1. Early Life and Pre-Professional Career
Saburo Ohmura was born on June 1, 1976, in Kita Ward, Okayama, Japan. As a child, he was a fan of the Hanshin Tigers. During his youth baseball years, he received coaching from Toshiaki Moriyasu, a former professional player who was permanently banned from the sport due to his involvement in the Black Mist Scandal.
Ohmura attended PL Gakuen High School, a prestigious baseball powerhouse. In 1994, he participated in the 66th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Spring Koshien), playing as the leadoff hitter and center fielder. He contributed to his team's advancement to the semi-finals. Notable teammates at PL Gakuen included Makoto Imaoka (two grades above), Kazuo Matsui (one grade above), Shinji Udaka (same class), Kosuke Fukudome (one grade below), and Katsuhiko Maekawa (two grades below).
Following his high school career, Ohmura was selected by the Chiba Lotte Marines as their first-round pick in the 1994 NPB draft. This marked the first time in 17 years that the Marines had chosen a position player in the first round, the last being catcher Hideki Hakamada. Upon joining the team, he was given the uniform number 36, a numerical play on his given name "Saburo" (三郎Japanese). At his strong request, his registration name was changed to "Saburo," emulating Ichiro Suzuki (then Ichiro) who had similarly adopted his given name as his registration name that same year and achieved remarkable success.
2. Professional Playing Career
Saburo Ohmura's professional baseball career spanned 22 seasons, primarily with the Chiba Lotte Marines, with a brief period with the Yomiuri Giants.
2.1. Chiba Lotte Marines (1995-2011)
Ohmura spent the majority of his initial professional career with the Chiba Lotte Marines, developing from a young prospect into a key player and a team leader.
2.1.1. Early Years and Development (1995-1999)
Ohmura made his professional debut in June 1995, being called up to the first team. He received opportunities to start as a left fielder due to the struggles of Pete Incaviglia, appearing in 28 games and recording 3 stolen bases in his rookie season. In 1996, his opportunities were limited to just 9 games due to the depth of the Marines' outfield. From 1997, he was assigned the uniform number 2 and played in a career-high 33 games at the time, though his batting average remained low at 0.179. In 1998, he appeared in only 2 games and failed to record a hit for the first time in his career. By 1999, he began to establish himself, playing in over 100 games for the first time and achieving his best statistics to date.
2.1.2. Establishing as a Regular (2000-2004)
The year 2000 marked a significant step in Ohmura's offensive development. On May 18, against the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, he hit his first professional home run, a three-run shot to left field off Akira Matsumoto. He finished the season with 5 home runs, and his batting average improved to 0.270. In the latter half of the season, he became the regular right fielder.
In 2001, with the emergence of Akira Otsuka and the acquisition of Derrick May, the Marines' outfield depth increased, leading Ohmura to be converted to an infielder during spring training. He started the opening game on March 24 at Seibu Dome as the ninth batter and second baseman. However, due to his own slump and the strong performance of fellow second baseman Tadaharu Sakai, he returned to playing in the outfield by late May.
From 2002, he was officially re-registered as an outfielder. He became the regular second batter and center fielder, making his first All-Star Game appearance. He reached the plate appearance qualification for the first time, playing in a career-high 131 games, batting 0.286 with 9 home runs and 13 stolen bases.
In 2003, Ohmura started the season as the leadoff hitter and right fielder but was limited to 80 games due to injury. Despite this, he hit his first double-digit home run total (10). Shigeo Nagashima, then manager of the Japanese national team for the Athens Olympics, praised Ohmura, stating, "I have never seen a batter who uses his upper body so skillfully."
In 2004, upon the return of manager Bobby Valentine to the Marines after nine seasons, Valentine requested his old uniform number 2. The team agreed, and Ohmura's number was changed to 3. He played in 89 games that year but saw a dip in his performance, batting 0.256 with 5 home runs.
2.1.3. Peak Performance and Achievements (2005-2007)
The 2005 season was a breakthrough for Ohmura. On August 13, against the Orix Buffaloes, he was appointed as the cleanup hitter for the first time in his career. He hit home runs in two consecutive games, contributing significantly to the Marines' first Pacific League championship in 31 years and their subsequent Japan Series title. He finished the season with a career-best batting average of 0.313, 14 home runs, and 50 RBIs in 107 games, despite not reaching the plate appearance qualification. He was lauded as a "completely new type of cleanup hitter, a connecting cleanup" for the "Marine Gun Lineup." He also received his first Golden Glove Award that year.
On August 15, 2006, Ohmura acquired free agency rights. Despite interest from the Chunichi Dragons, he chose not to exercise his rights due to a slump, batting only 0.218 in 115 games. He signed a two-year contract to remain with the Marines.
In 2007, Ohmura had a strong season despite a slow start. From May, he solidified his position as the cleanup hitter and right fielder. He recorded a 0.310 batting average with runners in scoring position (7th in the league) and a career-high 68 RBIs (2nd on the team). On June 6, against the Yomiuri Giants at Chiba Marine Stadium, he set a new club record for consecutive at-bats with a hit, reaching 9 (surpassing Koichi Hori's 8). This record placed him third all-time in NPB, behind R. J. Reynolds and Yoshinobu Takahashi (11). He was named the Pacific League Monthly MVP for June 2007. He also earned the MVP award for the First Stage of the 2007 Pacific League Climax Series. Later that year, he was selected as a final candidate for the Japanese national team aiming for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He participated in the Asian Championship in Taiwan, which served as an Olympic qualifier. Despite batting 8th or 9th, he delivered a game-tying RBI hit against South Korea and executed a game-tying squeeze bunt against Taiwan, performing like a core player. He also played solid defense in left field, a position he rarely played, contributing to Japan securing an Olympic berth. He participated in this tournament under his real name, Ohmura Saburo. He received his second Golden Glove Award in 2007.
2.1.4. Later Years and FA Status (2008-2010)
In 2008, Ohmura posted a respectable 0.289 batting average, but a left thigh injury early in the spring limited him to 105 games, and his RBIs decreased by over 10 from the previous year, falling short of the plate appearance qualification. Off-season reports suggested he might exercise his FA rights to pursue a move to Major League Baseball, but he ultimately chose to remain with the Marines.
In 2009, Ohmura was with the first team for the entire season. Despite the team's struggles, he maintained strong individual performance, making his second All-Star Game appearance since 2002. He played in 119 games, reaching the plate appearance qualification and achieving his only career 0.300 batting average season, a career-high 0.314 (3rd in the league). He also hit a career-high 22 home runs and tied his career-best 68 RBIs. However, signs of decline in his defense and baserunning became evident.
In 2010, Ohmura was appointed as the player chairman for the Marines. He primarily batted 6th in the lineup, and in the final three games of the season and throughout the postseason, he was moved to the cleanup spot. Although his batting average significantly dropped from the previous year, he set a new career-high with 71 RBIs and maintained his power with 19 home runs. He also achieved significant career milestones, recording his 1000th career hit and 100th career home run. He played a crucial role in the team's Climax Series appearance and their second Japan Series championship. Despite strong performance in the Japan Series, including a 0.300 batting average, 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and 9 hits, he was not selected for the Japan Series MVP or Excellent Player Award, which went to teammates Toshiaki Imae, Ikuhiro Kiyota, Tatsuya Uchi, and Yohei Oshima of the Chunichi Dragons.
2.1.5. Final Season and Trade to Yomiuri (2011)
At the start of 2011, Ohmura primarily batted 7th. However, due to an injury to Kim Tae-kyun, he moved to the cleanup spot from late April. Defensively, he initially played right field, but as Ikuhiro Kiyota and Shota Ishimine began to start more frequently, he shifted to left field. On May 4, during a game against the Saitama Seibu Lions, he suffered a bruised right ring finger from a hit-by-pitch. Despite downplaying the injury, he was immediately removed from the roster and did not return to the first team. On June 29, he was traded to the Yomiuri Giants in a deal involving Takahito Kudo and cash. This trade was reportedly part of the Marines' strategy to reduce costs and promote younger players. Coincidentally, a "Saburo Burger" featuring a Wagyu beef patty had been launched at QVC Marine Field on April 18 but was discontinued following his trade to the Giants.
2.2. Yomiuri Giants (2011)
Ohmura's tenure with the Yomiuri Giants was brief, lasting only 154 days. On June 30, 2011, he was officially registered as a player for the Giants and held an introductory press conference. In accordance with the Giants' policy, which generally did not allow players to register with only their first name or nicknames, his registration name reverted to his birth name, Ohmura Saburo. He was assigned uniform number 0, previously worn by Kudo.
The very next day, July 1, he joined the first team and was immediately added to the active roster. In his debut game against the Chunichi Dragons at Tokyo Dome, he entered as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning and hit a solo home run to left field off Kazuki Yoshimi. On July 2, he made his first start for the Giants at Tokyo Dome, batting 6th. Subsequently, he often started as the 5th or 6th batter when facing left-handed starting pitchers, valued for his past clutch hitting. However, for most other games, he was used as a pinch-hitter and struggled to find his rhythm, even being demoted to the second team temporarily. He finished his Giants stint having played in 48 games. In the first stage of the 2011 Central League Climax Series, he hit a home run as a pinch-hitter in Game 1, but the Giants were eliminated in that stage. After the Japan Series concluded, Ohmura exercised his free agency rights, seeking more playing opportunities.
2.3. Return to Chiba Lotte Marines (2012-2016)
On December 23, 2011, it was announced that Saburo Ohmura would return to the Chiba Lotte Marines after exercising his free agency rights. The front office personnel who had decided to trade him had since retired, and their successors were favorable to his return, removing any obstacles. His registration name was reinstated as Saburo, and he was given back his uniform number 3.
In 2012, Saburo started the season batting 5th. He was later moved to the cleanup spot, replacing the struggling Josh Whitesell, and played a key role in the team's strong performance in the first half of the season. However, his performance declined in the summer, and after Whitesell's return, he was moved down to the 6th or 7th spot. Defensively, he initially played left field, but after Whitesell's departure, he primarily served as the designated hitter. When other players like Tadahito Iguchi or Whitesell were designated hitters, he would play left field. He also began practicing at first base before the season, making his debut at the position on September 21 against the Orix Buffaloes. He played a career-high 137 games that year but finished with a disappointing 0.239 batting average, 7 home runs, and 52 RBIs. Despite this, he recorded a 0.290 batting average with runners in scoring position and led the Pacific League with 78 walks, demonstrating his plate discipline and ability to get on base. After the season, he underwent surgery on his right elbow.
In 2013, Saburo started the opening game as the 6th batter and designated hitter. He struggled early in the season, often being used as a pinch-hitter. On June 29, against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, he hit a walk-off single as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 9th, his first walk-off hit in 12 years. His struggles continued, and he was demoted to the second team due to injury in late July. He returned to the first team in late August and regained his form, primarily starting in left field. However, he finished the season with a disappointing 0.245 batting average, 5 home runs, and 24 RBIs in 73 games. His clutch hitting, a previous strength, also suffered, with a 0.183 batting average with runners in scoring position. While he had primarily been a designated hitter in 2012, he played more games in left field in 2013 due to the additions of Craig Brazell and G.G. Sato.
In 2014, Saburo missed the opening day start for the first time in eight years but recorded a hit as a pinch-hitter in the 9th inning of the opening game. He continued to struggle initially, enduring a hitless streak of over 10 at-bats. However, from April 4, when he recorded his first RBI hit of the season and a multi-hit game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, his performance gradually improved. He had an excellent May, even batting cleanup for the 10th consecutive year since 2005, and was considered a candidate for the Monthly MVP, batting 0.324 with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs with an OPS of 0.867. His batting average briefly exceeded 0.330. However, his performance declined during interleague play, and his playing time significantly decreased towards the end of the season due to his own slump and the strong performance of mid-season acquisition Alfredo Despaigne. He finished the season with similar statistics to the previous year, batting 0.248 with 4 home runs and 25 RBIs. His batting average with runners in scoring position, however, significantly improved to 0.284. He also played right field again after a two-year absence.
In 2015, Saburo struggled from the start of the season and was primarily used as a pinch-hitter. He hit his first home run on June 15 against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, but his performance did not improve. On October 4, against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, he hit a go-ahead two-run RBI single, contributing to the team's Climax Series qualification. However, he did not play in the Climax Series. He finished the season with a 0.217 batting average (10 hits in 46 at-bats), 1 home run, and 4 RBIs in 36 games.
On August 31, 2016, the Chiba Lotte Marines announced Saburo's retirement from professional baseball at the end of the 2016 season. He stated that he recognized it was time to retire, especially since he had not been called up to the first team at all that year due to his age. In his retirement statement, he expressed gratitude to the fans and staff, saying, "I have decided to retire from active duty at the end of this season. I was able to experience two Japan Series championships with the Chiba Lotte Marines, including the first in 31 years in 2005. It was a fortunate baseball life. I owe all of it to the fans who supported me through thick and thin, and to all the people involved and those who supported me in various ways. I am truly grateful. Thank you very much for 22 years."
His retirement game was held on September 25 against the Orix Buffaloes at QVC Marine Field. He started as the cleanup hitter and designated hitter. In the top of the 9th inning, he was removed from the designated hitter role and played defense in both left field and right field. Although he struck out in his first three at-bats, in his final at-bat in the bottom of the 9th, he hit a double to right-center field off Yoshihisa Hirano, marking a memorable end to his playing career. After the game, during the retirement ceremony, he declared, "I have another dream. That is to make the Chiba Lotte Marines the best team in Japan. I will move forward with courage and determination towards that dream." The game also featured the Marines' first-ever public viewing event. Teammates like Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Daichi Suzuki expressed gratitude for his advice as a baseball player, and former Giants teammates including Shinnosuke Abe, Hayato Sakamoto, Hisayoshi Chono, Tetsuya Utsumi, Tetsuya Yamaguchi, and Luis Cruz (who played for Lotte in 2014-2015) attended his retirement game, highlighting his strong relationships and popularity. He was officially placed on the free agent list on December 2.
3. Player Profile
Saburo Ohmura was known for his distinctive offensive and defensive skills throughout his career.
3.1. Hitting
Ohmura's batting was characterized by his ability to hit inside pitches to right field with precision. He was particularly renowned for his clutch hitting, boasting a 0.326 batting average with runners in scoring position between 2008 and 2010. He was also effective against both left-handed (0.292 batting average) and right-handed (0.285 batting average) pitchers, demonstrating his versatility at the plate. It was noted that he often decided where to hit the ball before stepping into the batter's box. He tended to perform well in early counts but struggled more when he was behind in the count.
3.2. Fielding and Baserunning
Ohmura was highly regarded for his defensive prowess in the outfield. His throws from the outfield to home plate were particularly accurate, often described as a "laser beam." However, he was noted to have a weakness for balls hit along the right-field line. Despite being a right-handed batter, he possessed good speed, consistently reaching first base in the 4.3 seconds range and third base in 11.66 seconds.
4. Awards and Honors
Saburo Ohmura accumulated several individual and team honors throughout his professional career.
- Golden Glove Award: 2 times (2005, 2007)
- Japan Series Excellent Player Award: 1 time (2005)
- Monthly MVP: 1 time (June 2007)
- JA Zen-Noh Go-Go Award (Most Doubles/Triples): 1 time (August 2002)
- Interleague Play Nippon Life Award: 1 time (2007, for his 0.347 batting average, 33 hits, 3 home runs, and a league-leading 23 RBIs)
- Pacific League Climax Series First Stage MVP: 1 time (2007)
- Yu-Can New Words/Buzzwords Award Top Ten (2005, for "Bobby Magic," shared with Toshiaki Imae)
- All-Star Game selections: 2 times (2002, 2009)
- Milestones:**
- Career Batting Statistics:**
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | DP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Lotte | 28 | 61 | 48 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | .188 | .333 | .229 | .563 |
| 1996 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | |
| 1997 | 33 | 32 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | .179 | .233 | .250 | .483 | |
| 1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
| 1999 | 108 | 156 | 130 | 26 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 0 | .231 | .306 | .300 | .606 | |
| 2000 | 95 | 314 | 263 | 42 | 71 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 101 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 4 | .270 | .355 | .384 | .739 | |
| 2001 | 108 | 284 | 240 | 37 | 55 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 72 | 25 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 8 | .229 | .296 | .300 | .596 | |
| 2002 | 131 | 512 | 441 | 67 | 126 | 33 | 2 | 9 | 190 | 43 | 13 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 9 | 93 | 4 | .286 | .348 | .431 | .778 | |
| 2003 | 80 | 333 | 286 | 44 | 78 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 133 | 46 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 66 | 2 | .273 | .338 | .465 | .803 | |
| 2004 | 89 | 295 | 258 | 31 | 66 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 103 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 12 | .256 | .331 | .399 | .730 | |
| 2005 | 107 | 394 | 351 | 68 | 110 | 19 | 6 | 14 | 183 | 50 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 77 | 6 | .313 | .380 | .521 | .901 | |
| 2006 | 115 | 344 | 298 | 38 | 65 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 107 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 34 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 6 | .218 | .295 | .359 | .654 | |
| 2007 | 133 | 528 | 472 | 67 | 127 | 28 | 4 | 7 | 184 | 68 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 43 | 1 | 4 | 105 | 5 | .269 | .331 | .390 | .721 | |
| 2008 | 105 | 390 | 346 | 43 | 100 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 144 | 56 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 1 | 4 | 70 | 5 | .289 | .359 | .416 | .775 | |
| 2009 | 119 | 489 | 427 | 71 | 134 | 24 | 2 | 22 | 228 | 68 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 121 | 7 | .314 | .377 | .534 | .911 | |
| 2010 | 125 | 513 | 452 | 58 | 118 | 15 | 2 | 19 | 194 | 71 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 14 | .261 | .344 | .429 | .774 | |
| 2011 | 19 | 78 | 70 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 3 | .271 | .346 | .414 | .760 | |
| Giants | 48 | 111 | 103 | 10 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | .243 | .291 | .320 | .611 | |
| '11 Total | 67 | 189 | 173 | 15 | 44 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 62 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 5 | .254 | .314 | .358 | .672 | |
| 2012 | Lotte | 137 | 560 | 476 | 52 | 114 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 163 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 78 | 1 | 2 | 105 | 12 | .239 | .346 | .342 | .688 |
| 2013 | 73 | 216 | 184 | 17 | 45 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 69 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 6 | .245 | .335 | .375 | .710 | |
| 2014 | 81 | 249 | 218 | 18 | 54 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 6 | .248 | .329 | .362 | .692 | |
| 2015 | 36 | 52 | 46 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | .217 | .308 | .304 | .612 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .500 | .750 | |
| Career: 22 years | 1782 | 5917 | 5143 | 703 | 1363 | 292 | 25 | 127 | 2086 | 655 | 78 | 55 | 100 | 58 | 575 | 7 | 41 | 1190 | 103 | .265 | .340 | .406 | .746 | |
- Career Fielding Statistics:**
| Year | First Base | Second Base | Shortstop | Outfield | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | G | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | G | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | G | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | |
| 1995 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 22 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | ||||||||||
| 1996 | - | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | ||||||||||
| 1997 | - | - | - | 32 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||||
| 1998 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||||
| 1999 | - | - | - | 98 | 95 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .980 | |||||||||||||||
| 2000 | - | - | - | 91 | 145 | 5 | 2 | 1 | .987 | |||||||||||||||
| 2001 | - | 27 | 79 | 84 | 3 | 15 | .982 | - | 75 | 111 | 5 | 2 | 2 | .983 | ||||||||||
| 2002 | - | - | - | 130 | 188 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .985 | |||||||||||||||
| 2003 | - | - | - | 79 | 135 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||||
| 2004 | - | - | - | 83 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||||
| 2005 | - | - | - | 105 | 225 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .996 | |||||||||||||||
| 2006 | - | - | - | 112 | 158 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||||
| 2007 | - | - | - | 130 | 278 | 8 | 5 | 1 | .983 | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | - | - | - | 103 | 202 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .981 | |||||||||||||||
| 2009 | - | - | - | 109 | 212 | 5 | 2 | 2 | .991 | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | - | - | - | 111 | 209 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .995 | |||||||||||||||
| 2011 | - | - | - | 51 | 62 | 3 | 1 | 1 | .985 | |||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 5 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .981 | - | - | 53 | 90 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .989 | ||||||||||
| 2013 | - | - | - | 28 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .975 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | - | - | - | 20 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .962 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | - | - | - | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 5 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .981 | 27 | 79 | 84 | 3 | 15 | .982 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1444 | 2350 | 73 | 26 | 11 | .989 |
- Bold years indicate Golden Glove Award wins.
5. Post-Playing Career
After retiring as a player, Saburo Ohmura transitioned into various coaching and management roles within professional baseball.
On March 30, 2017, he was appointed as a Special Assistant for the Chiba Lotte Marines. While serving in this role, from July 6, 2018, he also contributed as the head of high school baseball article compilation for Nikkan Sports.
On January 8, 2020, he was announced as the Farm Director for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In this capacity, he served as a liaison between the first and second team coaching staffs and provided advice for the draft. He continued in this role in 2021. In 2022, he served as a Scouting Advisor for the Eagles before departing the organization at the end of the year.
On November 13, 2022, it was announced that Ohmura would return to the Chiba Lotte Marines as their farm team manager starting from the 2023 season. His registration name remains Saburo, and he was assigned uniform number 86, which was previously worn by his mentor, Koji Yamamoto. From 2025, he will also concurrently serve as the second team hitting coach.
6. Name and Nickname
Saburo Ohmura's registration name "Saburo" (サブローJapanese) was chosen upon his entry into the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1995. This decision was influenced by two factors: the presence of another player with the same surname, Iwao Ohmura, on the team, and Ohmura's desire to emulate Ichiro Suzuki (then Ichiro), who had achieved the first-ever 200-hit season in Japanese professional baseball that same year after changing his registration name from his full name to just "Ichiro."
During his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines, the stadium announcer, Emi Yaho, famously elongated his name when calling him to the plate, pronouncing it as "Saburooooooo." He was also known by the nickname "Sabutini" on his official blog, a name given to him by an acquaintance due to his fondness for Italy.
When he was traded to the Yomiuri Giants in 2011, the team's policy generally did not permit players to register with only their first name or nicknames. Consequently, his registration name reverted to his full birth name, Ohmura Saburo (大村 三郎Japanese), and the scoreboard displayed "Ohmura." However, due to the widespread familiarity with his "Saburo" nickname, the stadium announcer continued to use his full name during announcements, even though no other player with the same surname was on the team.
Upon his return to the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2012, his registration name was once again changed back to Saburo, a name he continues to use as the farm team manager in 2023. It is notable that for his post-playing career roles as a Special Assistant for the Marines and as a Farm Director and Scouting Advisor for the Rakuten Eagles, he operated under his birth name, Ohmura Saburo. However, when contributing to articles for Nikkan Sports, he used his "Saburo" moniker.
7. Legacy and Impact
Saburo Ohmura's career left a significant mark on Japanese professional baseball, particularly with the Chiba Lotte Marines. He was instrumental in the team's two Japan Series championships in 2005 and 2010, contributing with his powerful hitting and reliable outfield play. His ability to perform in clutch situations and his consistent defense made him a fan favorite and a respected figure within the league. His decision to return to the Marines after a brief stint with the Giants further solidified his bond with the club and its supporters. His expressed dream of making the Chiba Lotte Marines the "best team in Japan" reflects his enduring dedication and commitment to the organization, even in his post-playing career as a coach and manager. His long and successful career, marked by individual accolades and team triumphs, ensures his legacy as a key player in Marines history.
8. External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2KSLVAQfOs Video: Loving the team... Tears in the final at-bat] - Pacific League TV Official
- [http://saburo.heroes.ne.jp/ Saburo Official Website]
- [http://www.marines.co.jp/special/retire/saburo/ Saburo Player Retirement Special Page] (Chiba Lotte Official)
- [https://sp.baseball.findfriends.jp/player/19760001/ Player Information] - Weekly Baseball ONLINE
- [http://ameblo.jp/saburo-blog/ Saburo Official Blog 'Bridge to the Glory'] (Update ended in June 2011 due to transfer) Nickname on the blog was 'Sabutini'. He liked Italy and had an Italian name given by an acquaintance.
- [https://profile.yoshimoto.co.jp/talent/detail?id=6803 Saburo Ohmura Profile] (Yoshimoto Kogyo Official)
- [http://npb.jp/bis/players/41143880.html Saburo's Individual Yearly Statistics] - Nippon Professional Baseball Official Website