<figure id="attachment_314911" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-314911" style="width: 566px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/06/63ebe1b02c76baa9064be8c89a3ab123-1.bmp"></a><a href="#" data-ident_hash="2d3e6c6c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/06/63ebe1b02c76baa9064be8c89a3ab123-1.bmp" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-314911" class="wp-caption-text">Masato Akihiro, the second generation Godzilla player.</figcaption></figure>
<p> There is no doubt that this man will save the Giants, who are languishing in the bottom half of the standings.</p>
<p> Since making his first professional start on April 22, he has continued to produce results, currently batting .344 with four home runs (as of June 4). In his last five games, he has hit 20 times with eight hits.</p>
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<p><strong> His 202-centimeter frame produces pitches with such power that even a light swing is enough to land in the stands, and he has been regarded as the &#8220;second generation Godzilla&#8221; and a future candidate for the No. 4 position since joining the team. What is even more impressive about Akihiro is that his hitting is extremely soft and he has excellent bat control. His ability to hit the ball in a wide range of angles allows him to maintain a high batting average. His batting sense is top-notch.</strong></p>
<p> Akihiro was drafted fifth overall in the 2009 draft out of Futamatsugakusha Daifu High School. When he first joined the team, he was 200 centimeters tall, but when he was measured at camp that year, he was found to be 202 centimeters tall. He became the tallest Japanese professional baseball player in history, surpassing Giant Baba, who had previously been the tallest player of all time. Akihiro was indeed the &#8220;Giant&#8221; of the Giants, but it seems that his presence outside the stadium was out of this world as well.</p>
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<p> Late in May, a little past 10:00 a.m., the Giants players were gathered on the platform of Shin-Yokohama Station. They had finished the previous day&#8217;s game against Yokohama and were waiting for the bullet train to Shin-Osaka Station for the night game against Hanshin that day.</p>
<p> Even standing side by side with other professional baseball players, Akihiro&#8217;s size stood out and naturally attracted their gazes. As soon as I saw Akihiro, I said to myself, &#8220;Oh, wow! Wow! and &#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s the guy from No. 55! while a young woman said, &#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s him, number 55! It seems that the number 55 is now firmly established as &#8220;Akihiro&#8221; among young fans due to his success this season.</p>
<p><strong> Last year, Akihiro inherited the No. 55 number from Hideki Matsui (48), an alumnus of the team, but was unable to make an appearance for the first team. At this year&#8217;s spring training camp, he made a complete change of heart and came to the camp with a strong determination to make sure he would be a first-team starter. There is no doubt that Akihiro&#8217;s performance will have a big impact on where the Giants end up this season.</strong></p>
<p> It will be interesting to see if the 20-year-old young warrior can become the savior of the Giants!</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Full body image of Akihiro, who looks huge alongside other Giants players"></div>
<figure id="attachment_314914" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-314914" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/06/73ae70019c7e63eb44d3b2753a18395f.bmp"></a><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f73d761d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/06/73ae70019c7e63eb44d3b2753a18395f.bmp" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-314914" class="wp-caption-text">Full-body image of Masato Akihiro, who is a head taller than the rest of us.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_314917" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-314917" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="93f2c307"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/06/f402a6f0332542c1a19d26f06bbd4262.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-314917" class="wp-caption-text"> Akihiro received enthusiastic instruction directly from manager Hara at last spring&#8217;s camp (Image: Kyodo News)</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_314920" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-314920" style="width: 893px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="41862d5f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/06/4b77568099aa1b76d16242daa1dc1e9c.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-314920" class="wp-caption-text"> Akihiro received enthusiastic instruction directly from manager Hara at last spring&#8217;s camp (Image: Kyodo News)</figcaption></figure>


 Kyodo News (3rd and 4th pictures)

 There is no doubt that this man will save the Giants, who are languishing in the bottom half of the standings. Since making his first professional start on April 22, he has continued to produce results, currently batting .344 with 4 home runs (4 in June).

Godzilla II finally awakens! The 202cm tall savior “Giant of Giants”, Masato Akihiro, was found at Shin-Yokohama station!

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