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SoftBank announced on the 12th that a two-for-one trade has been finalized, sending pitchers Takuto Ogata (26) and infielder Tomoya Inoue (23) to DeNA in exchange for catcher Yuta Yamamoto (27).
Inoue, a right-handed power hitter drafted in the first round of the 2020 NPB draft out of Saitama’s Hanasaki Tokuharu High School, was already known for his slugging potential before turning pro. During his high school days, he once shattered a window in the indoor practice facility located beyond left field—a feat of a roughly 120-meter blast. Only Yuki Nomura, a Hanasaki Tokuharu alum and his idol playing for Nippon-Ham, had previously accomplished that. Hanasaki Tokuharu head coach Takashi Iwai said that was the moment he became convinced Inoue would succeed in professional baseball.
Even in junior high, when he played for the Ikoma Boys (Nara), Inoue’s talent stood out. In the third grade, he hit two home runs in the South Osaka Tournament semifinals and three more in a doubleheader final, posting an astonishing five home runs in a single day at a field with 90-meter fences. His raw power was undeniable.
In his first year as a high school graduate (2021), Inoue would often stay at the farm team’s indoor facility in Tamasuta Chikugo until around 10 p.m. doing batting practice. A team official at the time recalled, “I’ve never seen a high school rookie hit so passionately so late at night.” On September 25, 2023, Inoue hit his first professional home run in an away game against Lotte, doing so in front of SoftBank chairman Sadaharu Oh, who was scouting. The legendary “World of Oh” said, “That was great. You’ll hit even more from now on.” Inoue’s goal is to blossom under the night sky of Yokohama’s Hamamatsu Stadium.
