Former Yomiuri Giants player Kiyoshi Nakahata, ex-Hiroshima Carp hurler Yutaka Ono and former Yokohama Taiyo Whales player Yutaka Takagi have been named coaches for Japan's national baseball team for the Athens Olympics led by Shigeo Nagashima, amateur baseball officials said Tuesday.
Nakahata, 49, will serve as the head batting coach, while Ono, 47, and Takagi, 44, will be in charge of pitching and infield defense, respectively, according to the officials after the day's committee meeting for the formation of the team in Tokyo.
Nakahata said, "What our manager wants me to do is work on boosting the morale of the team. I will do my best to that end."