Tomoaki Kanemoto decided to leave his role as Hanshin Tigers manager Thursday to take responsibility for the team's poor results, and owner Shinya Sakai has quickly followed suit, the team announced.
Under Kanemoto, who was hired to manage in October 2015, the Tigers will finish last in the Central League for the first time since 2001. The Tigers finished fourth in 2016 and second last year, when they were eliminated in the first stage of the CL Climax Series.
"This (decision) is based on poor results," Kanemoto said at the Tigers' offices. "I have unfinished business, but the bottom line is what matters in this game.