Koya Fujii

Kouya Fujii
Fujii with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 48
Pitcher
Born: (1996-07-29) July 29, 1996 (age 28)
Kasaoka, Okayama, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
NPB debut
September 30, 2017, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Career statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record11–4
ERA2.72
Holds32
Saves3
Strikeouts195
Teams

Kōya Fujii (藤井 皓哉, Fujii Kōya, born July 29, 1996) 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.

Professional career

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Fujii with Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

On October 23, 2014, Fujii was drafted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]

2015–2020 season

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 142⁄3 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]

Kochi Fighting Dogs

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]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On December 14, 2021, Fujii signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks a 5.5 million yen contract as a developmental player.[8][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 561⁄3 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 692⁄3 innings.

References

  1. ^ "Register :Fujii, Kouya (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks)". Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news ドラ4藤井"マー君"フォークで勝負". Daily Sports (in Japanese). October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news 3年目藤井がプロ初登板で1回無失点「今後に生かしたい」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). September 30, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 広島藤井皓哉プロ1勝、両親への感謝に拍手喝采". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 7, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 広島藤井と平岡が戦力外 戸田は育成契約の方針". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Kochi Fighting Dogs press release 元・広島東洋カープ 藤井皓哉選手 選手契約締結のお知らせ". Kochi Fighting Dogs Official site (in Japanese). December 29, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Kochi Shinbun news 高知FD藤井 無安打無得点 ソフトB3軍に6-0". Kochi Shinbun (in Japanese). May 10, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Nikkan Sports baseball news ソフトバンク 元広島藤井皓哉を育成で獲得 5月の3軍戦でノーノー達成". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  9. ^ In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under management (active roster of players), each team can have developmental squad players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management within the 3-year contract period (non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  10. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news (Japanese) 【ソフトバンク】藤井皓哉の支配下登録が決定 新背番号48「ここからがスタート」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). March 22, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】苦労人・藤井皓哉「やってやろうという気持ち」逆転呼び込む好投で移籍後初勝利". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 27, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】藤井皓哉プロ初セーブ「3点差の9回という特別な意識はありませんでした」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 1, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】藤井皓哉プロ初先発で今季1勝　20年オフに広島から戦力外、21年育成入団". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 1, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 緊急降板の藤井皓哉は左内腹斜筋の肉離れ リハビリ組合流で競技復帰まで4～5週間". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news ロッテ荻野貴司、ソフトバンク又吉克樹ら登録 ロッテ佐々木朗希、楽天安田悠馬抹消/25日公示". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
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