Katsuki Matayoshi

Katsuki Matayoshi
Matayoshi with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 14
Pitcher
Born: (1990-11-04) November 4, 1990 (age 33)
Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
March 29, 2014, for the Chunichi Dragons
Career statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win-Loss46-31
ERA2.79
Holds167
Saves11
Strikeouts480
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
Asia Professional Baseball Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tokyo Team

Katsuki Matayoshi (又吉 克樹, Matayoshi Katsuki, born November 4, 1990) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Professional career

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Kagawa Olive Guyners

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Matayoshi with the Kagawa Olive Guyners.

On December 13, 2012, Matayoshi signed with the Kagawa Olive Guyners of the independent league Shikoku Island League Plus.[1]

On June 22, 2013, His shutout win against the Kochi Fighting Dogs caught the attention of the Chunichi Dragons scouts.[2] In 2013 season, he finished the regular season with 24 Games pitched, a 13–4 Win–loss record, a 1.64 ERA, and a 101 strikeouts in 131.1 innings.



Chunichi Dragons

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On October 24, 2013, Matayoshi was drafted by the Chunichi Dragons in the 2013 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[3]

2014–2015 season

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On March 29, 2014, Matayoshi debuted in the Central League against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as a relief pitcher, and recorded Holds. On April 17, he pitched against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and recorded his first win.[4] In 2014 season, he finished the regular season with 67 Games pitched, a 9–1 Win–loss record, a 2.21 ERA, a 24 Holds, a 2 Saves, and a 104 strikeouts in 81.1 innings.

In 2015 season, Matayoshi finished the regular season with 63 Games pitched, a 6–6 Win–loss record, a 3.36 ERA, a 30 Holds, and a 82 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.

2016–2021 season

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In 2016 season, Matayoshi broke the team record of pitching in at least 60 games for three consecutive seasons as a setup man. And he recorded a 62 Games pitched, a 6–6 Win–loss record, a 2.80 ERA, a 16 Holds, and a 55 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

On April 27, 2017, he scored his first win as a starting pitcher against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[5] On July 4, Matayoshi was the first pitcher from an independent league to be named an My navi All-Star Game 2017.[6] In 2017 season, he finished the regular season with 50 Games pitched, a 8–3 Win–loss record, a 2.13 ERA, a 21 Holds, and a 78 strikeouts in 110 innings.

On August 9, 2018, he achieved his 100th career Holds against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.[7] In 2018 season, he finished the regular season with 40 Games pitched, a 2–5 Win–loss record, a 6.53 ERA, a 9 Holds, and a 28 strikeouts in 41.1 innings.

In 2019 season, Matayoshi finished the regular season with 26 Games pitched, a 3–3 Win–loss record, a 4.06 ERA, a 3 Holds, and a 37 strikeouts in 44.1 innings.

On June 27, 2020, Matayoshi was diagnosed with a left oblique muscle injury and recuperated.[8] He returned to the mound on September 1 after two months of rehabilitation.[9] In 2020 season, he finished the regular season with 26 Games pitched, a 4–0 Win–loss record, a 2.77 ERA, a 7 Holds, and a 18 strikeouts in 26 innings.

On July 16, 2021, Matayoshi was named an All-Star for the second time and pitched in My Navi All-Star Game 2021.[10] In 2021 season, he had a career-high 33 holds in 66 games and recorded a 1.28 ERA, a 8 Saves, and a 41 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.

On November 29, he announced that he would exercise his free agent rights(ja:フリーエージェント (日本プロ野球)).[11]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

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On December 14, 2021, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks announced that they had signed Matayoshi to a four-year contract. His annual salary, including incentives, was estimated at 650 million yen in total for four years.[12]

2022 season–present

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On March 26, 2022, Matayoshi made his first start as a pitcher for the Hawks.[13] On April 26, he became the ninth player in NPB history to reach 150 holds against the Saitama Seibu Lions.[14] After that, he contributed to the team as a setup man, but on August 9, he was diagnosed with a broken right leg and spent the rest of the season in rehabilitation.[15] In 2022 season, he finished the regular season with 31 Games pitched, a 3–3 Win–loss record, a 2.10 ERA, a 14 Holds, a one Saves, and a 22 strikeouts in 30 innings.

In 2023 season, he finished the regular season with a 32 Games pitched, a 2-2 Win–loss record, a 225 ERA, a 10 Holds, and a 15 strikeouts in 28 innings.

International career

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Matayoshi with the Japan national baseball team in 2017.

On February 16, 2015, Matayoshi represented the Japan national baseball team at the GLOBAL BASEBALL MATCH 2015.[16]

On October 12, 2017, he was selected as the Japan national baseball team in the 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Shikoku Island League Plus press release 四国アイランドリーグplusドラフト指名選手入団内定" (in Japanese). Shikoku Island League Plus. December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news 2013年重大ニュース【前編】". Daily Sports (in Japanese). December 18, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news 独立L史上最高ドラ2又吉にかかる期待". Daily Sports (in Japanese). November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 59年ぶり大記録　新人3投手同時初勝利". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 18, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 中日又吉、4年目で先発初勝利 防御率もトップ守る". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 27, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news 中日・又吉、牧田から学ぶ　独立リーグ出身投手初の球宴". Daily Sports (in Japanese). July 4, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Chunichi Sports baseball news 又吉、100ホールド　史上30人目". Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). August 9, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【中日】又吉克樹が「左腹斜筋損傷」の診断 26日にはイニング途中で降板". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). June 27, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【中日】左脇腹痛完治の又吉克樹が2か月ぶりに1軍復帰「シーズン最後まで1軍にいられるように」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). September 1, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) マイナビオールスターゲーム2021". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 中日又吉FA権行使「独立リーグ出身初の宣言したい気持ちずっとあった」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 又吉克樹、ソフトバンク入り決定 4年6億5000万円　三笠杉彦GM「決断してくれてうれしい」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 又吉が志願のデビュー戦で1回を無失点「明日からもチームのために」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). March 26, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【ソフトバンク】又吉克樹、史上9人目の通算150ホールド　開幕12試合連続無失点で到達language=ja-JP". Sports Hochi. April 26, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "Daily Sport baseball news 8日に1球降板のソフトバンク・又吉は骨折　競技復帰まで3カ月前後". Daily Sport (in Japanese). July 9, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Japan national baseball team news 選手発表 欧州代表戦、侍ジャパン出場選手発表！6選手が小久保体制下で初招集". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). February 16, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "Japan national baseball team news (Japanese) 大会出場メンバー25名を発表 3監督が記者会見で意気込みを語る". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). October 12, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
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