Naoto Inada

Naoto Inada (稲田 直人)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 167 lb.

• School Komazawa University
• High School Koryo High School

• Born November 6, 1979 in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Naoto Inada has been a utility infielder in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Inada played for NKK and JFE Nishi Nihon in the industrial leagues after college. He was picked in the 5th round in 2003 NPB draft by the Nippon Ham Fighters.

After a couple years in the minors, Inada debuted on June 18, 2006 as a pinch-runner. He got his first plate appearance on July 1 as a pinch-hitter and doubled off Yasuhiro Ichiba. For the year, he hit .270/.309/.381 in 38 games, playing mostly third base. He was 1 for 5 with a walk in the 2006 Japan Series but his hit was a big one. In game 5, with Nippon Ham ahead 3 games to 1, Inada stepped in versus Chunichi Dragons ace Kenshin Kawakami in the 5th with his club down 1-0. He doubled, was bunted to third and came in on a squeeze bunt by Makoto Kaneko for the tying run; they would go on to win 4-1 to take home their first Japan Series pennant.

Inada saw increased action in 2007, with 175 plate appearances in 83 games, hitting .275/.293/.300 as a one-dimensional threat. He played a team-high 48 contests at first base, edging out Eiichi Koyano (45), Fernando Seguignol (39) and Yukio Tanaka (37). He was 1 for 11 with a walk in the 2007 Japan Series.

Inada went up to 99 games and 211 plate appearances in 2008 but struggled, hitting just .222/.254/.238. His 79 games at third base led the club, just ahead of Koyano. In 2009, Naoto hit .277/.299/.323 in 65 games over 65 games.

Source: Japan Baseball Daily