Hanshin Tigers right-hander Randy Messenger won his third monthly MVP award and 12th-year Yomiuri Giants infielder Hayato Sakamoto was one of two first-time winners, Nippon Professional Baseball announced Wednesday.
Messenger, the first foreign pitcher in NPB to make four straight opening-day starts, was selected as the Central League MVP for the March-April period after he led the league with four wins along with Sakamoto, who batted a league-high .369 with 38 hits.
In the Pacific League, two Seibu Lions players — pitcher Shinsaburo Tawata and infielder Hotaka Yamakawa were named.
Tawata posted five wins in as many games for his first monthly award in his three-year career, while Yamakawa hit .337 and had a league-leading 11 homers and 33 RBIs.