Yuki Watanabe

Yuki Watanabe (渡邊 佑樹, Watanabe Yūki, born November 8, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Yuki Watanabe
Watanabe with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 172
Pitcher
Born: (1995-11-08) November 8, 1995 (age 28) Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan
Bats: Left Throws: Left
NPB debut
July 25, 2019, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
NPB statistics (through 2022 season)
Win–loss record	0-0
ERA	2.89
Holds	3
Strikeouts	17
Teams
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2017–2022) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2023–present)

He previously played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Professional career

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

On October 26, 2017, Watanabe was drafted by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.^[1]

In 2018 season, he played in the Eastern League of NPB's second league.

On July 25, 2019, Watanabe pitched his debut game against the Saitama Seibu Lions as a relief pitcher.^[2] In 2019 season, he pitched in one game in the Pacific League.

In 2020 season, he never got a chance to pitch in the first league. On December 8, 2020, the Eagles re-signed him as a developmental player with an estimated salary of 5 million yen.^[3]

In 2021 season, Watanabe changed his pitching form to sidearm last offseason and it paid off.^[4] On March 1, 2021, the Eagles re-signed him as a registered player under control.^[5] He pitched in nine games with a 5.40 ERA and two holds.

In 2022 season, Watanabe had a 2.13 ERA and one hold in 13 appearances and 12.2 innings, but the Eagles announced on October 22, that he was a free agent.^[6]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On November 21, 2022, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks announced that they had signed Watanabe as a developmental player.^[7]

References

1. "Sports Hochi baseball news 【楽天】ドラ4渡辺佑樹、山梨盛り上げる「欲しいのは勝利だけ」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). January 7, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
2. "Sports Nippon baseball news 楽天 渡辺佑が1軍デビュー戦で3者連続三振！「2軍と違って歓声が大きくて…」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). July 25, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
3. "Sankei Sports baseball news 楽天・渡辺佑が育成契約「一日でも早く支配下登録」". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). December 8, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
4. "Sports Hochi baseball news 【楽天】育成・渡辺佑樹が3戦0封で支配下登録見えた…昨年戦力外でサイドに挑戦". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). February 19, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
5. "Daily Sports baseball news 楽天 渡辺佑樹と支配下契約 戦力外通告からサイドスロー転向で再起". Daily Sports (in Japanese). March 1, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
6. "Sankei Sports baseball news 楽天が2012年D2位・釜田佳直ら5人の戦力外を発表". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). October 22, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
7. "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2022/11/21(月) プレスリリース 渡邊佑樹投手入団のお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yuki Watanabe (born 1995).

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Career statistics - NPB.jp
• 79 Yuki Watanabe PLAYERS2022 - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Official site