Following a college career that included representing Japan at the 2008 World University Baseball Championship, Shibata was drafted by the Tigers in 2008 and made his first-team debut for the club in the following year.

After having regular playing time in the Tigers' first team early in his career, his opportunities have reduced in recent years due to injury and the emergence of younger players.

[1] In his final year he was selected to represent Japan in the 2008 World University Baseball Championship held in the Czech Republic.

[2] In June 2008 it was reported that the Hanshin Tigers were considering drafting Shibata at the end of the year and he was billed as "Akahoshi Jr." due to his foot speed.

He spent the year with the second-team squad, where he registered a .320 batting average[4] in 76 games and was selected for the Western League's all-star team.

He was called up to Hanshin's first-team squad on 26 September and made his debut on the same day against the Chunichi Dragons, entering the game as a pinch runner and grounding out in his only at bat.

[5] He spent part of the off-season with the Canberra Cavalry in the Australian Baseball League with Hanshin teammates Masanori Fujihara and Hirokazu Shiranita.

[10] Whilst enjoying his career-best batting average of .297,[11] Shibata injured his foot sliding into second base on a steal[12] and was removed from the first-team roster the following day.

[1] Early in his career he was noted for "hitting whatever came", but adapted to the variation used by professional pitchers after receiving advice from the Hanshin batting coaches.