Hiroki Uemoto

Hiroki Uemoto (上本 博紀, Uemoto Hiroki, born July 4, 1986 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He has played in his entire career with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Hiroki Uemoto
Uemoto with the Hanshin Tigers
Infielder
Born: (1986-07-04) July 4, 1986
Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
July 8, 2010, for the Hanshin Tigers
Last NPB appearance
September 26, 2020, for the Hanshin Tigers
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.265
Home runs30
Hits522
RBI161
Stolen bases94
Teams

Early baseball career

Uemoto attended Koryo High School, where his team participated in the summer National Championship in his first and second years and the spring National Invitational Tournament in his second and third years. In 2003, he played alongside high-school sluggers Kentaro Nishimura and Yuta Shirahama to win the championship for their school. In his second year he was selected to participate in the Asia AAA Baseball Championship where he won the Top Defensive Player award. During the 2004 National Invitational High-school Baseball Tournament, he served as team captain and played catcher.[1]

Professional career

Hanshin Tigers selected Uemoto with the third selection in the 2008 NPB draft.[2]

In the sixth inning of a Hanshin vs. Samurai Japan practice game on February 26, 2013, he collided with left fielder Hayata Ito while chasing a ball hit by Hayato Sakamoto. Ito caught the ball despite the collision and was able to continue playing, but Uemoto was taken off the field on a stretcher.[3] He was diagnosed with an injury to his anterior talofibular ligament.[4] He underwent rehabilitation starting in March, returning to practice in mid-May. Because of occasional pain still felt in his left ankle, he underwent surgery in June.[5]

His first appearance following surgery was on August 29 against the Giants in the Tokyo Dome, where he played third baseman for the first time. Five days later he hit his first home run of the year against the BayStars.[6] During the September 18 game against Hiroshima, he played against his brother Takashi for the first time; he as the 2nd baseman and his brother as the Carp's shortstop.[7] In the 2013 season, he played 25 games with 8 RBIs and 2 home runs.

On December 2, 2020, he become a free agent.[8] On December 21, 2020, he announced his retirement.[9]

References
  1. "第76回センバツ　頑張れ中国勢". 中国新聞. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  2. "阪神タイガース 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  3. "上本　右目上下に２針縫う、日本代表戦で交錯　復帰日は未定". Sponichi (Sports Nippon). 2013-02-26.
  4. "上本、左足首の靱帯損傷…和田監督は「時間がかかりそう」". Sponichi (Sports Nippon). 2013-02-26.
  5. "【阪神】上本、左足首手術「1日も早く」". 日刊スポーツ. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  6. "虎上本千金弾　初グラティ恥ずかしかった". 日刊スポーツ. 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  7. "阪神＆広島　上本兄弟が同時出場". 日刊スポーツ. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  8. "2020年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. "元阪神上本が現役引退『体も痛い…』他球団移籍断念". 日刊スポーツ (in Japanese). December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
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