Hiroki Kondō (近藤 弘基, Kondō Hiroki, born February 2, 1993) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
| Hiroki Kondō | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: February 12, 1993 Nagoya, Aichi, Japan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| NPB debut | |
| 2 August, 2016, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| NPB statistics (through 2018) | |
| Batting average | .184 |
| RBIs | 5 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| Teams | |
His father is former Dragons pitching coach, Shinichi Kondō the only NPB pitcher to throw a no-hitter on debut.[1]
Early career edit
Under his father's influence, former Chunichi Dragons pitcher Shinichi, Kondō started playing baseball in the 3rd grade of elementary school.[2] In junior high school he joined a rubber ball baseball team but hated practice.[2][3] In his 3rd year of junior high, young Kondō was concerned over which high school he should go to and after being shown a video of his father pitching at the 68th Koshien with Kyoei High School, it was decided that he would join his father's alma mater.[3] He was a bench player in his second year, but rose to be vice-captain. However, he was unable to make appearances with his team in either the summer or spring koshien tournaments.[3] In 2011, Kondō started university at Meijo University with the law department.
In his sophomore year of university, Kondō was mostly deployed as a third baseman or outfielder but in his junior year he became a regular in the outfield[4] where he took out best nine honours in both the Spring and Fall Aichi University Leagues.[4] In 2014, his senior year, Kondō would captain his side and receive the fighting-spirit award for the Spring league.[5] He was also selected 2 years in a row (2013 and 2014) for the Baseball Association in Aichi representative team.[6][7]
While he had the desire to continue his baseball pathway in the industrial leagues, GM Hiromitsu Ochiai ensured that Kondō would be a Dragons player by selecting him as their 4th pick in the 2014 development draft.[8][9]
Professional career edit
Chunichi Dragons edit
2015 edit
In 2015, Kondō played 22 games for the Dragons farm team in the Western League getting only 4 hits in 34 at-bats for an average of .125.[10]
2016 edit
On 14 July, he was moved off a development player contract and added to the overall roster. His number was changed from 213 to 67.[1][11]
On 2 August, Kondō made his first team debut for the Dragons against the Yomiuri Giants starting in left-field and batting number 2 in the line-up.[12] He shined on his debut proving to be the most effective hitter for the Dragons on the day getting 3 hits and 2 RBIs in 5 at-bats.[13][14]
On 14 August, he hit his first pro home run in an 8-1 loss to the Hanshin Tigers at Kyocera Dome off Suguru Iwazaki.[15][16]
Kondō finished his first season in pro baseball playing in 21 games, hitting .186 with 2 homeruns.
On November 27, 2019, Kondō announced his retirement.[17]
References edit
- ^ a b "中日・近藤真市Ｊｒ．弘基が支配下へ １４年育成ドラフト４位の外野手(Chunichi: 2014 Draft number 4 outfielder Shinichi Kondoh Jr moves under control )". Daily Sports News. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ a b "中日育成2位 近藤弘基外野手 偉大な父の影を払拭". Sponichi. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "「真市の息子」いつか父超える 享栄・近藤弘基君 愛知("Shinichi's son" One day he will surpass his father;Kyoei's Hiroki Kondō; Aichi)". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 20 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ a b ""オレ流視察"の成果だ 中日が近藤コーチの長男獲得へ("My way of insepction" results: Chunichi's coach Kondō's acquisition of eldest son)". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 22 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "愛知大学野球連盟リーグ戦1部表彰選手 (Aichi University Baseball Association League 1 Awards)". Aichi University Baseball Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "平成２５年度 愛知大学野球連盟選抜チーム一覧(2013 Baseball Association in Aichi Representative Team)" (PDF). Baseball Association in Aichi (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "平成２６年度 愛知大学野球連盟選抜チーム一覧(2014 Baseball Association in Aichi Representative Team)" (PDF). Baseball Association in Aichi (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "中日ドラフト隠し球、近藤コーチの長男(Chunichi's draft hidden delivery, Coach Kondō's eldest son)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 13 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "中日 近藤投手コーチの長男・弘基を育成で指名(Chunichi: Coach Kondō's eldest son Hiroki picked up on development contract)". Sponichi (in Japanese). 23 October 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "2015年度 中日ドラゴンズ 中日ドラゴンズ 個人打撃成績（ウエスタン・リーグ）(2015 Chunichi Dragons individual batting statistics (Western League))". Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "新規支配下選手登録(New player registration)". Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ "【中日】近藤Ｊｒ、出場選手登録即「２番・左翼」スタメン…父と同じ巨人戦でデビュー(Chunichi: Kondoh Jr registered to play #2, LF. Faces same team on debut as father...)". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "Tuesday, August 2, 2016". Nippon Professional Baseball. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "中日近藤いきなり猛打賞 父真市コーチとグータッチ(Chunichi's Kondō surprisingly most productive; shares fist-bump with dad)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "中日・近藤がプロ初本塁打「がむしゃらにいった感じ」" (in Japanese). Sanspo. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "Sunday, August 14, 2016". Nippon Professional Baseball. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "中日で"親子鷹"戦力外の近藤弘基が引退表明「別の仕事でしっかり」16年には父の前で猛打賞". 中スポ (in Japanese). November 27, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.