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Yakult Swallows Korean closer Lim Chang-yong currently has the second most votes for the NPB All-Star Game among Central League closers.
The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) announced Tuesday the interim results of the votes from fans for the All Star Game, which is scheduled for July 22 to 24. Lim has 5,341 votes following Hanshin Tigers closer Kyuji Fujikawa (11,333).
Yokohama Bay Stars’ Shun Yamaguchi, who ranks first with Lim in the Central League with 13 saves, is about 250 votes behind him in third.
Fujikawa has 12 saves but his ERA, .56 is much better than Lim’s (1.83).
The 35-year-old Korean is in his fourth season in the NPB and appeared in the All-Star Game in 2009 as the best closer in his division. Last season, Lim took to the mound for the All-Star Game as one of his team manager’s recommendations.
Chiba Lotte Marines Korean slugger Kim Tae-kyun, who acquired the most votes for a Pacific League player last season, is only ranked fifth among the division’s first basemen with 2,219 votes due to his poor performance this year.
Kim has batted .257 with just one home run and 13 RBIs this season.
Softbank Hawks outfielder Seiichi Uchikawa has the most votes with 17,297.
The NPB will continue to receive votes until June 26.
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