A Career Born from Draft Day Gasps
Yusuke Oyama was drafted first overall by the Hanshin Tigers in 2016 from Hakuoh University, a surprise pick that drew audible gasps from the draft venue. Originally planned as a second pick, manager Tomoaki Kanemoto changed the plan on draft day. The crowd's reaction at the draft fueled Oyama's determination. In his rookie 2017 season, he became the team's 101st cleanup hitter in September, the first rookie in the four-spot since 1964.
Cleanup Maturation and the 2023 Championship
Oyama's breakout came in 2020 with .288/28 HR/85 RBI, the second-most home runs in the league despite Koshien's pitcher-friendly dimensions. In 2023 under manager Akifu Okada, he started all 143 games as the cleanup first baseman, the first Tiger to do so since Kanemoto in 2009. He won the OBP title with 99 walks and delivered a bases-loaded walk-off hit in Japan Series Game 4 as Hanshin won their first championship in 38 years.
2024 Struggles and the FA Decision
The 2024 season brought adversity: a demotion to the minors in June for the first time in six years, followed by a move to the fifth spot in the batting order from July. He finished with .259/14 HR/68 RBI in 130 games. After the season, Oyama declared free agency. Despite the Yomiuri offering over 2.4 billion yen over six years, he chose to stay with Hanshin for 1.7 billion over five, saying 'I can't forget that earth-shaking emotion. I want to win it all one more time.'
2025 Pennant and the Tigers' Cleanup Lineage
In 2025, Oyama hit .264 with 13 home runs and 75 RBI across 141 games, reaching career milestones of 1,000 hits and 150 home runs while earning his second Best Nine and Golden Glove awards. His nine-year career totals of .268/150 HR/626 RBI place him firmly in the Tigers' cleanup lineage of Fujimura, Tabuchi, Kakefu, Bass, and Kanemoto. From draft-day gasps to an FA commitment worth billions less than the alternative, Oyama's story is one of loyalty rewarded.