Masato Okumura

Masato Okumura
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 021
Pitcher
Born: (1992-08-14) August 14, 1992 (age 32)
Nakatsu, Ōita, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
March 29, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record0-1
ERA4.73
Holds3
Saves0
Strikeouts24
Teams
As player

As coach

  • Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2024–present)

Masato Okumura (奥村 政稔, Okumura Masato, born August 14, 1992) is a Japanese former Professional baseball pitcher, and current fourth squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.[1]

Early baseball career

In 2017, Okumura pitched in the 88th Intercity baseball tournament. [2]

Professional career

Active player era

On October 25, 2018, Okumura was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2018 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[3]

On March 29, 2019, Okumura debuted in the Pacific League as a relief pitcher and recorded a Hold in the opening match of the 2019 season against the Saitama Seibu Lions.[4] Since then, he has pitched in eight games, but on April 20, he hurt his right elbow and left the team for treatment. However, he returned to the team on August 17 and made a good pitching with no runs in two innings.[5] In 2019 season, he recorded with a 12 Games pitched, a 0–0 Win–loss record, a 8.76 ERA, a 3 Holds, a 10 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.

In 2020 season, Okumura spent the first half of the season rehabilitating his right elbow, but returned on August 12 and scored one inning with no runs.[6] And he recorded with a 5 Games pitched, a 2.08 ERA, a 7 strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

In 2021 season, he never had a chance to pitch in the Pacific League.

On August 29, 2022, he pitched his first start against the Orix Buffaloes and pitched five strong innings. He also pitched three scoreless innings against the Saitama Seibu Lions on September 13.[7][8] However, the team announced that he injured his right elbow in a game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on September 16 and underwent surgery on September 30.[9]

On November 13 2022, since he is expected to spend the 2023 season in rehabilitation, the Hawks re-signed him as a developmental player at his current estimated salary of 9 million yen.[10] November 27, he will change his uniform number from 61 to 126 beginning with the 2023 season, it was announced.[11]

On October 31, 2023, Okumura announced that he would retire as an active player.[12]

After retirement

On October 31, 2023, Okumura became the fourth squad pitching coach of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2023/12/03 (日) 新コーチ4名（小笠原孝・奥村政稔・釜元豪・中谷将大）が就任会見". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "高卒5年目の苦労人、充実期でのプロ入りへ 奥村 政稔（三菱日立パワーシステムズ）". baseballgate.jp (in Japanese). October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク スカウト陣１０年越しの執念 ドラ７・ＭＨＰＳ奥村指名あいさつ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  4. ^ "Sankei Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB新人コンビが好スタート D1位・甲斐野は白星一番乗り". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). March 29, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク奥村4カ月ぶり1軍で好投「学びたい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 17, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク奥村が338日ぶりの1軍マウンド「すごく緊張した」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). August 12, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 奥村政稔、同点打許して涙をこらえる甲斐野央との絆 ドラフト同期の1位と7位」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). August 29, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 奥村政稔、初お立ち台「ああいうのどんどん」　中2日先発で敵地先発". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 16, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 奥村政稔が右肘手術、競技復帰まで約4カ月見込み". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 30, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 9月に右肘手術の奥村政稔が育成で再契約「球団から後ろ向きな育成ではないと言われた」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  11. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2022/11/27(日) プレスリリース 背番号の変更について". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク奥村政稔が現役引退へ　球団はファーム部門のコーチ就任打診". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 31, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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