September draws to a close, and most leagues are gearing up for postseason play and finishing out the last few games of their respective regular seasons. World Baseball Network compiled a team of top players from leagues outside the United States who stood out in September. Here’s who dominated this month:
C: Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz)-KBO
The 25-year-old catcher, Kang Baek-ho, had the KBO on notice this September. Through 17 games this month, Kang hit .345, one home run, and drove in nine RBIs. Kang has 26 home runs and 96 RBIs for the year while batting .289 in 550 at-bats. He is also a three-time KBO All-Star in his short seven-year career.
1B: Hotaka Yamakawa (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks)-NPB
After only playing 20 games during the 2023 season, Hotaka Yamakawa reminded teams that he still has massive power in his swing. The 32-year-old leads all of NPB with 34 home runs, adding 98 RBIs while hitting .251. The 2018 Pacific League MVP winner also appeared as an All-Star in his first year in Fukuoka.
2B: Kim Sun-bin (Kia Tigers)-KBO
Kim Sun-bin had one mission this September and proved to be clutch the entire month. The 34-year-old infielder hit an even .500 in 12 games this month, blasting one home run and 10 RBIs while collecting 23 hits. In 116 games this season, Kim holds a .329 average, with nine homers and 57 RBIs.
3B: Munetaka Murakami (Yakult Swallows)-NPB
One of the hottest hitters this month and handling the hot corner on our International Team of the Month is third-baseman Munetaka Murakami. In September, Murakami blasted ten home runs to make his season total 33. Along with his 33 home runs, the 24-year-old has 86 RBIs and ten stolen bases with a .249 average.
SS: Jeter Downs (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks)-NPB
Although he recently made his NPB debut, Colombian shortstop Jeter Downs signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks this past July after being released by the New York Yankees. The former first-round pick in 2017 by the Cincinnati Reds made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Boston Red Sox and played with the Washington Nationals during the 2023 season. In just three games making his debut in NPB’s Pacific League, Downs is hitting .500, collecting six hits in 12 at-bats to begin his journey in Japan. Downs played 18 games with the Hawks minor league team, hitting .259 with a homer and driving in seven RBIs.
OF: Victor Reyes (Lotte Giants)-KBO
Victor Reyes, the former Rule 5 draft pick by the Detroit Tigers, certainly found his stride in Korea. The 29-year-old Venezuelan has been one of the most productive hitters in the KBO, where he ranks second in batting average at .351, behind Cuban outfielder Guillermo Heredia. For September, Reyes hit .364 in 23 games, only hitting one home run, but drove in 16 RBIs. Reyes has 109 RBIs on the season while crushing 15 home runs.
OF Koo Ja-wook (Samsung Lions)-KBO
One of the most complete hitters in the KBO this year is Koo Ja-wook, who takes honors on our International Team of the Month. Koo, 31, has displayed a tremendous amount of power this year. The slugger has 33 home runs, 115 RBI, and is hitting .343 this year. For September, Koo hit .500 in 16 games, crushing nine home runs and driving in 24 RBIs. Koo won the KBO Rookie of the Year Award in 2015.
OF: Chen Chen-Wei (Rakuten Monkeys)- CPBL
Chen Chen-Wei had a fantastic September for the Rakuten Monkeys in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan. The 26-year-old outfielder hit .342 in the month, hitting one homer while driving in 12 RBIs. Chen is putting together one of his best seasons with the Monkeys this year, hitting .296, with an even ten home runs, 54 RBIs, adding 13 triples and 26 stolen bases.
DH: Mel Rojas Jr. (KT Wiz)- KBO
Mel Rojas Jr. takes the honors for our DH spot for September. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Rojas in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft but never reached the major leagues. After playing in Mexico in 2023, Rojas returned to Korea with the KT Wiz, whom he played with from 2017-2020. Rojas had a great September, hitting .292, two home runs, and 14 RBIs in 65 at-bats. Rojas is batting .329 for the year, with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs in 144 games with the Wiz.
SP: Natsuki Takeuchi (Saitama Seibu Lions)-NPB
In his rookie season, Natsuki Takeuchi has performed well for a team that certainly performed below expectations this season. The 23-year-old left-hander made 21 starts with the Lions, posting a 10-6 record and a 2.17 ERA while punching out 107 batters in 145.1 innings of work. In his final start of the season, Takeuchi fired eight shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five batters. He should be a favorite to win Pacific League Rookie of the Year.
RP: Taisei Ota (Yomiuri Giants)-NPB
Rounding out our International Team of the Month is reliever Taisei Ota. Ota, 25, is in his third professional NPB season with the Yomiuri Giants. This year, Ota holds a 0.80 ERA in 47 games, collecting 29 saves while punching out 60 batters in 45 innings. The closer has 80 career saves with the Yomiuri Giants, where he passed Hirokazu Sawamura for fifth for the Giants All-Time saves leader.
With another month of international baseball in the books, teams will gear up for their respective postseason schedules in October. It will be great to see which players will continue their dominant performances heading into a new month.
