| Kouya Fujii | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Team: | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| Number: | 48 |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 29 July 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Kasaoka, Okayama, Japan |
| Debutleague: | NPB |
| Debutdate: | September 30 |
| Debutyear: | 2017 |
| Debutteam: | Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 11–4 |
| Stat2label: | ERA |
| Stat2value: | 2.72 |
| Stat3label: | Holds |
| Stat3value: | 32 |
| Stat4label: | Saves |
| Stat4value: | 3 |
| Stat5label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat5value: | 195 |
| Teams: |
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is a professional Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1] He previously played in NPB for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
On October 23, 2014, Fujii was drafted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]
In 2015–2016 season, Fujii played in the Western League of NPB's second league.
On September 30, 2017, Fujii debuted in the Central League against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as a relief pitcher, and recorded holds.[3] In 2017 season, he pitched in two games in the Central League.
On June 6, 2018, he pitched against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in an Interleague play (NPB) and recorded his first win.[4] In 2018 season, he finished the regular season with 8 games pitched, a 1–0 win–loss record, a 6.14 ERA, and a 21 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. In 2018 season, he finished the regular season with 8 games pitched, a 1–0 win–loss record, a 6.14 ERA, and a 21 strikeouts in 14 innings.
In 2019 season, he pitched in 4 games in the Central League.
In 2020 season, he never got a chance to pitch in the first league. On November 4, 2020, the Carp announced he would be released.[5]
On December 29, 2020, Fujii signed with the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the independent league Shikoku Island League Plus.[6]
On May 9, 2021, he achieved a no-hitter in an interleague match against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 3rd squad. This later became the notch for the Hawks to acquire Fujii.[7]
In 2021 season, he finished the regular season with 22 games pitched, a 11–3 win–loss record, a 1.12 ERA, and a 180 strikeouts in 145 innings.[8]
On December 14, 2021, Fujii signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks a 5.5 million yen contract as a developmental player.[9]
On March 22, 2022, he re-signed a 6.5 million yen contract as a registered player under control.[10] He pitched as a relief pitcher in the match against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on March 27, and won the NPB for the first time in four years.[11] On June 1, he recorded his first save against the Yomiuri Giants in an Interleague play (NPB).[12] Since then, he has contributed to the team as a setup man, finished the regular season with 55 Games pitched, a 5–1 win–loss record, a 1.12 ERA, a 22 holds, a 3 saves, and a 81 strikeouts in 56 innings.
From the 2023 season, Fujii became a starting pitcher, and became the winning pitcher for the first time as a starting pitcher against the Chiba Lotte Marines on April 1.[13] He was then part of the starting pitching rotation, but on June 11, he was diagnosed with a left internal oblique muscle strain and headed for rehabilitation.[14] But he returned on July 25.[15] After that, he contributed to the team as a setup man. Fujii finished the regular season with a 34 Games pitched, a 5-3 Win–loss record, a 2.33 ERA, a 9 holds, and a 84 strikeouts in 69 innings.