My Top 15 Batters List
I’m curious how everyone feels about my list. I combined the generations that we chiefly saw, and barred Azuma’s. Even some people from Tetsu’s generation still had to be excluded because we simply didn’t see enough of them (notably, Ichidai’s Omae).
I also excluded batters from komadai and I excluded Akashi.
For everyone ranked, I take their latest version. The top 15 chiefly consists of third years (naturally), with the only second years placed being #1 and #13.
Let me know if I missed anyone!
Raichi
Tetsu
Mima
Hoshida
Inui
Miyuki
Carlos
Nara
Shirasu
.Miyagawa
Isashiki
Kuramochi
Haruichi
Umemiya
Yamaoka
Harada just missed the cut at #16. Some people may think that’s low, but
(Spoiler, which will be the first of many here, of course)
his performance in the final wasn’t as impressive as some may remember. He got on base 4/5 times. That’s amazing. But he got two hits through second base. Neither were errors, but the first one was implied to have been stopped if Ryosuke wasn’t injured. The other one was implied to have been played successfully if Ryosuke was healthy and on the field instead of Haruichi. He struck out against an on-fire Furuya during his first PA, and got his first hit through second base on Furuya’s mediocre pitch down the middle during his second PA. He got an off-screen base hit off the unimpressive and pressured Tanba during his third PA, and intentionally walked by Tanba and Miyuki during his fourth after Tanba cramped. Then during the penultimate PA of the game, he got his fairly solid hit that Haruichi couldn’t finish the play on. To his credit, Haruichi in his first year is still a great fielder. However, that was still a pressured first year on the field, and the hit was not dominant. And lastly, the pitcher was Kawakami. The heavily-pressured second year version of Kawakami, and Harada couldn’t deliver a decisive hit against him. Compare that to some performances we see from some of these batters off Second-year Sawamura, Furuya, third year Narumiya, etc.
Miyuki isn’t higher because he just doesn’t seem as impressive as a batter as the ones above him. He has meaningful at bats and isn’t as all-or-nothing as some power hitters like Yamaoka (which is why Yamaoka is fifteenth compared to the more fluid Hoshida being fourth, for example), which is why he isn’t lower. Sixth is still a great spot, though. He also didn’t perform amazing as a batter in the semifinals and finals, so I find it fair to not have him higher.
Haruichi is where he is instead of being higher because he underperforms when the stakes are the highest. I think he has immense potential at koshien and during his third year, but as of right now, I cannot put him above kuramochi or Shirasu when they performed way better during the semifinals and finals. Remember, this still weighs his potential highly, as Miyuki jumped to #6 from like the 20-30 range, which is where I would place Miyuki’s batting in his second year.
Some other notes:
-Miyagawa gets the slight nudge above Isashiki. It’s a close ranking between him, Shirasu, and Isashiki.
-Umemiya is ranked as the best pitcher at batting that we see enough of
If anyone has any questions regarding why I have others ranked where they are, I’d be happy to answer. Even if it seems unreasonable at first, I assure you I have a thoughtful reason.
Alas, even given that, you all are still welcome to disagreements as well. Let me know what you all think, and if I should drop my 15-30 next (as well if you think anyone else should’ve cracked this list).