Record-Setting Shortstop Career
Hayato Sakamoto joined the Giants as the first pick in the 2006 high school draft, becoming a regular at age 19 in 2008. He recorded over 2,000 career hits and 200 home runs, producing NPB's all-time best offensive numbers for a shortstop. In 2020, he batted .289 with 19 home runs, contending for the batting title. As Giants captain for many years, his on-field achievements undeniably rank him among NPB's greatest shortstops.
2022 Sexual Assault Allegations
In 2022, Shukan Bunshun reported sexual assault allegations against Sakamoto. According to reports, he allegedly coerced a partner into an abortion upon learning of her pregnancy, subjecting her to demeaning verbal abuse throughout the process. The woman reported significant psychological distress. The revelations shocked the baseball world, with social media erupting in criticism. The Giants dismissed it as a private matter without detailed comment, and Sakamoto himself never provided adequate public explanation.
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Criticism of Team and NPB Response
The harshest criticism targeted the Giants and NPB's lenient response. While other teams' players faced severe punishment for misconduct, Sakamoto received no suspension or disciplinary action. Suspicions persist that his status as the Giants' franchise player influenced the light treatment. Critics also pointed to the Yomiuri Group's media influence potentially suppressing coverage. The case raised ongoing governance concerns, and despite NPB's stated commitment to strengthening compliance, this incident cast doubt on its effectiveness.
The Gap Between Achievement and Character
Sakamoto's case confronted NPB with a fundamental question: outstanding on-field performance should never excuse off-field harm. MLB introduced its domestic violence policy in 2015, imposing strict suspensions regardless of star status. NPB lacks such clear policy, leaving discipline to team discretion. Sakamoto's 2,000-hit milestone remains in the record books, but his legacy carries the permanent shadow of sexual assault allegations. For NPB to mature as a professional sports league, it must institutionalize victim protection and appropriate perpetrator accountability rather than separating athletic achievement from personal conduct.