Yakult Swallows infielder Murakami Munetaka hit a home run in the first at-bat of the opening game.
Murakami started as the fourth hitter and third baseman in the 2023 Japan Professional Baseball Hiroshima Toyo Carp game held at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on the 31st.
Murakami entered the at-bat with two outs on first base in the first inning and hit a two-run four in the middle of the month with a low curve on the fourth pitch against Hiroshima starter Daichi Osera.
After hitting the left side of the back screen메이저놀이터, Murakami raised his right arm and ran around the ground with a celebration of joy.
Murakami served as the 4th hitter for the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), which ended on the 22nd, but was demoted to 6th and 5th due to constant sluggishness. Murakami survived with a two-run double in the ninth inning in the semifinal match against Mexico, and saved the reputation of the giant by hitting a solo shot in the final match against the United States.
Last year, he hit 56 home runs, the most home runs in a season by a Japanese batter, and became the youngest Japanese professional baseball player to win three batting titles (batting average, home run, and RBI).