THC Science

Hirokazu Ibata
Hirokazu Ibata
	Ibata with the Yomiuri Giants in 2014
Japan national baseball team – No. 89
	Infielder / Coach
	Born: May 12, 1975 (age 49); Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
	September 8, 1998, for the Chunichi Dragons
Last NPB appearance
	October 29, 2015, for the Yomiuri Giants
NPB statistics
Games	1896
Batting average	.281
Hits	1,912
Home runs	56
Runs batted in	510
Teams
	As player Chunichi Dragons (1998–2013); Yomiuri Giants (2014–2015); As coach Yomiuri Giants (2016–2018); As manager Japan national baseball team;
Career highlights and awards
	8× All-Star (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007–2010, 2011); 7× Golden Glove Award (2004–2009, 2012); 5× Best Nine Award (2002, 2004–2007); Asia Series MVP (2007); Japan Series champion (2007); 2013 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team;

Hirokazu Ibata (Japanese:井端弘和, born May 12, 1975) is a Japanese professional baseball coach and former player in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is currently the manager of the Japanese national baseball team.

Baseball career[edit]

Ibata played second base for the Yomiuri Giants and short stop for the Chunichi Dragons but is able to play at other positions.

After retiring at the end of the 2015 season, Ibata took up new Giants' manager, Yoshinobu Takahashi's invitation to join his coaching staff.^[1]

^ "Longtime Dragons star Ibata retires at age 40". Japan Times. October 24, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2016.

2013 World Baseball Classic All WBC Team
Catcher	Yadier Molina
Infielders	Edwin Encarnación (1B) Robinson Canó (2B) José Reyes (SS) David Wright (3B)
Outfielders	Nelson Cruz Ángel Pagán Michael Saunders
Designated hitter	Hirokazu Ibata
Pitchers	Nelson Figueroa Kenta Maeda Fernando Rodney

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	Japan
Academics	CiNii

Hirokazu Ibata
Ibata with the Yomiuri Giants in 2014
Japan national baseball team – No. 89
Infielder / Coach
Born: (1975-05-12) May 12, 1975 (age 49) Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
September 8, 1998, for the Chunichi Dragons
Last NPB appearance
October 29, 2015, for the Yomiuri Giants
NPB statistics
Games	1896
Batting average	.281
Hits	1,912
Home runs	56
Runs batted in	510

Teams
As player Chunichi Dragons (1998–2013) Yomiuri Giants (2014–2015) As coach Yomiuri Giants (2016–2018) As manager Japan national baseball team
Career highlights and awards
8× All-Star (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007–2010, 2011) 7× Golden Glove Award (2004–2009, 2012) 5× Best Nine Award (2002, 2004–2007) Asia Series MVP (2007) Japan Series champion (2007) 2013 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team