SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo spoke highly of catcher Yuta Yamamoto, who is joining the team via trade. “He’s the regular catcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, so I have high expectations for him, including his hitting,” Kokubo said. He praised Yamamoto as “the best catcher in the Central League, at least since the year before last.” In 2024, Yamamoto appeared in 108 games, batting .291 with five home runs and 37 RBIs. He will wear jersey number 39 and is scheduled to join the first team starting tomorrow, the 13th.
Since last season, catcher Takashi Umino has been the team’s primary backstop. Kokubo acknowledged Umino’s defensive skills, saying, “His blocking, catching, and throwing are all up to standard. Now he’s at the next stage.” However, he emphasized the need for further improvement at the plate, noting, “There are only nine spots in the lineup, and he’s one of them.”
