Hirokazu_Ibata Knowpia

Hirokazu Ibata
Hirokazu Ibata
	Ibata with the Yomiuri Giants
	Infielder / Coach
	Born: May 12, 1975 (age 48)
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
NPB debut
	September 8, 1998, for the Chunichi Dragons
NPB statistics ; (through 2015)
Games	1896
Batting average	.281
Hits	1,912
Home runs	56
Runs batted in	510
Teams
	As player Chunichi Dragons (1998–2013); Yomiuri Giants (2014–2015); As coach Yomiuri Giants (2016–2018); Japan national baseball team;
Career highlights and awards
	8× All-Star (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007–2010, 2011); 7× Golden Glove Award (2004–2009, 2012); 5× Best Nine Award (2002, 2004–2007); Asia Series MVP (2007); Japan Series champion (2007); 2013 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team;

Hirokazu Ibata (Japanese:井端弘和, born May 12, 1975) is a Japanese professional baseball coach and former player in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is currently the manager of the Japanese national baseball team.

Baseball career edit

Ibata played second base for the Yomiuri Giants and short stop for the Chunichi Dragons but is able to play at other positions.

After retiring at the end of the 2015 season, Ibata took up new Giants' manager, Yoshinobu Takahashi's invitation to join his coaching staff.^[1]

^ "Longtime Dragons star Ibata retires at age 40". Japan Times. October 24, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2016.

Hirokazu Ibata
Ibata with the Yomiuri Giants
Infielder / Coach
Born: (1975-05-12) May 12, 1975 (age 48)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
NPB debut
September 8, 1998, for the Chunichi Dragons
NPB statistics (through 2015)
Games	1896
Batting average	.281
Hits	1,912
Home runs	56
Runs batted in	510

Teams
As player Chunichi Dragons (1998–2013) Yomiuri Giants (2014–2015) As coach Yomiuri Giants (2016–2018) Japan national baseball team
Career highlights and awards
8× All-Star (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007–2010, 2011) 7× Golden Glove Award (2004–2009, 2012) 5× Best Nine Award (2002, 2004–2007) Asia Series MVP (2007) Japan Series champion (2007) 2013 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team