The “Taiju Seimei Monthly MVP Award” for March and April has been announced, with the Central League honors going exclusively to Hanshin Tigers players. Pitcher Haruto Takahashi earned the award after throwing three complete-game shutouts, while infielder Teruaki Sato powered his way to 7 home runs and 25 RBIs. In the Pacific League, pitcher Kaima Hirahara posted a remarkable 0.49 ERA for the Seibu Lions, and Kensuke Kondo of the SoftBank Hawks delivered 6 home runs and 19 RBIs.
Takahashi’s dominant performances included a memorable revenge win against the Giants, solidifying his status as the league’s top pitcher. Sato, also from Hanshin, expressed his ambition to win all major titles, calling Takahashi’s pitching “godly” and thankful to have him as a teammate. Hirahara made history as the first pitcher to win the monthly MVP in his first season after transitioning from closer to starter, following in the footsteps of aces like Yusei Kikuchi and Tai-Yuan Kuo. Kondo earned his fourth career monthly MVP, leading the league in RBIs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, and ranking second in home runs.
