Orix pitcher Miyagi wins rookie of the year, the second-straight Okinawan to do so, with Taira winning the previous year
December 15, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
The NPB Awards, which recognizes the season’s award-winners in professional baseball, took place December 15 in Tokyo, and the Pacific League rookie of the year award (rookie king) was awarded to Orix pitcher Hiroya Miyagi, 20, who comes from Ginowan, and played at Konan High School before entering the league. This is the second-straight season that the rookie of the year award was given to an Okinawa-born player, with last year’s award going to Seibu Lion’s closer Kaima Taira.
Miyagi was Orix’s first pick in the 2019 draft, and he joined the team in 2020. He joined the first-team players mid-way through his first season, winning his first professional game in November of that year. The next year he started the season as a member of the starting rotation, and in 23 games he recorded 13 wins and 4 losses, his double-digit wins helping to propel his team to a league championship.
Miyagi started game 2 of the Japan Series against the Yakult Swallows. While he ended up taking a close loss in the match, he pitched 6.1 perfect innings before surrendering a run part-way through the 8th.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)
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