Atsushi Fujimoto opts for freen agency; Swallows a possibility?
by Gen on Nov.16, 2009 @ 5:30 pm, under NPB
Atsushi Fujimoto officially declared that he will be exercising his FA option.
"I did feel as if the Tigers really wanted me to stay, but I wanted to stay true to myself and test the FA waters. I am grateful to the Tigers for helping me become the play I am. I also want to thank the fans that helped support me these past 9 years with their warm cheers.
"I want this to be a new start for me, I want to start from scratch. I won't have the Hanshin Tigers name behind me any more, so I want to move forward a Atsushi Fujimoto, the player," said Fujimoto at his press conference today.
While Fujimoto doesn't swing a big bat, he can provide some stability with his glove.
The Swallows have expressed interest in Fujimoto.
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | HBP | SO | GIDP | AVG | SLG | OBP | OPS |
| 2001 | Hanshin | 75 | 202 | 186 | 21 | 50 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 66 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 36 | 0 | .269 | .355 | .320 | .675 |
| 2002 | Hanshin | 63 | 162 | 139 | 8 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 23 | 0 | .209 | .259 | .252 | .511 |
| 2003 | Hanshin | 127 | 451 | 402 | 51 | 121 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 151 | 36 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 26 | 2 | 42 | 9 | .301 | .376 | .343 | .722 |
| 2004 | Hanshin | 111 | 419 | 385 | 45 | 99 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 132 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 58 | 9 | .257 | .343 | .308 | .650 |
| 2005 | Hanshin | 119 | 400 | 357 | 36 | 89 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 110 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 1 | 40 | 7 | .249 | .308 | .313 | .623 |
| 2006 | Hanshin | 138 | 443 | 393 | 35 | 93 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 116 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 56 | 13 | .237 | .295 | .285 | .583 |
| 2007 | Hanshin | 105 | 164 | 148 | 10 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 23 | 3 | .243 | .284 | .304 | .588 |
| 2008 | Hanshin | 58 | 89 | 76 | 12 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 3 | .250 | .289 | .306 | .603 |
| 2009 | Hanshin | 47 | 70 | 64 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .219 | .234 | .254 | .488 |
| Totals | 843 | 2400 | 2150 | 224 | 550 | 73 | 17 | 11 | 690 | 181 | 26 | 12 | 76 | 11 | 155 | 8 | 296 | 48 | .256 | .321 | .307 | .629 | |
