Yōhei Ōshima

1.1. Childhood and Youth Baseball

Ōshima grew up watching Chunichi Dragons games, developing an early passion for baseball. He started playing soft baseball in the 4th grade for the Nagoya Hirabari HBC Junior Baseball club. During his middle school years, he played as both a pitcher and an outfielder for the Tokai Challenger in the boys' league, a hardball youth baseball organization. He continued this dual role at Kyoei High School in Aichi, where in his third year, he prominently featured as the team's leadoff hitter and pitcher during the summer season. He even formed a battery with Shingo Takeyama, who was one year his senior.

1.2. University and Industrial League

After high school, Ōshima enrolled at Komazawa University, where he specialized in playing as an outfielder. He excelled in the highly competitive Tohto University Baseball League, maintaining a batting average above .300 for three consecutive seasons starting from the fall of 2006. His collegiate peak came in the fall of 2007 when he captured the league's batting title with an impressive .395 average. Throughout his university career, Ōshima played 83 games, recording 74 hits in 255 at-bats for a .290 batting average, along with one home run and 20 runs batted in (RBI). His performance earned him a spot on the Best Nine team twice.

Following his graduation from Komazawa University, Ōshima joined Nippon Life's industrial league baseball team. In his rookie year, he immediately established himself as the leadoff hitter. In November 2008, he achieved a remarkable .563 batting average in the Japanese National Championships, securing the batting title for the tournament and earning a selection to the industrial league's Best Nine team for that year. However, his journey to professional baseball faced a setback in June 2009 when he fractured his right wrist during the Intercity Baseball Tournament qualifiers, requiring surgery to insert a bolt for stabilization.

Despite the injury, Ōshima was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NPB Draft by the Chunichi Dragons. Having married his wife in March 2009 and welcoming their first son in June of the same year, his wife and child were present at his entrance press conference. While other drafted players typically expressed general goals of reaching the first team, Ōshima articulated more specific aspirations, stating, "I am delighted to join the team I have admired since childhood. I want to work hard to be in the first team on opening day and become a regular player as soon as possible. In the future, I aspire to continue playing baseball until the age of 40, just like Kazuyoshi Tatsunami once did." He admitted to significant deliberation about leaving his stable industrial league life for the competitive professional world, but his wife's encouragement ultimately cemented his decision. Given his married status and a child, Ōshima was notably exempted from the usual requirement for new Chunichi players to reside in the team's dormitory.

2.1. Early Seasons (2010-2012)

In his rookie year of **2010**, Ōshima earned praise for his defensive skills from then-manager Hiromitsu Ochiai and was named the starting leadoff hitter and center fielder for the opening game. He recorded his first professional hit on March 27 against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, though it was a peculiar infield single that resulted in defensive interference by the first base runner. Despite initial struggles at the plate, leading to a demotion to the minor league team on April 12, he was recalled on April 25. After initially batting 6th or 7th, he settled into the 2nd spot in the lineup by late May. A hit-by-pitch against the Yomiuri Giants on June 19 led to another temporary demotion, but he returned on July 6 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, resuming his role as the 2nd batter and center fielder. He concluded the season having played 104 games, with a .258 batting average, no home runs, and 17 RBI, falling short of securing a permanent regular position. In the 2010 Japan Series, Ōshima delivered a crucial go-ahead RBI triple in the 11th inning of Game 4 and made a spectacular diving catch in center field in the 11th inning of Game 6. Although the Dragons ultimately lost the series, Ōshima's stellar performance-9 hits in 23 at-bats with 5 RBI-earned him an Excellent Player Award, shared with his college rival, rookie Ikuhiro Kiyota of the Chiba Lotte Marines. Following the season, he changed his uniform number to 8.

The **2011** season saw Ōshima open as the 7th batter and center fielder. However, he experienced a severe hitting slump and was demoted on May 21, as Ryosuke Hirata and Kei Nomoto excelled. Upon his return, he was frequently used as the 8th batter and center fielder, eventually regaining his starting role due to Nomoto's struggles. On August 13, he hit his first professional home run. Despite playing fewer games (96) than the previous year and again not reaching the required plate appearances, he contributed to the team's league championship with a .243 batting average, 3 home runs, and 18 RBI as the primary 8th batter and center fielder. He also received his first Golden Glove Award, recognizing his defensive improvements. In the 2011 Japan Series, he recorded only one hit, but notched the team's sole stolen base.

In **2012**, Ōshima played in all of his team's regular season games for the first time in his career, forming a dynamic 1-2 hitting tandem with Masahiro Araki in center field. Initially batting 2nd, he became the primary leadoff hitter in the middle of the season due to Araki's slump. His exceptional speed allowed him to claim the stolen base title. This year marked his first time reaching the league's regulation plate appearances, where he recorded a .310 batting average, ranking 3rd in the league. He also had 172 hits, just one shy of the league leaders, making it a breakout year. However, his RBI total was remarkably low at 13, the fewest among all players who met the regulation plate appearances that year, and tied for the third-lowest in the two-league era. In the offseason, he was selected to the Japan national team for the "Samurai Japan Match 2012 against Cuba" and was later named to the preliminary roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. During a visit to a hospital in Nagoya, he openly expressed his aspiration to play in Major League Baseball in the future.

2.2. Mid-Career Highlights (2013-2016)

Ōshima's **2013** season was affected by a left elbow issue caused by loose cartilage, preventing him from making the final 28-man roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He struggled with this condition throughout the season, finishing with a .248 batting average, 3 home runs, and 27 RBI. In the offseason, he underwent surgery to remove the loose cartilage. He also took on the role of player representative, succeeding Kimiyasu Yoshimi.

In **2014**, Ōshima started the season strong, competing for the batting title. However, a left oblique injury in mid-July led to a decline in his performance. Despite this, he still finished with a .318 batting average, ranking 4th in the league, and recorded 186 hits, tying the Chunichi Dragons' club record for single-season hits. He also led the team with 28 stolen bases. This year, he received his second Golden Glove Award. His contract negotiations in the offseason became notable as he was the first player under General Manager Hiromitsu Ochiai to hold out for better terms. During these discussions, Ochiai reportedly told him, "With this year's defense, I wouldn't use you," and "That's why we drafted Shohei Tomonaga and Masataka Ilio," referring to two outfielders drafted that year.

Ōshima was selected to the Japan national team for the "GLOBAL BASEBALL MATCH 2015 Samurai Japan vs Europe" on February 16, **2015**, marking his first selection under manager Hiroki Kokubo. He appeared as a pinch-runner in Game 1 and started Game 2 as the leadoff center fielder, where he was picked off. For the season, his batting average dropped to .260, and his hit and stolen base totals also decreased to 147 and 22, respectively, compared to the previous year. However, he hit a career-high 6 home runs. In November, his salary increased by 16.00 M JPY to an estimated 90.00 M JPY in recognition of his consistent performance, having reached regulation plate appearances for four consecutive years. He was also named to the preliminary roster for the inaugural 2015 WBSC Premier12.

The **2016** season was particularly memorable for Ōshima. On July 20, in a game against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, he achieved an cycle hit, becoming the 64th player in NPB history and the 68th instance of the achievement, and the first for Chunichi since Alex Ochoa in 2004. He also completed his first full 143-game season in four years. On August 16, he acquired domestic free agency rights, which sparked speculation about his future due to the team's declining performance and his prior contract dispute with General Manager Ochiai, as well as interest from teams like the Yomiuri Giants who were seeking a center fielder. However, Ōshima announced on October 31 that he would not exercise his FA rights and chose to remain with the Dragons. The Giants, who failed to acquire Ōshima, ultimately signed Dai-Kang Yang from the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Ōshima subsequently signed a three-year variable contract on November 19, with his 2017 estimated salary reaching 150.00 M JPY. Ōshima credited Manager Shigeaki Mori's persuasion as a significant factor in his decision, reaffirming his commitment by stating, "My hope is to be a Chunichi player for life. I want to play for the Dragons for as long as possible."

2.3. Continued Excellence (2017-2020)

In **2017**, Ōshima continued his streak, starting as the leadoff center fielder for the fifth consecutive opening day. After April 19, he was predominantly used as the 3rd batter in the lineup, starting 95 games in that position, marking his first season primarily playing as a 3-hitter. On April 30, he achieved his 1000th career hit with a single to left field off Atsushi Nomi of the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, becoming the 286th player in NPB history to reach this milestone. He was also selected for his fourth All-Star Game appearance. However, his season was cut short on August 31 when he suffered a fractured right fibula after being hit by a pitch against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, ending his season prematurely. Despite the injury, he finished with a .313 batting average (3rd in the league) and 23 stolen bases (2nd in the league), marking his third career season with both a .300+ average and 20+ stolen bases. In November, his salary was increased by 30.00 M JPY to an estimated 180.00 M JPY.

For the **2018** season, Ōshima consistently played as the 3rd batter. On August 22, in a game against the Giants, he recorded his 8th consecutive hit in the first inning with an RBI single to center field, tying the Chunichi Dragons' club record held by Michio Nishizawa (1951) and Tyrone Woods (2005). He played in 141 games, hitting .274 with career highs of 7 home runs and 57 RBI.

In **2019**, Ōshima started the season as the 2nd batter and center fielder, though he later shifted back to the leadoff spot. Despite a period of batting slump that saw him drop to the 7th position, he finished the season with 174 hits, earning him the Most Hits title. Towards the end of the season, he notably became the final batter faced by three retiring pitchers in their farewell games: Shohei Tateyama on September 21, Katsuhiro Nagakawa on September 23, and Randy Messenger on September 29. He played in all 143 games, achieving a .312 batting average, 3 home runs, 45 RBI, and 30 stolen bases, marking his first time with 30 or more stolen bases in seven years. On October 28, it was reported that he would remain with the Dragons, again choosing not to exercise his FA rights and stating his "resolve to end my baseball career with the Dragons."

Ōshima continued his strong performance in **2020**, starting as the leadoff center fielder for the second consecutive year. On August 18, in a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium, he recorded his 1500th career hit with an infield single to shortstop off Yuma Ohshita, achieving this milestone in his 11th year, the fastest in club history, and becoming the 127th player in NPB to do so. He played in 118 games, the second-highest on the team, finishing with a .316 batting average (4th in the league) and 16 stolen bases. With 146 hits, he secured the Most Hits title for the second consecutive year. In the offseason, he earned his third consecutive, and eighth overall, Golden Glove Award.

2.4. Later Career and 2000-Hit Milestone (2021-Present)

The **2021** season saw Ōshima open as the leadoff center fielder for the third year in a row. He maintained excellent form through the first half of the season, consistently holding the leadoff position, and also recorded double-digit stolen bases for the tenth consecutive year. On July 5, he was selected for his fifth All-Star Game appearance as a manager's recommendation. During Game 2 of the All-Star Game, he attempted a home steal in the 8th inning with two outs and runners on second and third, a daring play that, while timed perfectly for a safe call, was nullified because batter Seiya Suzuki swung at the pitch, resulting in a groundout to second base. This aggressive play sparked a trend on Twitter. Ōshima played in a team-high 141 games, reaching regulation plate appearances for the tenth consecutive season. He posted a .292 batting average (9th in the league), 160 hits (4th in the league), and 16 stolen bases. Although his batting order shifted from 1st to 3rd after July, he maintained stable performance. In the offseason, he received his fourth consecutive, and ninth overall, Golden Glove Award. He signed his new contract for an estimated 250.00 M JPY, remaining the only Japanese position player on the team with a salary over 100.00 M JPY after Ryosuke Hirata's significant pay cut.

In **2022**, Ōshima started the season strong, maintaining a high batting average exceeding .350. However, on April 27, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he was hit by a pitch from Yuki Nishi on his right knee and was subsequently removed from the roster on April 29. Initially diagnosed as a bruise, the injury involved nerve damage that caused weakness in the affected area. He returned to the first team on May 20. After a period of initial slump post-injury, he regained his form in the summer. On August 3, in a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium, Ōshima achieved a historic single-game performance, recording 6 hits in 6 at-bats. This feat made him the 10th player in NPB history to do so, a new club record for Chunichi, and tied the Central League record, which is also the most in both leagues since the two-league system began. This was the first such instance since Yusuke Oyama in 2018. Despite this individual achievement, it was the first time in NPB history that a team lost a game in which a player recorded 6 or more hits. Towards the end of the season, he competed for the batting title with Munetaka Murakami, ultimately finishing second in the league in batting average.

The **2023** season saw Ōshima primarily playing as the 2nd batter and left fielder, as Yuki Okabayashi took over the center field position. On August 26, in a game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, Ōshima achieved the monumental milestone of 2000 career hits in NPB history. He became the 55th player to reach this mark, the 7th in Chunichi Dragons history (following Michio Nishizawa, Kenichi Yazawa, Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, Motonobu Taniwada, Kazuhiro Wada, and Masahiro Araki), and the 5th homegrown player. He was also the 4th player to achieve it after entering professional baseball via a university or industrial league career (following Atsuya Furuta, Shinya Miyamoto, and Kazuhiro Wada). His accomplishment in his 14th active season also tied Hisao Hari's record for the fastest to reach 2000 hits in NPB history. Furthermore, he became the first player born in Nagoya City, the Dragons' home city, to reach the 2000-hit plateau. He concluded the season having played 130 games with a .289 batting average.

In **2024**, as of the end of the season, Ōshima has played 75 games, with 116 at-bats, recording 23 hits for a .198 batting average.

3.1. Batting

Ōshima's batting strength lies in his ability to wait for the ball until it is deep in the strike zone. He is particularly skilled at hitting low off-speed pitches to the opposite field (right field for a left-handed batter) and can consistently place balls into hit zones even when his timing is disrupted. He has notably performed well against pitchers like Kenta Maeda, who later moved to Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, Ōshima has been characterized by his consistency at the plate, maintaining a high and stable batting average, with a focus on singles. Despite being drafted in the 5th round or lower, he has achieved a .300 or higher batting average six times in a season, which ties him with Toshiro Miyazaki of the Yokohama BayStars for the most such seasons among active players drafted in lower rounds.

3.2. Fielding and Baserunning

Ōshima's speed is a significant asset, demonstrated by his 164 ft ^{(50 m)} dash time of 6.0 seconds and a first-to-base time of 3.80 seconds. His speed translated into stolen base success, culminating in him winning the stolen base title in 2012.

In terms of outfield defense, Ōshima possesses a wide defensive range, leveraging his quick footwork and accurate judgment of batted balls. He also boasts a strong throwing arm, capable of throws up to 377 ft ^{(115 m)}. He is known for having few weaknesses in covering his designated center field position. Advanced defensive metrics highlight his skill: in 2010, he recorded a UZR of 9.7, and in 2012, among center fielders with over 1000 defensive innings, he posted a UZR of 17.4, which was the second-highest across both leagues.

6.1. First Records

• First appearance and first start**: March 26, 2010, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Game 1 at Nagoya Dome, starting as the leadoff batter and center fielder.
• First plate appearance**: On the same date, in the 1st inning, against Kenta Maeda, resulting in a pitcher's groundout.
• First hit**: March 27, 2010, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Game 2 at Nagoya Dome, in the 5th inning, an infield single to second base off Giancarlo Alvarado (with defensive interference).
• First RBI**: April 25, 2010, against the Hanshin Tigers in Game 6 at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, in the 4th inning, an RBI triple down the right field line off Jason Standridge.
• First stolen base**: April 28, 2010, against the Yomiuri Giants in Game 5 at Nagoya Dome, in the 7th inning, stealing second base (pitcher: Masahide Kobayashi, catcher: Shinnosuke Abe).
• First home run**: August 13, 2011, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Game 16 at Hiratsuka Stadium, in the 5th inning, a solo home run to right field off Naoyuki Shimizu.

6.2. Milestone Records

• 1000 hits**: April 30, 2017, against the Hanshin Tigers in Game 6 at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, in the 4th inning, a left field single off Atsushi Nomi. He was the 286th player in NPB history to achieve this.
• 1000 games played**: July 25, 2017, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Game 14 at Meiji Jingu Stadium, starting as the 3rd batter and center fielder. He was the 485th player in NPB history to achieve this.
• 200 stolen bases**: May 24, 2019, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Game 10 at Meiji Jingu Stadium, in the 5th inning, stealing second base off Yasuhiro Ogawa. He was the 76th player in NPB history to achieve this.
• 1500 hits**: August 18, 2020, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Game 10 at Meiji Jingu Stadium, in the 8th inning, an infield single to shortstop off Yuma Ohshita. He was the 127th player in NPB history to achieve this.
• 1500 games played**: June 26, 2021, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Game 10 at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, starting as the leadoff batter and center fielder. He was the 196th player in NPB history to achieve this.
• 250 stolen bases**: April 2, 2022, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Game 2 at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, in the 1st inning, stealing second base off Masato Morishita. He was the 47th player in NPB history to achieve this.
• 2000 hits**: August 26, 2023, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Game 19 at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, in the 3rd inning, a center field single off Kenta Ishida. He was the 55th player in NPB history to achieve this. His achievement in 14 active seasons tied Hisao Hari's record for the fastest in NPB history among Japanese players. He was also the 4th player from a university or industrial league path to reach 2000 hits, and the first player born in Nagoya to achieve this milestone.

6.3. Other Records

• Cycle hit**: July 20, 2016, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Game 16 at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. He was the 64th player in NPB history to achieve this feat.
• 6 hits in a single game**: August 3, 2022, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Game 15 at Meiji Jingu Stadium, recording 6 hits in 6 at-bats. He was the 10th player in NPB history to achieve this, and it tied the Central League record. Notably, it was the first time in professional baseball history that a team with a player recording 6 or more hits lost the game.
• All-Star Game appearances**: 5 times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021).
  • Most stolen bases in a single inning in an All-Star Game**: 2 (2014, Game 1 at Seibu Dome).

10.1. Batting Statistics

• Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
• Bold denotes league high for that season.

10.2. Fielding Statistics

• Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
• Bold denotes league high for that season.
• Bold year indicates Golden Glove Award winning year.