Shogo Akiyama, baseball player, 2020-2021

Shogo Akiyama

Born: 4/16/1988 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan

MLB Debut: 2020-07-24 | Final Game: 2021-09-16

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 182 lbs

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Biography

Shogo Akiyama, born in 1988, was a Japanese professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from July 24, 2020, to September 16, 2021. Akiyama made his debut with the Cincinnati Reds, marking a significant step in his career as he transitioned from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) to the major leagues. His arrival came during an era when MLB teams increasingly sought international talent, particularly from Japan, following the successes of players like Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani. During his MLB tenure, Akiyama appeared in 142 games, where he recorded 71 hits and finished with a batting average of .224. Though he did not hit any home runs, he contributed 21 RBIs and showcased his speed on the bases with 9 stolen bases. Akiyama was known for his disciplined approach at the plate and solid defensive skills, which helped him adapt to the competitive nature of MLB. Despite the challenges he faced, Akiyama's determination and skill left a mark on the Reds during his time with the team, as he helped bridge the cultural gap in baseball through his presence and performance.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
142 317 32 71 14 1 0 21 9 39 74 0.224 0.320 0.274 0.594 -975.7

Career AVG .224 vs. league average .244 across their career seasons — 8.2% below league average.

Career OBP .320 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .274 vs. league average .413 across their career seasons — 33.5% below league average.

Career OPS 0.594 vs. league average 0.731 across their career seasons — 18.7% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
2020 CIN NL 54 155 16 38 6 1 0 9 7 25 34 0.245 .244 (avg) .321 (+11%) .417 (-29%) .739 (-12%) -212.4
2021 CIN NL 88 162 16 33 8 0 0 12 2 14 40 0.204 .243 (-16%) .317 (-11%) .410 (-38%) .727 (-27%) -763.3

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
2020 NLWC4 CIN 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 113 79 173 2 2 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
2020 CIN OF 52 47 87 2 0 0
2021 CIN OF 61 32 86 0 2 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 45
Center Field 69
Right Field 4
Designated Hitter 1