# Kensuke Kondoh

Kensuke Kondoh (近藤 健介, Kondō Kensuke) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher, outfielder, and third baseman for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

## Career
### Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

On October 27, 2011, Kondoh was drafted 4th round pick by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 2011 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.
He debuted in 2012 season with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He had 7 runs.
On May 30, 2014, Kondoh hit a grand slam home run in the interleague play against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at the age of 20 years and 9 months, making him the youngest player in the Pacific League. In 2014 season, he finished the regular season batted .258/.295/.386, with a 4 home runs, and a 28 RBIs in 89 games.
While not accumulating enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, Kondo hit .413 in 2017.
Kondoh was selected 2018 NPB All-Star game for the first time. In 2018 season, he finished the regular season batted .3225/.427/.457 (3rd in the Pacific League), with a 9 home runs, and a 69 RBIs in 129 games, and he was selected for the Pacific League Best Nine Award for the first time at the NPB Awards 2018.
On July 12, 2019, Kondoh participated the All-Star Game for the second time in Mynavi All-Star Game 2019. Through 2019, he batted .304/.422 (Leader in the Pacific League.)/.400 in 138 games, and he was honored the Pacific League OBP Leader Award for the first time at the NPB Awards 2019.
In 2020 season, Kondoh finished the regular season batted .340 (3rd in the Pacific League.)/.465 (Leader.)/.469, with a 5 home runs, and a 60 RBIs in 108 games, and he was honored the Pacific League Best Nine Award and Pacific League OBP Leader Award for the second time at the NPB Awards 2020.
In 2021 season, Kondoh finished the regular season batted .298/.413/.472, with a 11 home runs, and a 69 RBIs in 133 games, and he was named to his second consecutive the Pacific League Best Nine Award for the third time at the NPB Award 2021.
On August 9, 2022, Kondoh recorded his first walk-off home run against the Saitama Seibu Lions. In 2022 season, he finished the regular season batted .302/.418/.462, with a 11 home runs, and a 69 RBIs in 99 games.

### Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On December 12, 2022, it was announced that Kondoh would sign with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on a seven-year deal worth 5 billion yen overall. His uniform number will be 3.
In 2023, Kondoh would have career numbers in almost every category, slashing .303 (2nd in the Pacific League.)/.431(Leader.)/.528(Leader.), set the single-season Hawks franchise record for walks with 109, hit a career record 26 home runs, 87 RBI, and played in all 143 games for the first time in his career. He also won the Outstanding Player Award for his batting average of .413, 5 home runs, and 15 RBIs in interleague play. In addition, he was named an All-Star for the third time, and won the a Fighting-spirit player Award in Game 1 of the Mynavi All-Star Game 2023. This campaign got him close to winning an offensive Triple Crown, which would have made him the first player to win the offensive Triple Crown in the Pacific League since Nobuhiko Matsunaka in 2004, however a breakout season by Yuma Tongu ending in a close race for the Batting Title which Tongu won prevented him from winning it.
On November 28, 2023, Kondoh won the Pacific League Home run Leader Award with 26 home runs, the Pacific League RBI Leader Award with 87 RBI, his third the Pacific League OBP Leader Award with an OBP of .431, his fourth the Best Nine Award, and the Pacific League Golden Glove Award and is honored at the NPB Awards 2023.
Kondoh made 129 appearances for Fukuoka in 2024, slashing .314/.439/.521 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Following the season, he was named the Pacific League MVP.

## International career

Kondoh represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship, 2019 exhibition games against Mexico, and 2019 WBSC Premier12.
On February 27, 2019, he was selected at the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico.
On October 1, 2019, he was selected at the 2019 WBSC Premier12. He led the tournament with nine walks.
On January 6, 2023, Kondoh was chosen to participate 2023 World Baseball Classic as a member of Japan national baseball team.
He contributed to the team's championship with a batting average of .346, a 2 home runs, a OBP of .500, and an OPS of 1.115.