Yuki Watanabe Explained

Yuki Watanabe
Position:Pitcher
Team:Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Number:172
Birth Date:8 November 1995
Birth Place:Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:NPB
Debutdate:July 25
Debutyear:2019
Debutteam:Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Statyear:2022 season
Statleague:NPB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0-0
Stat2label:ERA
Stat2value:2.89
Stat3label:Holds
Stat3value:3
Stat4label:Saves
Stat5label:Strikeouts
Stat5value:17
Teams:

is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 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」. ja-JP. Sports Hochi. January 7, 2018. November 20, 2022.
  2. News: 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…」. ja-JP. Sports Nippon. July 25, 2019. November 21, 2022.
  3. News: 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」. ja-JP. Sankei Sports. December 8, 2020. November 21, 2022.
  4. News: 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. ja-JP. Sports Hochi. February 19, 2021. November 21, 2022.
  5. News: 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. ja-JP. Daily Sports. March 1, 2021. November 4, 2022.
  6. News: 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. ja-JP. Sankei Sports. October 22, 2022. November 21, 2022.
  7. Web site: 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. ja-JP. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site. November 21, 2022. November 21, 2022.