャンスに即結果 「めちゃくちゃホッとした」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). April 7, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) 「体重８２キロ以下なら２軍」ソフトＢにまた育成の星 釜元プロ1号の裏に珍指令」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). April 8, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  11. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2020 出場資格者名簿(福岡ソフトバンクホークス)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2021/10/26 (火) 来季契約について". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 26, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles press release 2021/12/09 (木) 釜元 豪選手 入団基本合意に関して". Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Official site (in Japanese). December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2022年度 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス 個人打撃成績 (イースタン・リーグ)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles press release 2022/10/19 (水) 選手契約に関して". Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Official site (in Japanese). October 19, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "full-count.jp baseball news 中谷将大、釜元豪が現役引退で鷹の球団職員に転身　黒瀬健太ら新入団スタッフ発表". full-count.jp (in Japanese). January 20, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.