Ryuhei Kuki

Ryuhei Kuki
Kuki with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars – No. 116
Catcher
Born: (1998-09-05) September 5, 1998 (age 26)
Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
May 26, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.250
Home runs1
RBI2
Hits2
Stolen base0
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
Asian Junior Baseball Championship
Gold medal – first place 2016, Taichung, Taiwan Team

Ryuhei Kuki (九鬼 隆平, Kuki Ryūhei, born September 5, 1998 in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese Professional baseball Catcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.[1]

He previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks[2]

Early baseball career

Kuki participated in the 3rd grade spring 88th Japanese High School Baseball Invitational Tournament and the 3rd grade summer 98th Japanese High School Baseball Championship as a captain, with Fumimaru Taura, who was lower than the first grade, and a battery at the Syugakukan High School.[2] In 2016, Kuki was selected as the Japan national baseball team in the 2016 Asian Junior Baseball Championship. And he contributed to the team's victory as captain, and was honored with an Excellent Defensive Player Award.[3][4]

Professional career

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On October 20, 2016, Kuki was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2] During the 2017-2018 season, he played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues and played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams. On April 3, 2018, he injured his right thumb and operated.[5]

On May 26, 2019, Kuki debuted as a pinch hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines and recorded a hit by pitch.[6] And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2019 Japan Series.[7] In the match against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on July 5, 2020, Kuki participated as a starter and recorded his first hit in the Pacific League with a home run.[8] However, on September 30, he had surgery on the cervical spine, so he played only five games in the Pacific League for the 2020 season.[9]

In 2021 season, he spent the first half of the season on a rehab assignment, was registered for the first league on June 18, and recorded a hit in a July 7 game against the Chiba Lotte Marines.[10][11] During the 2022 season, he never had a chance to play in the first league.[12]

In 2023 season, Kuki never had a chance to play in the first league. On October 22, the Hawks announced they would release him.[13]

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

On December 11, 2023, Kuki signed as a developmental player with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.[1]

Ancestry

His ancestor is Kuki Yoshitaka, the commander of the Kuki Suigun (Kuki Navy) during the Sengoku period.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sports Hochi baseball news 【DeNA】九鬼隆平が入団会見「うれしかった。もう一度頑張ろうと思った」背番号116". Sports Hochi] (in Japanese). December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク３位九鬼が契約合意 先祖は戦国武将". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 頼れる女房役九鬼の１発「元気も自分の持ち味」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 5, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 決勝戦Ｖ打の智弁学園・納がＭＶＰ Ｕ18表彰一覧". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が右手親指手術、復帰に2～3カ月". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 3, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  6. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が死球デビュー「びっくりして…」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 26, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  7. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2019 出場資格者名簿（福岡ソフトバンクホークス）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が初スタメン初安打初アーチ 熊本・秀岳館高出身". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 5, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が首を手術 復帰まで半年の見込み". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 1, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク九鬼、今季初の1軍合流 18日の日本ハム戦から昇格". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 16, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 大敗のソフトバンクで若手躍動　九鬼と野村が積極打法で今季初安打". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 7, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 「一年中くすぶったシーズンだった」九鬼隆平は現状維持650万円". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2023/10/22 (日) 来季契約について". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 22, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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