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Softbank manager Akiyama pats retiring Inaba on back

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Koji Akiyama (R) commends retiring Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Atsunori Inaba after the latter's last game on Oct. 20, 2014. Softbank won 4-1 over Nippon Ham in the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Yafuou! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan.

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Nippon Ham's Inaba gets flowers from ski jumper Kasai

SAPPORO, Japan - Retiring Atsunori Inaba (R) of the Nippon Ham Fighters receives a bouquet of flowers from Olympic medalist ski jumper Noriaki Kasai during an event before a game against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 30, 2014. Inaba will retire at the end of this season.

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Fighters' Inaba to retire at end of season

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Atsunori Inaba practices batting at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Japan, on Sept. 2, 2014, after announcing his intention to retire at the end of the 2014 season.

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Japan vs. Netherlands in WBC

TOKYO, Japan - Atsunori Inaba of Japan hits a solo home run in the third inning of a World Baseball Classic second-round game against the Netherlands at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2013. Japan won 16-4 to advance to the final round in San Francisco. The game was called in the bottom of the seventh inning.

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Nippon Ham's Inaba hits memorable double

CHIBA, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba hits his 300th double, scoring two runs in the third inning of a game against the Lotte Marines at Chiba Marine Stadium in Chiba Prefecture on May 6. The Marines won 7-3.

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Japan vs U.S. in WBC semifinal game in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, United States - Japan's Atsunori Inaba (R) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring on an RBI sacrifice fly by Kenji Jojima in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 22.

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Japan beats S. Korea 6-2 to set up semifinal with U.S.

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan pinch hitter Atsunori Inaba hits a single to right off South Korea's Oh Seung Hwan in the eighth inning of a game to determine the winner of their second-round pool of the World Baseball Classic at PEPCO Park in San Diego on March 19. At left is South Korea's catcher Park Kyung Oan. Japan won 6-2 and will face the United States in WBC semifinals in Los Angeles on March 22.

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Cuba vs Japan in WBC second round

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan's Atsunori Inaba is congratulated by teammates after scoring on Michihiro Ogasawara's fly which a Cuban player failed to catch in the fourth inning of their game in the second round of the World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, on March 18.

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Cuba vs Japan in WBC second round

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan's Atsunori Inaba doubles to right in the fourth inning of a game against Cuba in the second round of the World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, on March 18.

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Fighters complete sweep in preliminaries at Asia Series

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba opens the scoring with an RBI double to left-center in the first inning. The Japan Series champion Fighters defeated the China Stars 6-1 to complete a sweep in the preliminary round of the Asia Series at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 11.

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Nippon Ham Fighters vs Samsung Lions in Asia Series

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba hits a homer over the right-field fence off South Korea Samsung Lions starter Lim Dong Gyu in the fourth inning of their game in the Asia Series at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 9.

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Fighters beat Dragons to win Japan Series

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba celebrates after hitting a solo homer in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons at Sapporo Dome on Oct. 26. Inaba won the MVP title as the team beat the Dragons to clinch its first Japan Series title in 44 years.

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Inaba hits go-ahead single

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Atsunori Inaba hits an RBI single off Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes starter Jeremy Powell with one out in the bottom of the first inning in Game Four of the Japan Series professional baseball championship at Jingu Stadium on Oct. 25.

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Inaba hits two-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfilder Atsunori Inaba watches the ball after slamming a two-run homer off Yomiuri Giants starter Chung Min Chul with two outs in the top of the first inning at Tokyo Dome on May 22.

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Baseball: Japan's Olympic team manager Inaba

SAPPORO, Japan, Oct. 19 Kyodo - Japan's Olympic baseball team manager Atsunori Inaba gives an online interview from Sapporo on July 17, 2020. (Kyodo)

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Baseball: Japan's Olympic team manager Inaba

Japan's Olympic baseball team manager Atsunori Inaba shows an autographed new year message board reading "a bunch" in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2020, ahead of the postponed Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021. Inaba said the character he wrote means a bunch of flowers for medical workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic while bidding to bring together strength for the gold medal.

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Baseball: Japan's Olympic team manager Inaba

Japan's Olympic baseball team manager Atsunori Inaba gives an online interview from Sapporo on July 17, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan's Olympic gold-winning manager Inaba

Atsunori Inaba, who won the Tokyo Olympic baseball gold medal as Japan's manager, holds flowers during a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 30, 2021, at the end of his term as manager.

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Tokyo Olympics: Baseball

Japan team manager Atsunori Inaba (L) is pictured ahead of the Tokyo Olympic baseball semifinal against South Korea on Aug. 4, 2021, at Yokohama baseball stadium near Tokyo.

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Fighters beat Dragons to win Japan Series

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba celebrates after hitting a solo homer in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons at Sapporo Dome on Oct. 26. Inaba won the MVP title as the team beat the Dragons to clinch its first Japan Series title in 44 years. (Kyodo)

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Nippon Ham Fighters vs Samsung Lions in Asia Series

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba hits a homer over the right-field fence off South Korea Samsung Lions starter Lim Dong Gyu in the fourth inning of their game in the Asia Series at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 9. (Kyodo)

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Fighters complete sweep in preliminaries at Asia Series

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba opens the scoring with an RBI double to left-center in the first inning. The Japan Series champion Fighters defeated the China Stars 6-1 to complete a sweep in the preliminary round of the Asia Series at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 11. (Kyodo)

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Nippon Ham's Inaba hits memorable double

CHIBA, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Atsunori Inaba hits his 300th double, scoring two runs in the third inning of a game against the Lotte Marines at Chiba Marine Stadium in Chiba Prefecture on May 6. The Marines won 7-3. (Kyodo)

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Inaba hits go-ahead single

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Atsunori Inaba hits an RBI single off Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes starter Jeremy Powell with one out in the bottom of the first inning in Game Four of the Japan Series professional baseball championship at Jingu Stadium on Oct. 25.

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Japan vs U.S. in WBC semifinal game in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, United States - Japan's Atsunori Inaba (R) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring on an RBI sacrifice fly by Kenji Jojima in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 22. (Kyodo)

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Japan beats S. Korea 6-2 to set up semifinal with U.S.

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan pinch hitter Atsunori Inaba hits a single to right off South Korea's Oh Seung Hwan in the eighth inning of a game to determine the winner of their second-round pool of the World Baseball Classic at PEPCO Park in San Diego on March 19. At left is South Korea's catcher Park Kyung Oan. Japan won 6-2 and will face the United States in WBC semifinals in Los Angeles on March 22. (Kyodo)

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Cuba vs Japan in WBC second round

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan's Atsunori Inaba doubles to right in the fourth inning of a game against Cuba in the second round of the World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, on March 18. (Kyodo)

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Cuba vs Japan in WBC second round

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan's Atsunori Inaba is congratulated by teammates after scoring on Michihiro Ogasawara's fly which a Cuban player failed to catch in the fourth inning of their game in the second round of the World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, on March 18. (Kyodo)

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Japan's Olympic baseball roster announcement

Japan's Olympic baseball manager Atsunori Inaba (L) announces his 24-man roster, including former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, during a press conference in Tokyo on June 16, 2021.

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Japan's Olympic baseball roster announcement

Japan's Olympic baseball manager Atsunori Inaba announces his 24-man roster, including former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, in Tokyo on June 16, 2021.

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Japan's Olympic baseball roster announcement

Japan's Olympic baseball manager Atsunori Inaba announces his 24-man roster, including former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, during a press conference in Tokyo on June 16, 2021.

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Japan's Olympic baseball roster announcement

Japan's Olympic baseball manager Atsunori Inaba announces his 24-man roster, including former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, during a press conference in Tokyo on June 16, 2021.

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Japan's Olympic baseball roster announcement

Japan's Olympic baseball manager Atsunori Inaba announces his 24-man roster, including former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, during a press conference in Tokyo on June 16, 2021.

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Softbank manager Akiyama pats retiring Inaba on back

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Koji Akiyama (R) commends retiring Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Atsunori Inaba after the latter's last game on Oct. 20, 2014. Softbank won 4-1 over Nippon Ham in the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Yafuou! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan. (Kyodo)

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Fighters clobber Hawks to win Game 3 of PLCS final stage

FUKUOKA, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters center fielder Yang Dai-kang (L) poses with his teammate Atsunori Inaba (R) after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of Game 3 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the Softbank Hawks at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan on Oct. 17, 2014. The Fighters won 12-4. (Kyodo)

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Nippon Ham's Inaba gets flowers from ski jumper Kasai

SAPPORO, Japan - Retiring Atsunori Inaba (R) of the Nippon Ham Fighters receives a bouquet of flowers from Olympic medalist ski jumper Noriaki Kasai during an event before a game against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 30, 2014. Inaba will retire at the end of this season. (Kyodo)

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Fighters' Inaba to retire at end of season

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Atsunori Inaba practices batting at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Japan, on Sept. 2, 2014, after announcing his intention to retire at the end of the 2014 season. (Kyodo)

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Baseball: Inaba accepts golden Olympic challenge

Atsunori Inaba, the new manager of Japan's national baseball team, attends a press conference in Tokyo on July 31, 2017, assuming responsibility for winning Japan's first Olympic gold medal in the event. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Inaba accepts golden Olympic challenge

Atsunori Inaba, the new manager of Japan's national baseball team, attends a press conference in Tokyo on July 31, 2017, assuming responsibility for winning Japan's first Olympic gold medal in the event. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Inaba accepts golden Olympic challenge

Atsunori Inaba, the new manager of Japan's national baseball team, attends a press conference in Tokyo on July 31, 2017, assuming responsibility for winning Japan's first Olympic gold medal in the event. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba (2nd from R) celebrates with his players in Tokyo in the early hours of Nov. 18, 2019, after his team beat South Korea 5-3 to win the Premier12 baseball tournament the previous day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba celebrates with his players in Tokyo after his team beat South Korea 5-3 to win the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba (3rd from R) and his players celebrate in Tokyo in the early hours of Nov. 18, 2019, following the country's first victory in the Premier12 baseball tournament the previous day, beating South Korea 5-3 in the final. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba acknowledges fans after his team beat South Korea 5-3 to win their first Premier12 championship title at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba (front) and his players acknowledge fans after winning their first Premier12 championship title, beating South Korea 5-3 in the final at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba (front) and his players acknowledge fans after winning their first Premier12 championship title, beating South Korea 5-3 in the final at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan's victory in Premier12

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba is tossed into the air after a 5-3 win over South Korea in the final of the Premier12 baseball tournament at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan-S. Korea in Premier12 final

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba is tossed into the air after a 5-3 win over South Korea in the final of the Premier12 baseball tournament at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan-S. Korea in Premier12 final

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba is tossed into the air after a 5-3 win over South Korea in the final of the Premier12 baseball tournament at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 17, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Japan-Mexico exhibition series

Japan's All-Star baseball team manager Atsunori Inaba (facing camera) shakes hands with his Mexican counterpart Dan Firova after Japan's 6-0 win in Game 2 of their two-game baseball exhibition series at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on March 10, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo