High School Baseball Players Reveal Thier Favorite Pros: Who Tops the List?
Every year, aspiring high school baseball players look up to their professional idols. A recent survey of 640 players participating in the upcoming national High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Senbatsu) reveals which pros are capturing their attention and admiration.
From Obscurity to Ubiquity: The Growing Influence of Pro Ball
This year’s survey tallied a staggering 212 different players named as favorites, a stark contrast to the mere 78 mentioned in a similar poll conducted in 1985. While roster sizes have increased since then, this nearly threefold jump underscores the expanding reach of professional baseball, fueled by satellite broadcasting, streaming services like YouTube, and greater access to both Major League Baseball and the Pacific League.
The Rankings: From 46th to 28th Place
before we reveal the top contenders, let’s take a look at the players who garnered between three and four votes each.
Players Receiving 3 Votes (46th Place):
- Asamura Hideto (Rakuten, Frist Baseman)
- Ito Hiromi (Nippon Ham, Pitcher)
- Umeno Ryutaro (Hanshin, Catcher)
- Ochiai Hiromitsu (OB, First Baseman)
- Senga Kodai (mets, Pitcher)
- Nomura katsuya (OB, Catcher)
- Haraguchi Fumihito (Hanshin, First Baseman)
- Maeda Yugo (SoftBank, Pitcher)
- Matsui Kazuo (OB, Shortstop)
- Mune yuma (Orix, Third Baseman)
- morishita shota (Hanshin, Outfielder)
- Yamamoto Yoshinobu (Dodgers, Pitcher)
- Yang Dai-kang (Oisix, Outfielder)
Players Receiving 4 Votes (29th Place):
- Akiyama Shogo (Hiroshima, Outfielder)
- Imai Tatsuya (Seibu, Pitcher)
- Okugawa Yasunobu (Yakult, Pitcher)
- Kita Ryoto (Orix, Outfielder)
- Yamaoka Taisuke (Orix, Pitcher)
- Yamada Shuya (Hanshin, Infielder)
- Kurihara Ryoya (SoftBank, Third Baseman)
- Kobayashi Kotaro (Orix, Infielder)
- Sasaki Roki (Dodgers, Pitcher)
- Shinjo Tsuyoshi (OB, Outfielder)
- Ooze (Yomiuri, Pitcher)
- Tanaka Mikiya (Chunichi, Second Baseman)
- Nakata Sho (Chunichi, First Baseman)
- Fujikawa Kyuji (OB, Pitcher)
- Furuta Atsuya (OB, Catcher)
- Maeda Tomonori (OB, Outfielder)
- Munetaka Ruy (Rakuten, Infielder)
Note: Players who responded with “none” or similar answers were not included in the rankings. Minor discrepancies in player names were corrected for accuracy.
Hear are two PAA-related questions based on the provided text:
high School Baseball Players Reveal Their Favorite Pros: Q&A
Following the article detailing high school baseball players’ favorite professional players, here’s a Q&A to clarify key points and provide extra insights:
Q&A
- Why is there a survey of high school baseball players?
- The survey is conducted to understand which professional baseball players are admired by high school players participating in the annual High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Senbatsu). This year’s survey involved 640 players.
- How has the influence of pro baseball changed over time?
- The survey shows a dramatic increase in the number of favorite players. In 1985, only 78 players were mentioned. In this year’s survey, 212 different players were named. This expansion is due to wider access through satellite broadcasting,streaming services like YouTube,and greater exposure to both Major League Baseball and the Pacific League.
- Who are some of the players receiving 3 and 4 votes?
- Several players are mentioned.Those receiving 3 votes (tied for 46th place) include Asamura Hideto, Ito Hiromi, Umeno Ryutaro, and others. Players with 4 votes (tied for 29th place) include Akiyama Shogo, Imai Tatsuya, Okugawa Yasunobu, and many more.
- What does “OB” mean next to some player names?
- “OB” stands for “Old Boys”, meaning retired players. These players are still influential and remembered by younger generations.
- Are the teams mentioned the same in the MLB?
- No, the teams listed are primarily from the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB) in Japan. Some players have transitioned to the MLB,like Yamamoto Yoshinobu (now with the Dodgers) and Senga Kodai (now with the Mets).
- How can I follow some of these players?
- Many NPB games are available through streaming services. You can also find highlights and data on social media and baseball news sites. Following these players can give you insights into their training and play style,which could help improve your own game!
Understanding these favorite pros can give you a better appreciation for the game and inspire you. Keep an eye on these players and see how their careers develop!
