Last to First
In 2021, the Yakult Swallows went from last place (41-69) to Central League champions under second-year manager Shingo Takatsu. It was the first last-to-first turnaround in CL history. Yamada, Murakami, and Shiomi powered the lineup.
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Murakami Awakening
Murakami hit 39 HR with 112 RBI for the RBI title at age 21. The 2018 first-round pick had won Rookie of the Year in 2019 with 36 HR, and his 2021 growth foreshadowed his 2022 Triple Crown season.
Japan Series Victory
Yakult beat Orix 4-2 for their first title in 20 years. Game 6 ended with a walk-off 2-1 win in the 12th inning. Catcher Yuhei Nakamura was named Series MVP for his game-calling and clutch hitting.
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Takatsu Philosophy
Takatsu recorded 286 saves as a closer and played in MLB and Asia. As manager, he emphasized player autonomy and fearless play. After the 2021 title, Yakult repeated in 2022, completing a historic last-to-first-to-repeat run.