| Ryoji Kuribayashi | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Team: | Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| Number: | 20 |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 9 July 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Aisai, Aichi, Japan |
| Debutleague: | NPB |
| Debutdate: | March 27 |
| Debutyear: | 2021 |
| Debutteam: | Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 3–10 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 1.76 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 191 |
| Stat4label: | Saves |
| Stat4value: | 86 |
| Stat5label: | Holds |
| Stat5value: | 21 |
| Teams: |
|
| Awards: |
|
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1] [2]
Kuribayashi was selected by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp with the team's first selection in the 2020 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. He made his NPB debut on March 27, 2021, pitching a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts against the Chunichi Dragons. After recording a stellar 0.55 ERA in 33 appearances to begin the year, Kuribayashi was named an NPB All-Star for the first time in his career.[3] In 2021, Kuribayashi recorded 37 saves with a 0.86 ERA in 53 games and claimed the Central League's Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2022, Kuribayashi pitched as a closer throughout the season and recorded 31 saves with a 1.49 ERA in 48 games.
On June 6, 2023, Kuribayashi pitched a scoreless seventh inning against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, earning his first win in NPB.[4]
Kuribayashi represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He pitched in five games and recorded 2 wins and 3 saves, contributing to Japan's gold medal in the Olympics.[5]