Morishita Shota Wins Home Run Derby With 9 Homers, Hanshin’s Breakout July 29

Hanshin Tigers outfielder Morishita Shota, 25, won the Mynavi All-Star Game Home Run Derby on July 28 at Tokyo Dome, hitting 9 home runs in his semifinal match against teammate Sato Teruaki. The performance marks Morishita’s first derby victory and a stunning improvement from last season, when he hit only 1 home run in the competition. His breakthrough performance has captured fan attention as the Tigers’ young slugger continues his breakout 2026 season.

From 1 home run to 9: Morishita’s derby breakthrough

Morishita Shota hit 9 home runs in the semifinal round, defeating teammate Sato Teruaki, who advanced from an earlier match with 6 home runs. Last season Morishita managed just 1 home run in the derby, making his 2026 performance a nine-fold improvement. The semifinal matchup between the two Hanshin players created an internal Tigers rivalry that drew heavy fan engagement on social media.

Sato’s path to the final and pitcher support

Sato Teruaki, the Central League’s leading home run hitter, advanced to the final after hitting 6 home runs in his semifinal. Pitcher Sakamoto Seishiro threw 85 combined pitches to both Sato and Morishita during their matches, with Sato praising the pitcher afterward: “He threw good pitches.” Sakamoto’s precise batting practice deliveries proved crucial to both players’ performances.

Morishita’s season surge and fan voting dominance

Morishita has emerged as one of 2026’s breakout stars. He received 710,000 fan votes in the All-Star Game midterm voting, the most of any player across all 12 teams. His combination of power hitting and fan support reflects a dramatic rise from his modest 2025 derby showing. The Tigers’ young outfielder now ranks among Japan’s elite home run hitters this season.

Central League falls to Pacific in Game 1

The Pacific League defeated the Central League 7-5 in Game 1 of the All-Star Series on July 28. Sato hit a solo home run in the first inning for the Central League, but the Pacific League pulled away with back-to-back homers from Nishikawa Misho and Murabayashi Itsuki in the eighth. The Pacific League has won eight of the previous nine All-Star games entering this series.

Final Thoughts

Morishita’s nine-home-run derby victory signals his arrival as a top-tier power hitter in Japanese baseball. With 710,000 fan votes and a breakout 2026 season, the Hanshin Tigers outfielder has transformed from a marginal derby participant into a star attraction.

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