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II Premier12 2019 - Official Payoff

Shogo Akiyama signs for MLB Cincinnati Reds

Shogo Akiyama signs for MLB Cincinnati Reds
09/01/2020
The NPB star outfielder, a left handed batter, is a veteran of international baseball. He represented Japan at the WBSC Premier12 2015.

Shogo Akiyama, an outfielder and a left-handed batter, agreed on a US $21-million three-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, thus becoming the first-ever Japanese player to sign with the renowned MLB franchise.

Akiyama is a veteran of international baseball. He made his debut for the Japanese National Team in 2012 and he was an everyday player for Samurai Japan at the WBSC Premier12 2015. He went 9 for 35 (.257 batting average, .333 on-base percentage) with a home run and 3 RBIs.

He was selected for the Premier12 2019 but had to withdraw after he broke his right toe during a practice game with Canada.

Shogo Akiyama was born in April 1988. He made his debut in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 2011. Since then he has played in 1,207 games over nine seasons for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He won two gold gloves (2013, 2015) and he was selected five times for the All-Star Game. He combined 1,276 career hits, including 102 home runs. He had the most hits (216) of the 2015 season.