Overview
The cleanup hitters are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th batters in the lineup, tasked with driving in baserunners to score. In NPB tradition, the 3rd spot features a contact-power hybrid, the 4th is reserved for the team's best hitter, and the 5th provides comparable power. The 4th spot carries special symbolic weight as the 'face of the team,' and being named the cleanup hitter is considered the highest honor for a batter. However, sabermetric analysis has challenged this convention: since the 2nd spot receives the most plate appearances, MLB has shifted toward placing the best hitter second. NPB clubs are gradually adopting this approach, though the cultural significance of the 4th spot remains deeply ingrained. Cleanup production directly correlates with team run scoring, making the acquisition of middle-of-the-order bats a top roster-building priority.