BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Japan home run king Hotaka Yamakawa learning hard lessons against MLB pitching

Samurai Japan slugger Hotaka Yamakawa misses a pitch from MLB starter Junior Guerra in Game 1 of the Japan All-Star Series on Friday at Tokyo Dome. | AFP-JIJI

By Jim Allen
Kyodo

Nov 14, 2018

Hotaka Yamakawa may be Japan's premier home run hitter, but this past week has taught him how much more he has to learn.

After leading both of Japan's elite leagues this year with 47 home runs, the 26-year-old Seibu Lions first baseman was looking to put his stamp on some major league fastballs during the current Japan All-Star Series.

But after an 0-for-4 night in a friendly against Taiwan on Nov. 7 and another 0-for-4 performance in Friday's Game 1 against the MLB All-Stars, Yamakawa was crestfallen.

Japan home run king Hotaka Yamakawa learning hard lessons against MLB pitching

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