Shuta Ishikawa

Shuta Ishikawa
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 29
pitcher
Born: (1991-12-27) December 27, 1991 (age 32)
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
April 4, 2017, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record49-39
ERA3.38
Holds8
Strikeouts660
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Shuta Ishikawa (石川 柊太, Ishikawa Shuta, born December 27, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

He pitched a no-hitter in the Pacific League on August 18, 2023.[1]

Professional career

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On October 24, 2013, Ishikawa was drafted as a developmental player by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2013 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]

2014–2020 season

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From 2014 to 2016, he played in informal matches against the Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB second leagues.

On July 1, 2016, he signed a 5 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control[3]

On April 4, 2017, Ishikawa pitched his debut game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles as a relief pitcher.[4] On May 31, he won the game as a starting pitcher for the first time.[5] In 2017 season, he finished the regular season with a 34 Games pitched, a 8–3 Win–loss record, a 3.29 ERA, a one Holds, a 99 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings. In post season, he pitched against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as a relief pitcher in the 2017 Japan Series, and won the game for the first time in the Japan Series on October 31.[6]

In 2018 season, Ishikawa finished the regular season with a 42 Games pitched, a 13–6 Win–loss record, a 3.60 ERA, a 6 Holds, a 96 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings. On October 10, he was selected Japan national baseball team at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series,[7] but on November 2, he canceled his participation.[8] And he pitched against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as a relief pitcher in the 2018 Japan Series, but he felt uncomfortable on his right elbow and left the bench on October 31.[9]

Ishikawa developed right elbow pain in April and spent most of the 2019 season in rehabilitation.[10] He made a comeback on September 23, but only pitched two games in the 2019 season.[11] However, he pitched as a relief pitcher and won in the 2019 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, contributing to the team's third consecutive victory.[12]

In the match against the Saitama Seibu Lions on August 1, 2020, Ishikawa recorded his first shutout game.[13] In 2020 season, he finished the regular season with a 18 Games pitched, a 11–3 Win–loss record (Pacific League the most wins Champion, Winning percentage leader .786), a 2.42 ERA, a 103 strikeouts in 111.2 innings. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, He pitched in Game 2 as a starting pitcher, becoming the first starting pitcher in his career to win the Japan Series and contributing to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series champion.[14] On December 17, Ishikawa was honored for the Pacific League most wins Champion Award, the Pacific League winning percentage leader Award, and the Pacific League Speed Up Award at the NPB AWARD 2020.[15][16]

2021 season–present

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On March 26, 2021, Ishikawa pitched against Chiba Lotte Marines in the opening game of the season and collected a win for the first time as a pitcher from the developmental squad.[17] In 2021 season, he recorded a 6–9 win–loss record, a 3.40 ERA, and 134 strikeouts in 156+13 innings.

In 2022 season, he suffered from an ankle injury.[18] Despite the ailment, he finished the regular season with 23 appearances, a 7–10 Win–loss record, a 3.37 ERA, and 106 strikeouts in 136+13 innings.

On August 18, 2023, Ishikawa threw a no-hitter against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Fukuoka PayPay Dome.[1][19] In 2023 season, he finished the regular season with a 23 Games pitched, a 4-8 Win–loss record, a 4.15 ERA, and a 119 strikeouts in 125.2 innings.

International career

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Ishikawa represented the Japan national baseball team in the Samurai Japan Series 2022.[20]

Personal life

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On January 28, 2023, Ishikawa married former SKE48 member Mina Oba.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】石川柊太、ノーヒットノーランで3カ月ぶり白星「いろんなことが重なった」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 18, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ^ 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).
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク石川が支配下登録 最速153キロ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 1, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク石川1軍デビュー「自分の中で自信に」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 4, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese)ソフトバンク石川プロ初先発勝利、育成出2人目快挙". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  6. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese)ソフトバンク石川、連日勝利で3戦続けて育成○○○". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "「2018日米野球」に出場する侍ジャパントップチーム選手全28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "「ENEOS侍ジャパンシリーズ2018」ならびに「2018日米野球」に出場するトップチームの出場選手の変更について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 2, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  9. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese)ソフトバンク石川、右肘違和感で今シリーズ絶望か". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 31, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese)ソフトバンク石川が右肘痛再発、復帰は夏場以降か". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 16, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  11. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese)ソフトバンク石川140戦目で今季初登板1回0封". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 23, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  12. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese)ソフトバンク救援隊が無失点リレー!石川勝ち運発揮". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 22, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  13. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク石川13K以上で1安打完封はパ3人目". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 1, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク石川シリーズ初先発白星 巨人打線翻弄も反省「情けない」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 22, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2020年度 表彰選手 (パシフィック・リーグ)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2020年度 表彰選手 ローソンチケット スピードアップ賞". NPB.jp (in Japanese). December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトB・石川、育成出身では史上初の開幕白星!開幕勝利に安ど「良いスタートが切れた」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 1カ月白星から遠ざかる石川の独特すぎる現状分析「たんすが壊れた」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 30, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "SoftBank Hawks' Shuta Ishikawa throws no-hitter". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  20. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンクの石川柊太が侍ジャパンに追加招集「本当に光栄」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  21. ^ "大場美奈結婚にAKB同期の横山由依、島崎遥香、SKEの先輩後輩も祝福「いぇーーーい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
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