WBN’s International Player of the Week is Orix Buffaloes’ first baseman Yuma Tongu in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Tongu leads the NPB with five home runs this season, and he has nine RBI and a .425 batting average in 40 at-bats. His OPS is off the charts and also leads the NPB at 1.469.
Tongu, 28, is six feet, 215 pounds, and was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NPB draft. He is in his seventh season with the Orix Buffaloes and has also played catcher and third base in his career.
He won the Japan Series with the Orix Buffaloes in 2022 when they defeated the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in seven games. His career NPB numbers are 49 home runs, 151 RBI, and a slash line of .255/.331/.437 in 1,159 at-bats.
In 2023, Tongu had a career year that saw him named to his only NPB All-Star Game appearance, a Pacific League batting leader with a .307 batting average, and the Pacific League Best Nine. That named him the best first baseman and one of the best nine players in the Pacific League.
His numbers in 2023 were 16 home runs, 49 RBI, a .378 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .862 in 401 at-bats.
The Orix Buffaloes currently have the best record in the NPB at 7-3-1 after 11 games. Team Japan has a deep pool of talent for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but maybe Tongu could put himself into consideration for a roster spot with a strong showing this season.
