ABOUT SHINTARO YOKOTA
Former professional outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers, who made his debut on Opening Day of the 2016 season. He completed his career with 4 stolen bases, 14 runs, and a batting average of .191. He was forced to retire at the age of 24 as a result of blurred vision stemming from treatment for brain cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2017.
He began playing softball in the 3rd grade and joined the Hanshin Tigers straight out of Kagoshima-Jitsugyo High School, after becoming their second-draft pick at the 2013 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. He was his high school's best player, with a fastball surpassing 87 mph, and having recorded 29 home runs throughout his high school career.
He inherited former outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers Shinjiro Hiyama's former jersey number, #24.
His father, Masashi Yokota, was also a professional baseball player for the Lotte Orions. He relocated from Hioki to Kagoshima Prefecture with his family at the age of 3. While battling cancer, his mother quit her job to care of him. His father shaved his head to comfort his son, who lost his hair as a result of chemotherapy.
Masahiro Tanaka and Munetaka Murakami are also Nippon Professional Baseball League players.
