Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto earned his second career Best Nine Award on Thursday after leading the Pacific League in wins, ERA and strikeouts for the second straight year.
The right-hander picked up the most votes in the PL, receiving 260 out of 263 valid ballots to win for the second consecutive year.
"I'm very honored to be selected," Yamamoto said. "I want to do my best to raise my level further so I'll be picked again next year."
His Japan Series-winning Buffaloes teammates, Masataka Yoshida and Yuma Mune, also collected Best Nine Awards as designated hitter and third baseman, respectively.
SoftBank Hawks outfielder Yuki Yanagita and Rakuten Eagles second baseman Hideto Asamura each won their seventh award, with one of Asamura's coming at first base.
Yakult Swallows third baseman Munetaka Murakami, who became Japan's youngest batting Triple Crown winner at the age of 22, received the most votes in the Central League, getting 298 out of 299 for his third straight Best Nine Award, one of which came at first base.
The CL champion Swallows had two other winners, catcher Yuhei Nakamura and first baseman Jose Osuna.
Hanshin Tigers pitcher Koyo Aoyagi was among the CL's five first-time Best Nine winners. The PL had two first-timers, outfielders Go Matsumoto of the Nippon Ham Fighters and Rakuten's Hiroaki Shimauchi.
The MVP and Rookie of the Year awards will be announced Friday.
