No meaning” Yuto Sakamoto of the Giants, who has gone hitless in 22 consecutive at-bats, “If he continues to hit rock bottom,” is rumored to be the target of an unexpected trade.

Sakamoto: “I’m happy that the results came out. But I think it won’t mean anything if I don’t continue.”

The Giants’ Hayato Sakamoto (34), who finally recorded his first hit of the season on April 8 against Hiroshima, told the press after the game. Until then, he had gone 22 consecutive at-bats without a hit and had a batting average of .500. Manager Tatsunori Hara was anxious, saying, “You have to get over this slump yourself.

Sakamoto was demoted to the second team three times last season due to left side pain and back pain. In 83 games, his fewest appearances since he became a regular in 2008, he finished with a .286 batting average, five home runs, and 33 runs batted in, which was not enough for him. He also failed to reach the regulation batting average for 14 consecutive years. Sakamoto is the type of player who continues to appear in games throughout the year and get better. Perhaps he has not regained his physical senses. He will turn 35 this year, so his age may also be a factor.

The Lingering Suspicion of Abortion

Mental anxiety is also pointed out.

The allegation of abortion reported by the Weekly Bunshun in September last year may be lingering in his mind. The accuser was a woman in her 20s. Sakamoto often demanded extreme behavior and sexual intercourse without contraceptives, and when she told him she was pregnant, he pressed her, saying things like, “If you’re going to abort, you might as well do it quickly, right? When told that she was pregnant, Sakamoto told her, “If you’re going to have the baby, you might as well have it early. The team brushed off the issue, but Sakamoto was said to have been disheartened. On the surface, Sakamoto is playing quietly, but mentally he must not be at ease.

Sakamoto, who is trying to get back on track, is not sitting on his hands.

He says, “Dave Okubo, the chief hitting coach, has given me a lot of advice. He has been giving me a lot of advice, such as making my bat lighter and modifying my form to raise my center of gravity. …… Manager Hara is also trying to get him to get in better shape, using him in various batting orders, such as No. 7, No. 8, and No. 2. Sometimes, he even dared to remove him from the starting lineup to freshen things up. However, it seems that he has not been able to find the key to his recovery.