Australian Star Stacey Porter Sets New Japanese Softball League Home Run Record

Australian slugger Stacey Porter is the all-time home run record holder in the Japanese Softball League.

Porter set the new professional league mark last week with the 52nd longball of her career. The 2022 season marks Porter’s 15th consecutive year playing professionally in Japan; her record-breaking home run broke a tie with longtime Japanese professional Eri Yamada, who held the previous home run record at 51.

The Australian slugger has played professionally in Japan since 2007, adding the endeavor in addition to her duties as a member of and team captain for the Australian national team.

One of international softball’s best power hitters during her career, Porter also holds the Australian national program record for most appearances and is the international record holder for games played by someone from any country. She was part of the 2004, ’08, and 2020 Australian Olympic teams, earning a silver medal in ’04 and a bronze in ’08.

While playing college softball in the US from 2001-03, Porter was an All-American and the WAC Player of the Year as a junior. During her college career at Hawaii, Porter set new program records for home runs by a freshman; single-season home runs; and career home runs, while also notching the Western Athletic Conference’s single-season home run record.