Hiroki Kondoh
| Hiroki Kondoh | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Chunichi Dragons – No. 67 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: February 12, 1993 | |||
| |||
| NPB debut | |||
| 2 August, 2016, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| NPB statistics (through 2016) | |||
| Batting average | .186 | ||
| RBIs | 4 | ||
| Homeruns | 1 | ||
| Teams | |||
| |||
Hiroki Kondoh (近藤 弘基 Kondō Hiroki, born February 2, 1993 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
His father is Dragons pitching coach, Shinichi Kondoh the only NPB pitcher to throw a no-hitter on debut.[1]
Early Career
Under his father's influence, former Chunichi Dragons pitcher Shinichi, Kondoh started playing baseball in the 3rd grade of elementary school.[2] In junior high school he joined a rubber ball baseball team but hated practice. [2][3] In his 3rd year of junior high, young Kondoh was concerned over which high school he should go to and after being shown a video of his father pitching at the 68th Koshien with Kyoei High School, it was decided that he would join his father's alma mater.[3] He was a bench player in his second year, but rose to be vice-captain. However he was unable to make appearances with his team in either the summer or spring koshien tournaments. [3] In 2011, Kondoh started university at Meijo University with the law department.
In his sophomore year of university, Kondoh was mostly deployed as a third baseman or outfielder but in his junior year he became a regular in the outfield[4] where he took out best nine honours in both the Spring and Fall Aichi University Leagues. [4] In 2014, his senior year, Kondoh would captain his side and receive the fighting-spirit award for the Spring league.[5] He was also selected 2 years in a row (2013 and 2014) for the Baseball Association in Aichi representative team. [6][7]
While he had the desire to continue his baseball pathway in the industrial leagues, GM Hiromitsu Ochiai ensured that Kondoh would be a Dragons player by selecting him as their 4th pick in the 2014 development draft. [8][9]
Professional Career
Chunichi Dragons
2015
In 2015, Kondoh played 22 games for the Dragons farm team in the Western League getting only 4 hits in 34 at-bats for an average of .125. [10]
2016
On 14 July, he was moved off a development player contract and added to the overall roster. His number was changed from 213 to 67.[1][11]
On 2 August, Kondoh made his first team debut for the Dragons against the Yomiuri Giants starting in left-field and batting number 2 in the line-up.[12] He shined on his debut proving to be the most effective hitter for the Dragons on the day getting 3 hits and 2 RBIs in 5 at-bats. [13][14]
On 14 August, he hit his first pro home run in an 8-1 loss to the Hanshin Tigers at Kyocera Dome off Suguru Iwazaki. [15][16]
Kondoh finished his first season in pro baseball playing in 21 games, hitting .186 with 2 homeruns.
References
- 1 2 "中日・近藤真市Ｊｒ．弘基が支配下へ １４年育成ドラフト４位の外野手(Chunichi: 2014 Draft number 4 outfielder Shinichi Kondoh Jr moves under control )". Daily Sports News. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- 1 2 "中日育成2位 近藤弘基外野手 偉大な父の影を払拭". Sponichi. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- 1 2 3 "「真市の息子」いつか父超える 享栄・近藤弘基君 愛知("Shinichi's son" One day he will surpass his father;Kyoei's Hiroki Kondoh; Aichi)". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 20 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- 1 2 ""オレ流視察"の成果だ 中日が近藤コーチの長男獲得へ("My way of insepction" results: Chunichi's coach Kondoh's acquisition of eldest son)". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 22 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ "愛知大学野球連盟リーグ戦1部表彰選手 (Aichi University Baseball Association League 1 Awards)". Aichi University Baseball Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ↑ "平成２５年度 愛知大学野球連盟選抜チーム一覧(2013 Baseball Association in Aichi Representative Team)" (PDF). Baseball Association in Aichi (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ "平成２６年度 愛知大学野球連盟選抜チーム一覧(2014 Baseball Association in Aichi Representative Team)" (PDF). Baseball Association in Aichi (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ "中日ドラフト隠し球、近藤コーチの長男(Chunichi's draft hidden delivery, Coach Kondoh's eldest son)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 13 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ "中日 近藤投手コーチの長男・弘基を育成で指名(Chunichi: Coach Kondoh's eldest son Hiroki picked up on development contract)". Sponichi (in Japanese). 23 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ "2015年度 中日ドラゴンズ 中日ドラゴンズ 個人打撃成績（ウエスタン・リーグ）(2015 Chunichi Dragons individual batting statistics (Western League))". Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ "新規支配下選手登録(New player registration)". Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ "【中日】近藤Ｊｒ、出場選手登録即「２番・左翼」スタメン…父と同じ巨人戦でデビュー(Chunichi: Kondoh Jr registered to play #2, LF. Faces same team on debut as father...)". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ↑ "Tuesday, August 2, 2016". Nippon Professional Baseball. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ↑ "中日近藤いきなり猛打賞 父真市コーチとグータッチ(Chunichi's Konoh surprisingly most productive; shares fist-bump with dad)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ↑ "中日・近藤がプロ初本塁打「がむしゃらにいった感じ」" (in Japanese). Sanspo. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ "Sunday, August 14, 2016". Nippon Professional Baseball. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.