Yamaguchi and Sumida named August Monthly MVP winners

The August Taishū Life Monthly MVP awards were presented to Koki Yamaguchi of the Chiba Lotte Marines and Chiichiro Sumida of the Saitama Seibu Lions.

Yamaguchi delivered a standout month for the Marines, recording a batting average of .302, 17 RBIs, and leading the league with 10 home runs. His performance included two walk-off hits and a four-game home run streak. He also set a new record for the most home runs by a Japanese player in a single season at ZOZO Marine Stadium, reaching 25 home runs. Yamaguchi expressed his desire to maintain this form and reach the 30-home run milestone.

Sumida earned the award for his dominant pitching with the Lions, posting a 0.58 ERA across four appearances with a 2-0 record. His performance was highlighted by a complete-game shutout against the Rakuten Eagles on August 29. This marks Sumida's second Monthly MVP award and the first time a left-handed pitcher from the Lions has won the award multiple times.