Yuichi Honda

Yuichi Honda (本多 雄一) is a Japanese former professional baseball Infielder, and current the first squad infield defense and base running coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

He previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as second baseman since 2006 season, and wearing number 46.

Active player era
On October 3, 2005, Honda was drafted fifth round pick by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the  2005 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.

He became a regular member of the Hawks' second baseman from 2006 season due to his solid defense.

In 2008, he batted .291. From 2006 to 2009 he was .670 on-base plus slugging.

Honda stole bases 59 in the 2010 season and 60 stolen bases in the 2011 season, winning the Pacific League stolen base title for the second consecutive year.

He also won the Pacific League Best Nine Award in the 2011 season and the Pacific League Golden Glove Award for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Honda played 13 seasons with the Hawks, appearing in 1,313 games and a batting average of .276, a 15 home runs, a 1,289 hits, a RBI of 347, a 342 stolen bases, and a 243 sacrifice bunts. His 342 stolen bases rank third all-time on the Hawks.

On October 2, 2018, Honda announced his retirement.

After retirement
On November 11, 2018, Honda was appointed as the first squad infield defense and base running coach of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

He served as the second squad infield defense and base running coach for the 2023 season.

On December 2, 2023, he was transferred to the first squad infield defense and base running coach.

International career
In 2013, Honda was elected to the Japanese national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.