2008年度 MVP賞

2008年度東京ドームMVP賞が決定！

Every year, Tokyo Dome Corporation presents the Tokyo Dome MVP Award to one player from the Yomiuri Giants, whose franchise is the Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome who has performed most outstandingly in official games at the Dome. This year, Michihiro Ogasawara has been selected as the 2008 recipient.

Ogasawara played an active role as the core of the team's powerful batting line this season and contributed greatly to the team's consecutive Central League championships. In particular, his attitude towards the end of the season when the team was facing tough battles energized the team, excited Tokyo Dome, and supported the team's rapid advance, which led to the team overcoming a 13-game deficit, which was the deciding factor for his award.

The awards ceremony was held at "GIANTS FAN FESTA 2008" at Tokyo Dome on November 23rd, and Ogasawara was presented with a prize of 3 million yen by our company's Executive Vice President and Representative Director Hisayo Shinji.

During his time with the Nippon Ham Fighters, Ogasawara won the award five times in a row from 1999 to 2003, and this is his sixth time receiving the award in five years. This breaks Ogasawara's own record for the most wins he has received, and he is the first player in the award's history to win the award in both leagues.

This year, we also presented the "Tokyo Dome MVP Special Award" to pitcher Tetsuya Yamaguchi and player Hayato Sakamoto. Pitcher Yamaguchi has risen from a development player to become a valuable left-handed setup man, recording 11 wins, while player Sakamoto has established himself as a regular in his second year with the team, playing in every game. This season, the Giants have been notable for the performance of their young players throughout the season, and we have presented these two representative players with a special award and a prize of 1 million yen each, in the hope that they will make further progress next season and beyond. This is the first time in 13 years since then-player Tatsunori Hara received a special award in 1995.

Tokyo Dome MVP Award: Michihiro Ogasawara

Comment from winner

2008年度東京ドームMVP賞Player: Michihiro Ogasawara

I received the Tokyo Dome MVP award five times during my time with Nippon Ham Fighters.
This award has been one of my motivations, so I'm happy to receive it for the first time in five years. I hope to win this award again next season, with the aim of becoming Japan's top team, in the batter's box at Tokyo Dome, where it's so easy to concentrate.

2008年度東京ドームでの成績

Number of team matches	63
Number of matches played	63
Batting average (number of at bats - hits)	.315（219－69)
Home Run	21
RBI	44

2008 Tokyo Dome MVP Special AwardTetsuya Yamaguchi

I am happy to have been selected as the Tokyo Dome MVP Special Award recipient, even though there were many other young players who performed well on the team this season. I will use this as encouragement to do my best next season.

2008年度東京ドームでの成績(Data provided by NPB-BIS)

Number of team matches	63
Number of games pitched	29
Number of pitches	32nd 2/3
Win_Loss_Save	7 wins, 1 loss, 0 s
ERA	1.10

2008 Tokyo Dome MVP Special AwardHayato Sakamoto

I am honored to receive this award after a year in which I gave my all and was able to have a satisfying season. I will continue to work hard next season with the goal of playing in every game.