Chunichi Dragons outfielder Shoya Hosokawa was named the MVP of the NPB All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 29, according to 中日新聞Web. He recorded three hits and three RBIs, including two home runs, in the second game of the series.
Hosokawa’s performance made history in two ways. He became the first player selected through the NPB’s active player draft system to win the All-Star MVP award. He also became the first player ever to win both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP in the same year, 中日新聞Web reports.
The Central League team won the game, which featured a high-scoring contest, according to NHKニュース. Hosokawa had earlier won the Home Run Derby, which was sponsored by Nissan Kicks, as confirmed by NPB’s official website.
Hosokawa’s two-homer game was the first by a Chunichi player in the All-Star Game since Hiromitsu Ochiai, according to Sports Hochi via Yahoo!ニュース. The 26-year-old outfielder is in his second season with Chunichi after being acquired in the active player draft.
The All-Star Game results will factor into the second-half standings when the NPB regular season resumes.
