This supplied photo shows, from left, Seiya Suzuki of the Hiroshima Carp, Koji Chikamoto of the Hanshin Tigers and Yasutaka Shiomi of the Yakult Swallows. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japan Series-winning Yakult Swallows had four players named in the Central League's Best Nine Awards Tuesday with the Pacific League champion Orix Buffaloes also seeing four players honored by members of Japan's baseball media.

       MLB-linked slugging outfielder Seiya Suzuki of the Hiroshima Carp won the most votes in the CL, receiving 296 out of 306 valid ballots to win for the sixth straight year.

       "I never thought I'd be able to win such an award as a pro and I'm really honored," said Suzuki, a career .315 hitter who belted a career-high 38 home runs, third-best in the CL, and led the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging average.

       Yakult's slugging infielder Munetaka Murakami won his second Best Nine award after leading the CL for the first time with 39 home runs. He was joined by Yakult catcher Yuhei Nakamura, infielder Tetsuto Yamada, who won it for the sixth time, and outfielder Yasutaka Shiomi.

       Orix right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto received the most votes in the PL after tallying 279 out of 282. This year's Sawamura Award winner, given to Japan's most impressive starting pitcher, led the PL with 18 wins, 1.39 ERA, 206 strikeouts and 0.783 winning percentage.

       "I'm really happy as I think my performance throughout the year has been highly-rated," said Yamamoto.

       Yamamoto's Orix teammates, infielder Yuma Mune as well as outfielders Yutaro Sugimoto and Masataka Yoshida, joined him in the Best Nine.

       Yomiuri Giants infielder Hayato Sakamoto won his seventh CL award and SoftBank Hawks slugger Yuki Yanagita won his sixth in the PL.

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