Name: 坂本 勇人 / Hayato Sakamoto
Date of birth: 23 December 1988
Birthplace: Itami, Hyōgo, Japan
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 78kg
* Professional debut:
NPB: July 12, 2007 for the Yomiuri Giants
* Teams:
Yomiuri Giants (2007–present)
* Career highlights and awards:
Central League Rookie Player Special Award (2008)
3× NPB All-Star (2008-2010)
1× Japan Series champion (2009)
Interesting:
* Sakamoto was born in Itami, Hyōgo, and began playing baseball while in the first grade at Koyanosato Elementary School for the Koyanosato Tigers (a Little League team) alongside current Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.
* Ironically, Sakamoto was the team's ace pitcher, and Tanaka his batterymate on the team.
* Both Sakamoto and Tanaka went on to attend Itami Municipal Matsuzaki Junior High School, but Sakamoto opted to join Itami Senior, while Tanaka chose to play for the Takarazuka Boys.
* NPB statistics (through 2010 season):
Batting average - 282
Home runs - 57
RBI - 192
Stolen bases - 30
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