Yuki Watanabe

Yuki Watanabe
Watanabe with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 172
Pitcher
Born: (1995-11-08) November 8, 1995 (age 28)
Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
NPB debut
July 25, 2019, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
NPB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record0-0
ERA2.89
Holds3
Strikeouts17
Teams

Yuki Watanabe (渡邊 佑樹, Watanabe Yūki, born November 8, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

He previously played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Professional career

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Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

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On October 26, 2017, Watanabe was drafted by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

In 2018 season, he played in the Eastern League of NPB's second league.

On July 25, 2019, Watanabe pitched his debut game against the Saitama Seibu Lions as a relief pitcher.[2] In 2019 season, he pitched in one game in the Pacific League.

In 2020 season, he never got a chance to pitch in the first league. On December 8, 2020, the Eagles re-signed him as a developmental player with an estimated salary of 5 million yen.[3]

In 2021 season, Watanabe changed his pitching form to sidearm last offseason and it paid off.[4] On March 1, 2021, the Eagles re-signed him as a registered player under control.[5] He pitched in nine games with a 5.40 ERA and two holds.

In 2022 season, Watanabe had a 2.13 ERA and one hold in 13 appearances and 12.2 innings, but the Eagles announced on October 22, that he was a free agent.[6]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

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On November 21, 2022, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks announced that they had signed Watanabe as a developmental player.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【楽天】ドラ4渡辺佑樹、山梨盛り上げる「欲しいのは勝利だけ」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). January 7, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news 楽天 渡辺佑が1軍デビュー戦で3者連続三振!「2軍と違って歓声が大きくて…」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). July 25, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "Sankei Sports baseball news 楽天・渡辺佑が育成契約「一日でも早く支配下登録」". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). December 8, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【楽天】育成・渡辺佑樹が3戦0封で支配下登録見えた…昨年戦力外でサイドに挑戦". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). February 19, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  5. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news 楽天 渡辺佑樹と支配下契約 戦力外通告からサイドスロー転向で再起". Daily Sports (in Japanese). March 1, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Sankei Sports baseball news 楽天が2012年D2位・釜田佳直ら5人の戦力外を発表". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). October 22, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2022/11/21(月) プレスリリース 渡邊佑樹投手入団のお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
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