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SoftBank announced on the 12th that a two-for-one trade has been finalized, sending pitchers Takuto Ogata (26) and infielder Tomoya Inoue (23) to DeNA in exchange for catcher Yudai Yamamoto (27).
Kenji Jojima, the team’s Chief Baseball Officer (49), issued a statement through the club regarding the trade:
“I’ve always believed Yamamoto’s playing style suits the Hawks. As we considered catcher a key area to strengthen, he was one of the players we had our eye on. His track record as a baseball player and the fact that he’s in the prime of his career are also attractive. I believe this trade will contribute to the team’s mid-to-long-term reinforcement.”
“Ogata, as you know, has a fastball that can be effective at the top level. He should perform well in the Central League. Inoue was drafted in the first round but hasn’t been able to produce as expected so far. I hope that a change of environment will bring out his high potential.”
“This trade meets the needs of both the Hawks and the BayStars. I look forward to seeing all three players succeed.”
General Manager Sugihiko Mikasa (52) also welcomed Yamamoto’s arrival with a smile, saying, “We have high expectations.”
