No Climax Series? No problem.
Speedster Hiroto Kobukata, who plays for the Pacific League’s Rakuten Golden Eagles, may have missed out on the playoffs this season but he seems to be doing quite well off the field, engaging in an affair with a married woman, reports weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun (Oct. 10).
According to the magazine, the unnamed woman visited the apartment of Kobukata, 29, in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, on the night of September 1 and stayed there for three nights.
When the magazine inquired with the team about the apparent tryst, they replied, “We will refrain from answering questions about the private life of a player belonging to our team.”
“Needs to work even harder”
On October 1, Rakuten lost to the Chiba Lotte Marines and missed out on advancing to the Climax Series, finishing in fourth place for the third consecutive year.
A second basemen, Kobukata, who is not married, graduated from Kinki University. In 2019, Rakuten drafted him in the first round.
“His play makes the most of his natural speed,” a sports reporter tells Bunshun, “and last year he won the stolen base title for the first time. He has also played in the All-Star Game for three consecutive years until last year.”
This year was a different story.
“Although he has established himself as a second baseman this season, his batting performance has been lackluster since the start of the season,” the same reporter says. “As well, his number of stolen bases wasn’t enough for the title, so he needs to work even harder.”
Disappeared into his room together
We would like to see Kobukata use his proud speed to play around with opponents, but in fact he has started an “unfavorable love.”
On September 1, during a four-game series against the Orix Buffaloes in Sendai, the team’s home base, Kofukata left his apartment just after 11:00 p.m. and drove to Sendai Station in his car.
When Kobukata arrived at the station, a slender woman appeared a few minutes later. She resembled actress Keiko Kitagawa, had long brown hair combed back, and was pulling a black suitcase for a two- or three-night stay.
The magazine also says the woman is a friend of the wife of Kazuki Murabayashi, who plays shortstop for the Eagles.
Kobukata returned to his apartment with the woman, and the two disappeared into his residence together. The magazine also followed the couple to Matsushima, a group of islands that is one of Japan’s top tourist spots.
When confronted by a reporter from the magazine about his relationship with the woman, Kobukata stared off in the distance. “Let me consult with the baseball team,” he finally said before scampering off.
