The Hiroshima Carp's Ryosuke Kikuchi continued to set the gold standard in the balloting for Japanese pro baseball's fielding awards, earning his eighth straight Central League Golden Glove at second base on Friday.
Kikuchi this year became the first second baseman in Japan to play a full season without making an error, while surpassing Hatsuhiko Tsuji's record of seven straight awards in the position, set from 1988 to 1994 with the Pacific League's Seibu Lions.
"Every time, I'm incredibly happy to win this. It comes with a feeling of relief, as well as a sense of responsibility to give my all once more," said Kikuchi, whose run began in his second pro season.
This time last year, Kikuchi was looking for a major league contract, but without a guaranteed offer he returned to Hiroshima, infielder's glove in hand. On Oct. 15, he surpassed Yutaka Wada's CL record for errorless chances at second base, finishing the season with 503.
"I didn't carry my weight offensively, so I took my position on the field determined to get it done on the defensive side," Kikuchi said.
Chunichi Dragons center fielder Yohei Oshima also picked up his eighth career award among CL outfielders, earning the honor for the third straight season.
The PL and Japan Series champion SoftBank Hawks led all teams with four fielding honors, with catcher Takuya Kai winning his fourth and fourth straight. He was joined by ace pitcher Kodai Senga, who won for the second year in a row, center fielder Yuki Yanagita, who bounced back from an injury-plagued 2019 season to earn his fifth, and first baseman Akira Nakamura.
Nakamura shared the PL award at first base with Nippon Ham Fighters slugger Sho Nakata, who was honored for the fourth time.
Nakata was joined by two teammates, center fielder Haruki Nishikawa and right fielder Taishi Ota. Nishikawa has been posted by the Fighters and is now seeking a job in the major leagues. It was his fourth award and his fourth straight, while Ota's is his first.
The other PL awards went to the Seibu Lions middle infield combo of second baseman Shuta Tonosaki and shortstop Sosuke Genda, and Rakuten Eagles third baseman Daichi Suzuki.
Genda, a fourth-year pro, has now won three straight fielding awards, while Tonosaki's is his first and Suzuki's is his first at third base, having won once at second base when he was with the Lotte Marines.
Chunichi led the CL voting with three winners: Oshima, third baseman Shuhei Takahashi, a second-time winner, and first baseman Dayan Viciedo, a newcomer to the award.
The CL champion Yomiuri Giants picked up two, the fourth each for ace Tomoyuki Sugano and shortstop Hayato Sakamoto. The Carp also collected two with right fielder Seiya Suzuki earning his fourth to join Kikuchi.
The remaining CL awards went to Hanshin Tigers catcher Ryutaro Umeno, who won his third and third straight, while Yakult Swallows left fielder Norichika Aoki won his seventh in the CL outfield. The 38-year-old last won in 2011, the year before he embarked on a six-year major league odyssey.
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Chunichi led the CL voting with three winners: Oshima, third baseman Shuhei Takahashi, a second-time winner, and first baseman Dayan Viciedo, a newcomer to the award.
The CL champion Yomiuri Giants picked up two, the fourth each for ace Tomoyuki Sugano and shortstop Hayato Sakamoto. The Carp also collected two with right fielder Seiya Suzuki earning his fourth to join Kikuchi.
The remaining CL awards went to Hanshin Tigers catcher Ryutaro Umeno, who won his third and third straight, while Yakult Swallows left fielder Norichika Aoki won his seventh in the CL outfield. The 38-year-old last won in 2011, the year before he embarked on a six-year major league odyssey.
