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SoftBank Hawks outfielder Kensuke Kondo (32) has been named the Pacific League’s Batter of the Month for March-April, presented by Taiju Life. This marks his fourth career monthly MVP award and his first since June 2024, a gap of nearly two years.
Kondo appeared in 26 games during the two-month period, recording 26 hits in 89 at-bats for a .292 batting average. He also hit six home runs (second in the league) and drove in 19 RBIs (tied for first). His .562 slugging percentage led all Pacific League hitters. From April 4 to April 17, he put together an 11-game hitting streak. Primarily batting second in the lineup, Kondo anchored the Hawks’ offense.
On April 9, in a scoreless tie in the seventh inning against the Seibu Lions at Mizuho PayPay Dome, Kondo crushed a go-ahead two-run homer off reliever Ramirez, marking his first hero interview of the season.
However, Kondo’s season got off to a rocky start after he went 0-for-13 in the World Baseball Classic. “I struggled to find my rhythm after the WBC, and I was honestly worried about myself,” Kondo reflected. “In that sense, it’s been a good start. Being able to adjust while playing in games was a huge plus for me.”
One pivotal moment came on April 11, when he hit a three-run homer off Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher Hiromi Ito. “That home run off Hiromi really put me at ease,” Kondo said. “It was a big relief mentally and gave me the spark I needed.”
Last season, Kondo dealt with lower back tightness during spring training. Although he played in the opening three games, he was removed from the active roster on March 31. On April 2, he underwent a full-endoscopic discectomy for a lateral lumbar disc herniation at a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture, and did not return until late May. This season, he has started in all 36 of the Hawks’ games through their match against Seibu on April 12. “The team hasn’t been able to build momentum, so I want to lead the way as a position player,” Kondo said firmly.
