If you are a new fan and are not particularly familiar with the team, let this be your introduction! We are going to break down the entire roster for you very briefly so you can get a feel for who is whom, what they have done, and what they might do in 2022 and beyond.
This is Part 3, which will look at the outfielders. In case you missed them, check out the catchers and the infielders! In the days to come, we will do features on the starters and relievers. So… here we GO!
The Real Deal
#5 Koji Chikamoto
Age (as of Opening Day): 27
Experience: 3 seasons / 402 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Golden Glove winner, Best Nine in 2021; 91 SB in 3 seasons
Sales Point(s): Speed, average, defense, some pop
Trending: Up – Avg & OPS are on the rise; SB total has dropped every year, though.
The Contenders
#24 Mel Rojas Jr.
Age (as of Opening Day): 31
Experience: 1 season / 60 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Arrived late in 2021 due to Covid, started NPB career 0-21
Sales Point(s): Power
Trending: Up – He is brimming with confidence, and has started hitting well in the pre-season. Was KBO MVP in 2020.
#53 Kairi Shimada
Age (as of Opening Day): 26
Experience: 4 seasons / 119 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Hit leadoff in 8 of the last 10 games in 2021
Sales Point(s): Speed
Trending: Up – Hit .344 with 21 SB in 64 games on the farm in 2021
#7 Yoshio Itoi
Age (as of Opening Day): 40
Experience: 17 seasons / 1665 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Made 10 straight all-star games in his prime; just 5 HR 3 SB in last 2 seasons
Sales Point(s): Some pop, discipline
Trending: Down – Looking good this spring, but age and injury history make it unlikely that he will produce all year
#97 Dan Onodera
Age (as of Opening Day): 24
Experience: 2 seasons / 34 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Drafted as a development player; just .147/.247/.254 in 2021
Sales Point(s): Well-rounded (power, speed, defense), versatility
Trending: Up – Led Western League (farm) with .315 average in 2021; 1.300 OPS through 3/10 this spring
#25 Taiga Egoshi
Age (as of Opening Day): 29
Experience: 7 seasons / 310 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Once voted “biggest waste of talent” by sportswriters (185 K, 84 H in career)
Sales Point(s): Speed, defense, power
Trending: Across – Some say he’s found his stroke this spring. we shall see. GREAT tools, but won’t get many more chances to prove himself
The Future
#32 Kouta Inoue
Age (as of Opening Day): 20
Experience: 2 seasons / 6 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Led the Western League (farm) in RBIs two seasons in a row
Sales Point(s): Power
Trending: Up – Though injuries have prevented him from competing for a steady spot on the top squad
#58 Ukyo Maegawa
Age (as of Opening Day): 18
Experience: 0 seasons / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Helped his high school team (Chiben) to the finals of the 2021 Summer Koshien Tournament
Sales Point(s): Power
Trending: Up – Everybody is raving about this kid this spring. Already batting cleanup on the farm.
#61 Hiroshi Toyoda
Age (as of Opening Day): 24
Experience: 0 seasons / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Helped his high school team (Tokai Sagami) to the championship of the 2015 Summer Koshien Tournament
Sales Point(s): All-round player (defense, speed, average, some pop)
Trending: Up – Was expected to immediately compete for a corner outfield spot but slowed by Covid, etc.)
The Wild Cards
#9 Shun Takayama
Age (as of Opening Day): 28
Experience: 6 seasons / 429 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Rookie of the Year in 2016; major regression since
Sales Point(s): Average
Trending: Down – Though it is hard to drop lower than 0 top squad games and a .202 average on the farm in 2021.
#63 Yutaro Itayama
Age (as of Opening Day): 27
Experience: 6 seasons / 111 games
Key Numbers/Facts: More than 60% of his 188 career PA came in 2016 rookie season
Sales Point(s): Versatility
Trending: Across – Heart of a lion but relatively low ceiling mean he is fighting an uphill battle for playing time