Hiroki KOKUBO, who managed Samurai Japan to third place in the inaugural WBSC Premier12, has been named the bench coach of the four-time Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) defending champions Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He will serve under manager Kimiyasu KUDO.
The 49-year-old was one of the top NPB power hitters during his playing career. He hit 413 career home runs playing for the Hawks and the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants. He was the 2011 Japan Series MVP and appeared in 11 All-Star Games. Kokubo won gold gloves both as a second baseman (1995) and as a first baseman (2010 and 2011).
Kokubo helped Japan earn an Olympic bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Having retired as a player after the 2012 season, Kokubo was named the manager of the Samurai Japan National Team in 2013. During the WBSC Premier12 2015, current Samurai Japan manager Atsunori INABA served on his coaching staff.
He commented during a press conference: "I will be the link between manager Kudo and the players, and also between the manager and the rest of the coaches."
The Hawks are reportedly interested in signing Cuban hard throwing right-handed reliever Andy RODRIGUEZ.
The 22-year old plays for the Industriales of Havan in Cuba's Serie Nacional. He appeared in one game for Cuba at the WBSC Premier12 2019.
