Yokohama DeNA BayStars catcher Yudai Yamamoto has been traded to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in a sudden move that caught both fans and the player himself off guard.
The swap sends Yamamoto to SoftBank in exchange for pitcher Takato Ogata, the teams announced on May 12. Yamamoto took to social media to express his feelings, writing, “There are all kinds of emotions…” without elaborating further.
Yamamoto, who had been a key depth piece behind the plate for DeNA, now joins a Hawks squad looking to bolster its catching corps. Meanwhile, Ogata, a hard-throwing reliever, adds bullpen depth for the BayStars.
The trade came as a surprise in the middle of the NPB season, as both players were expected to play significant roles for their respective clubs down the stretch.
