Former Hanshin Tigers star player Masayuki Kakefu has been named as a candidate to be manager of Internet mall operator Rakuten Inc.'s proposed new baseball club, Rakuten sources said Thursday.
Kakefu, a three-time home run champion and one-time RBI king in the Central League, is among the candidates to take the helm of the team, which along with Internet service provider Livedoor Co. is vying to join the pro leagues from next season.
The 49-year-old Kakefu played for 15 years for the Tigers from 1974 and is currently a baseball commentator. His batting average was .292 with 1,656 hits, 349 homers and 1,019 RBIs in 1,625 games lifetime after joining the Osaka-based team as a sixth draft pick.