Akito Haruyama rewrote the Kansai Big Six Baseball League record books after launching his 13th career home run during autumn league play, breaking a mark that stood for 34 years.
Haruyama Breaks Saeki’s 34-Year-Old Home Run Record
Standing 178 centimeters and weighing 90 kilograms, the right-handed slugger relied on his compact, powerful frame to drive the ball cleanly to the opposite field.
Haruyama arrived at the university as a known commodity after starring in the middle of the order for Tsuruga Kehi High School, where he appeared in consecutive spring and summer tournaments at Koshien. Yet his collegiate power surge required an unexpected mechanical adjustment. After finishing his sophomore spring season with zero home runs, he overhauled his approach upon discovering the core training methods utilized by Orix Buffaloes catcher Tomoya Mori.
Core Training and Mechanical Adjustments Fuel Power Surge
The outfielder integrated specialized abdominal exercises into his daily routine, holding a crunch midway through the movement for sustained one-minute intervals. That regimen stabilized his core, sharpened his swing path, and unlocked a new tier of raw batted-ball distance. The transformation showed immediately during his sophomore autumn campaign, when he clubbed four home runs—including a league-record three in a single game.
Constant production followed in subsequent seasons before a right ankle sprain slowed his production to a single home run during the spring slate. Stalled at 10 career long balls, the pressure mounted as teammates, scouts, and opponents watched him chase history. He admitted that reaching 12 home runs felt daunting because it represented a barrier that even university alumni who later turned professional had failed to clear.
Entering the Professional Draft After Final-Season Surge
Entering his final collegiate campaign with a calm mindset, Haruyama rediscovered his timing and authority at the plate. He homered on Opening Day to notch his 11th career shot, quickly clearing the historic hurdle and describing an overwhelming sense of relief once the record finally fell.
With his collegiate career concluding, the university slugger submitted his official paperwork to enter the professional ranks. He awaits his name to be called during the Nippon Professional Baseball rookie draft scheduled for Oct. 22.
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