By Saruwatari Tsuyoshi, Kyoto Shimbun News

June 7, 2013: Kyoto, Japan – In the LRS, we are lucky enough to have two of the league’s premier hitters still active and in contention for several of the LRS’ career batting marks.

Edo LF Morihiro “Homu-Ran” Nakamura is 28.  He’s never re-attained the lofty heights he scaled when in 2008 he put up a whopping 72 HR.  In fact, one could easily make the case that he’s been slowing down ever so slightly since then.  An injured hamstring decimated his 2010 season, and knee and ankle injuries may also be starting to add up and bring him back to more earthly realms.

Shin Seiki 1B Ton “Dracula” Nakamura is four years senior to “Homu-Ran”.  Though older, his  body has better withstood the rigors of LRS  baseball.  His HR numbers have been remarkably constant.  The Evas have a ton of talent to support him with, which bodes well for  his continued productivity (that’s two tons for those keeping score at home).

Their VORP numbers since 2009 are eerily similar:

Morihiro Nakamura – 275.2
Ton Nakamura – 235.2

A quick look at the career leaderboards shows how close these two were entering the 2013 season in multiple categories:

Morihiro Nakamura: 711 G, 2607 AB, 575 R, 873 H, 1762 TB, 248 HR, 619 RBI
Ton Nakamura: 834 G, 3373 AB, 565 R, 1039 H, 1960 TB, 243 HR, 693 RBI

Through a total 5980 career AB, they found themselves separated by only 5 HR, 10 R, 74 RBI and 166 H.  To be sure, “Homu-Ran”’s youth is in his favor, but one has to wonder if his body can hold up.  True to his nickname, “Dracula” isn’t going to pass peacefully into the setting sun.

So savor the moments, LRS fans.  Sit back and enjoy the race.  You won’t find many like it anywhere else.