DeNA announced on the 12th that a two-for-one trade agreement had been reached, sending catcher Yamamoto Yuta (27) to SoftBank in exchange for pitcher Ogata Shuto (26) and infielder Inoue Tomoya (23). Speaking at Yokohama Stadium, Yamamoto expressed his gratitude to ace left-hander Higashi Katsuki, saying, “Higashi-san is the one who gave me the opportunity to be in the first team.” Yamamoto and Higashi have formed a battery as close partners, with Higashi scheduled to start on the day of the announcement. Yamamoto admitted, “When the trade came out today, knowing I couldn’t play or form a battery with Higashi-san, it really hit me hard.” He did not forget to show concern for his partner, who won the Best Battery Award in 2023. “I’m the one leaving, but Higashi-san is set to pitch today. I hope he does well,” Yamamoto said. He refrained from contacting Higashi until they met at the stadium to avoid disrupting his routine. After their meeting, Yamamoto shared, “He just told me, ‘Give it your best out there.’ He’s the ace of the BayStars, so I think he’ll deliver a great performance today.”
Yamamoto joined DeNA as the ninth-round draft pick in 2017. He appeared in 71 games in 2023, 108 in 2024, and 104 in 2025, establishing himself as the starting catcher and leading the team. This season, he has played in a team-high 28 games among catchers, posting a batting average of .227 with one home run. The trade, which sends away a primary catcher, is an unusual roster move.
Yamamoto Yuta was born on September 11, 1998, in Taisho Ward, Osaka City. He played in the summer Koshien tournament during his third year at Kyoto Shoei High School. After playing in the BC League for Shiga, he was selected by DeNA in the ninth round of the 2017 draft. He hit a home run in his first career at-bat on August 19, 2018, against Hiroshima. From 2023 to 2024, he led the team in games played as a catcher, winning the Best Nine and Golden Glove awards in 2024. His estimated annual salary this season is 73 million yen. He stands 180 cm tall and weighs 87 kg, batting and throwing right-handed.
Ogata Shuto was born on May 15, 1999, in Miyagi Prefecture. He was on the bench from his first year at Gakuhō Ishikawa High School and became the ace from the fall of his second year. In his third year, his team reached the quarterfinals of the Fukushima tournament. He was selected as the first-round draft pick in the development player category in 2017 and was registered as a regular player in March 2020, his third year. Last season, he appeared in 38 relief games, posting a 1-1 record with 5 holds and a 4.67 ERA. This season, he has pitched in 10 games with a 0-2 record and a 3.00 ERA. All 80 of his career appearances have been as a reliever. He prefers Korean-style fashion and often purchases from Korean online stores by translating their websites. He is 182 cm tall, weighs 90 kg, and bats left-handed while throwing right-handed. His estimated annual salary this season is 27 million yen.
Inoue Tomoya was born on January 28, 2003, in Osaka Prefecture. He played in the summer Koshien tournament during his first and second years at Hanasaki Tokuharu High School. In his third year, the Koshien tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He hit 50 home runs in high school. He was selected as the first-round draft pick by SoftBank in 2020. He overcame a herniated disc surgery in August 2022 and made his first-team debut on September 6, 2023, against Lotte in his third season after graduating high school. He wears number 43. He is 182 cm tall, weighs 89 kg, and bats and throws right-handed. His estimated annual salary this season is 9.3 million yen.
DeNA team president Kimura commented on the release of the starting catcher, stating, “This is not a short-sighted decision. We need to strengthen the pitching staff with Japanese players.”
