This supplied photo shows Teruaki Sato. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato was selected for the inaugural award honoring late legend Shigeo Nagashima after winning the Central League’s Triple Crown this season, the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization said Thursday.
The 27-year-old Sato, who is seeking a move to MLB via the posting system this offseason, became the ninth player to win a triple crown in NPB with 39 home runs, 106 RBIs and a .306 batting average for the Tigers, who clinched the CL pennant for the second straight year.
The prize for position players was established after Nagashima, who starred for the Yomiuri Giants and became one of the most celebrated figures in Japanese baseball history, died at 89 in June last year.
Sadaharu Oh, who headed the award selection committee and formed the famed “O-N” duo with Nagashima during their days with the Giants, explained that Sato posted numbers worthy of the award.
“Mr. Nagashima was a special presence who captured the hearts of so many people,” said Oh, whose 868 career home runs remain a world record.
Sato’s teammate Haruto Takahashi received this year’s Eiji Sawamura Award, honoring the late pitcher and given annually to Japan’s top starting pitcher.