Shishi Shibata wins NPB Farm League August MVP

Shishi Shibata, a two-way player for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, has been named the East Division winner of the SMBC Trust Bank Farm Monthly MVP Award for August 2026. The award is presented by Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) to players demonstrating exceptional performance in the farm leagues.

During August, Shibata appeared in 14 games, recording a .341 batting average, 15 hits, 5 home runs, and 17 RBIs. His home run, RBI, and slugging percentage (.773) figures led the division. Notable performances included hitting a three-run home run while serving as the starting pitcher against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on August 15, and a grand slam against Oisix Niigata on August 27.

A 2024 first-round draft pick from Fukuoka Daioboro High School, the right-handed batter and left-handed pitcher has shown versatility in his second professional season. In the first team (ichigun) this season, he has maintained a 2.03 ERA across 8 pitching appearances and a .355 batting average in 16 games as a hitter.