Hotaka Yamakawa
Yamakawa with the Saitama Seibu Lions
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 25
First Baseman
Born: (1991-11-23) November 23, 1991 (age 32)
Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
June 21, 2014, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.256
Home runs218
RBI575
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2023 Miami Team

Hotaka Yamakawa (山川 穂高, Yamakawa Hotaka, born November 23, 1991),is a Japanesebaseball infielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Saitama Seibu Lions. Yamakawa led the Pacific League in home runs in 2018, 2019, and 2022.

Career

He was selected for the Pacific League all star team for the 2018 NPB All-Star game [jp].[1] On October 10, 2018, he was selected by the Japan national baseball team to play for them at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.[2] He was also selected by Samurai Japan to play for them during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, winning gold with them.

Sexual assault allegations

On May 11, 2023, it was reported from Bunshun Online that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was investigating Yamakawa for sexually assaulting a female acquaintance at a hotel in Tokyo in November 2022.[3] Bunshun Online reported that said female acquaintance had suffered bleeding injuries from the vagina and other parts of the body, and that the police had received a damage report on suspicion of indecent assault and rape. Yamakawa, however, stated that all was consensual and he had relations with the woman. [3] In response to this, on May 12, the Lions removed Yamakawa from their active roster indefinite.[4] On 29, it was announced that Yamakawa would not face charges as a result of the allegations.[5]

References

  1. ^ "マイナビオールスターゲーム2018 ファン投票結果". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  2. ^ "「2018日米野球」に出場する侍ジャパントップチーム選手全28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  3. ^ a b ""WBC侍ジャパン"西武・山川穂高（31）が"強制わいせつ致傷容疑"で事情聴取「被害女性は下半身から出血するけがも。処罰感情は強い」". Archived from the original on 2023-05-12.
  4. ^ "Lions remove Hotaka Yamakawa from active roster after sexual assault allegations". The Japan Times. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  5. ^ "Japan baseball star Hotaka Yamakawa not to face charges over alleged rape". english.kyodonews.net. Retrieved September 12, 2023.

External links


Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks current roster
Pacific League MVP Award
Japan roster – 2023 World Baseball Classic champions (3rd title)
Categories