(SIGNED FOR 2024) Japanese catcher/overseas veteran with Pro Ball Playing/coaching experience in 6 countries and counting.
Name: Yodai Nakamura
Height: 173cm
Weight: 95kg
DOB: January 8, 1997
Date Available: January 1, 2024
Foreign Pro experienceBats: R
Throws: R
Positions: Coach, Youth Coach, C
Positions (alt): Utl
College: Kansas Wesleyan University
Personal
Personal Background
- Fluent in native Japanese as well as English from time spent studying and playing college baseball in America
- Can also speak basic level Spanish as well as German
- Played in 6 countries including a professional stint in the Japanese Minor Leagues
- Have played all 9 positions on defense during overseas career
- Defensive catcher with high level receiving/blocking skills as well as pitch calling/game management skills developed during professional stint in Japan
- Gap-to-gap line drive hitter with ability to change hitting style depending on the situation
- Certifications in the fitness industry as well as coaching experience in 4 countries
- Currently taking the winter season off and rehabbing/training back home in Japan to prepare for the 2024 Euro season
- Successfully rehabbed and medically cleared of all injuries sustained and played through during Winter ’22/‘23 and Summer ‘23 seasons: will be 100% healthy for the start of 2024 season
Playing Background:
- 3x All-Conference and 1x All-District selection playing college baseball in America (2015-2019)
- Played 1 season professionally in Japan for the Saitama Musashi Heat Bears (2019)
- Player of the Game vs Ibaraki Astro Planets (August 29th)
- 2 seasons as player-coach in the Austrian Bundesliga for the Hard Bulls (2021-2022)
- In 2021 led the team in 7 different offensive categories. Finished with the third best batting average (.440) and on-base percentage (.534) in the entire Bundesliga. Won Hard Bulls Team MVP
- In 2022 led the team in 3 different offensive categories (RBI, AVG, OBP) while also finishing with the fourth best batting average (.419) and third best on-base percentage (.545) in the entire Bundesliga. Led team to a playoff-berth
- Finkstonball 2022 Champion (Austria)
- Prague Baseball Week 2022 Champion (Czech Republic)
- Played 1 season in Australia for the Redlands Rays (Winter 2022-2023)
- Led the entire league in Games Played (36) and At-bats (146) while recording the 8th most hits (44) in the league. Led team to a playoff-berth while serving as a super utility, playing every position except the outfield
- Played 1 season in the German Bundesliga for the Dohren Wild Farmers (2023)
- Caught every game of the season (all but 6 innings) and doubled as the defensive strategies coordinator during Dohren’s most successful and historic season. Led team to a playoff berth, where the first playoff victory in franchise history was recorded, as well as being the only team to beat eventual Bundesliga Champion Heidenheim Heidekoepfe twice and taking them to the deciding Game 5 during the quarterfinals.
- 3x BBJO Hitter of the Week (April 30th – May 2nd 2021, June 11th – 13th 2021, May 14th – 16th 2022)
Coaching Background:
- Associate Degree in Physical Education & Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science
- NCSF Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Strength Coach (CSC)
- Assistant Bundesliga Coach, Hard Bulls (Austrian Bundesliga, 2021-2022)
- Roving Hitting/Catching Instructor, Hard Bulls youth program (Austria, 2021)
- Head Coach, Hard Bulls U14 & U16 (Austria, 2022)
- Led the U14 team (who finished in last place in 2021) to a 1st Place finish in the regular season and a Silver Medal finish in the Finals
- Guest Instuctor, Summerball Baseball Camp (Austria, 2021-2022)
- Catching/Hitting Instructor, Banggu Academy (Australia, Winter 2022-2023)
Playing Experience
Coaching Experience
YEAR | ROLE | ORGANIZATION | LEAGUE/DIVISION | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Youth Coach | Dohren Wild Farmers | Youth | Assisted with coaching the youth program of the Dohren Wild Farmers organization, as well as coached small group “extra training” sessions for players who desired extra coaching |
Winter 2022 | Instructor | Banggu Academy | Youth | Instructed the top youth players within the Redlands Rays organization at their biweekly development camp “Banggu Academy” |
2021-2022 | Guest Instructor | Summerball Baseball Camp Attnang-Puchheim | U11-U12 | Coached the “AA” division (11-12 year old players) at Summerball Baseball Camp, a week long camp with 80+ players hosted by the Attnang ASAK Athletics, for 2 consecutive years |
2022 | Assistant/Strategy Coach | Hard Bulls | Austrian Bundesliga | Assistant/strategy coach for the Bundesliga team. Helped run practices and also assisted in figuring out pitching rotations, batting lineups, and called pitches for catchers during games. |
2022 | Head Coach | Hard Bulls | U14 and U16 | Served as Head Coach for the U14 and U16 Bulls. Led U14 to 1st place finish in the regular season and a Silver Medal finish in the finals. |
2021 | Catching/Hitting Coach | Hard Bulls | All Ages | Assistant coach for the Bundesliga team as well as roving catching/hitting instructor for all youth teams within the organization. |
2020 - Present | NCSF Certified Strength Coach | Self Employed | All Ages | Became NCSF certified in 2020 to be able to work with large groups and prescribe training programs that are much more sport-specific. |
2018 - Present | NCSF Certified Personal Trainer | Self Employed | All Ages | Became NCSF certified in 2018 and have been working hands on as a personal trainer with clients ranging from amateur athletes to elders in retirement homes. |
Stats
Pro/Overseas Batting
Years | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Dohren Wild Farmers | 42 | 115 | 14 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 0 | .235 | .279 | .261 |
Winter 2022 | Redlands Rays | 36 | 146 | 20 | 44 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | .301 | .344 | .349 |
2022 | Hard Bulls | 29 | 82 | 24 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 0 | .427 | .563 | .573 |
2021 | Hard Bulls | 24 | 84 | 15 | 37 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 0 | .440 | .534 | .583 |
2019 | Saitama Musashi Heat Bears | 17 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .556 | .500 |
College/Amateur Batting
Years | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Kansas Wesleyan | 35 | 110 | 6 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 13 | 24 | 0 | 0 | .309 | .412 | .455 |
2018 | Kansas Wesleyan | 44 | 151 | 4 | 51 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 13 | 24 | 1 | 0 | .338 | .424 | .404 |
2017 | Fresno City College | 24 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .208 | .417 | .292 |
2016 | Williston State | 24 | 73 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .329 | .405 | .452 |