Shinji Masaoka

Shinji Masaoka (正岡 真二)
formerly known as Shinji Murakami

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 143 lb.

• High School Imabari Minami High School

• Born August 15, 1949 in Imabari, Ehime Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Shinji Masaoka played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 15 years.

Masaoka was drafted by the Chunichi Dragons in the 4th round of the 1967 NPB draft, and he only got 5 at-bats for the top team combined in his first three seasons. He went 10-for-45 in 1971, and he had a 10-for-52 record in 1972. Masaoka then hit .111/.147/.111 in 1973, and he struggled again in 1974 as his batting line was .197/.234/.230. Masaoka won the competition for the starting shortstop spot with Osamu Hirose in 1975, and he played 113 games with a .267/.303/.330 batting line. He then recorded a .222/.255/.256 batting line in 1976, and he batted .236/.282/.283 in 1977.

The Fukuoka native's batting line was .228/.272/.270 in 119 games in 1978, but he then lost his spot when Masaru Uno shined in 1979. Masaoka was 13-for-67 that season, and he went 9-for-52 in 1980. He played 103 games with a .211/.224/.263 batting line in 1981, and he had a 3-for-13 record in 92 games in 1982. Masaoka only got 5 more at-bats combined in the next two seasons, and he announced his retirement in 1984. He was the fielding coach for the Dragons from 1987 to 1995, and he managed their minors team from 1996 to 1997. Masaoka was also an assistant coach for Aichi Gakuin University and Nihon Fukushi University, and he scouted for the Dragons, signing Ryosuke Morioka and Katsuki Matayoshi.

Overall, Masaoka hit .219/.259/.260 with 288 hits and 5 homers in 15 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan