Yomiuri slugger Hideki Matsui has been voted the Central League's Most Valuable Player for the season two days after leading the Giants to the Japan Series championship, the Professional Baseball Organization of Japan announced Monday.
Daiei first baseman Nobuhiko Matsunaka, meanwhile, who was held to only one hit in the recently concluded series, was named the MVP in the Pacific League after pacing the Hawks to their second pennant with a .312 average, 33 homers and 106 runs batted in.
Yokohama BayStars infielder Tatsuhiko Kinjo, who won the CL batting race with a .346 average, was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
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