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Hiroto Saiki
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Early baseball career Hiroto started baseball early when he played catcher for his school's team in his first grade. He specialized as a pitcher in junior high, and helped his team win championships and runner ups in his hometown's local tournaments. He then went on to become the ace pitcher of Suma Shofu High School, where in his 2nd year, he led the team to win runner-up in the prefectural tournament. Despite his team never making it to either Spring Koshien or Summer Koshien, his 140 km/h fastball caught the attention of both NPB and MLB scouts alike. Professional career Hanshin Tigers selected Saiki on the 3rd round of the 2016 NPB draft. He signed a 50 million yen contract with the Tigers, with an estimated 6 million yen annual salary. He was assigned the jersey number 35. 2017 He spent most of the season pitching in Western League (farm) games, where he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a base on balls, walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, and as such is situated at the right end of the defensive spectrum. There are many different types of pitchers, such as the starting pitcher, relief pitcher, middle reliever, left-handed specialist, lefty specialist, setup man, and the closing pitcher, closer. Traditionally, the pitcher also bats. Starting in 1973 with the American League and spreading to further leagues throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the hitting duties of the pitcher have generally been given over t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japanese High School Baseball Championship
The of Japan, commonly known as , is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament. It is the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan. The tournament, organized by the Japan High School Baseball Federation and ''Asahi Shimbun'', takes place during the summer school vacation period, culminating in a two-week final tournament stage with 49 teams in August at in the Koshien district of Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo, Japan. Background In the past teams from overseas have participated in the tournament. Korea fielded teams from 1921 to 1940; both Taiwan and Manchuria had teams participate from 1923 to 1940. The 49 schools taking part in the final tourney represent regional champions of each of the prefectures of Japan (with two from Hokkaidō and Tokyo). From mid-June until July, regional tournaments are held to decide who is sent to Koshien. The rules are the same as in the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament. It is a single elimination tournament ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curveball, power curveball, and the knuckle curve. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to pitcher. The expression "to throw a curveball" essentially translates to introducing a significant deviation to a preceding concept. Grip and action The curveball is typically gripped in a manner similar to holding a cup or glass. The pitcher positions the middle finger along and parallel to one of the ball’s long seams, while the thumb is placed on the seam opposite, forming a "C shape" when viewed from above, with the horseshoe-shaped seam facing inward toward the palm. The index finger is aligned alongside the middle finger, while the remaining two fingers are folded toward the palm, with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Slider (baseball)
In baseball, a slider is a type of breaking ball, a pitch that moves or "breaks" as it approaches the batter. Due to the grip and wrist motion, the slider typically exhibits more lateral movement when compared to other breaking balls, such as the curveball. The slider is generally among the fastest breaking balls, commonly ranging . A variation of the slider, known as the sweeper, is characterized as being slightly slower, but having more lateral movement. Pitches that exhibit qualities similar to that of both a slider and a curveball are referred to as a slurve. Grip and action The grip for a slider is characterized as being similar to that of a fastball. Like all pitches, the grip can take many different forms, with slight variations between pitchers suiting their individual preferences. A common feature in most slider grips is the index and middle finger being in close proximity to each other. The associated wrist motion often contributes a large amount to the pitch's move ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-finger fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard, snapping the wrist. Due to its movement being similar to that of a spitball, the pitch is often called the "dry spitter". The forkball differs from the split-fingered fastball, however, in that the ball is jammed deeper between the first two fingers. The result is that the forkball is generally thrown slightly slower than the splitter, but has more of a "tumbling" action akin to the movement of a 12–6 curveball, as it will drop off the plate before it gets to the catcher's mitt. Use in professional baseball Joe Bush, a pitcher from the 1910s and 1920s who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, is credited with the invention of the forkball, shortly following World War I. The pitch has been favored by several current and former major league pitchers, including Tom Henke, Kevin Appier, Hideo Nomo, José V ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Four-seam Fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch (baseball), pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the fastest ball thrown by a pitcher. It is so called because with every rotation of the ball as it is thrown, four seams come into view. A few pitchers at the major league level can sometimes reach a pitch speed of over 100 mph. It is often compared with the two-seam fastball. Grip and action The four-seam fastball is designed purely for velocity; it travels to the batter's box with little or no "break" from straight-line flight—the intent being to challenge the batter's reaction time instead of fooling him with a pitch that breaks downward or to one side or the other. The ball is gripped with the index and middle fingers set on or across a line (cross-seam) of the "horseshoe" seam that faces outward, i.e., away from the pitcher's body. The thumb is placed directly undernea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2022 Central League Climax Series
The 2022 Central League Climax Series (CLCS) was a set of two consecutive playoff series in Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ... (NPB). The First Stage began on October 8 and the Final Stage concluded on October 14. The First Stage was a best-of-three series between the second-place Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the third-place Hanshin Tigers. The Final Series was a best-of-six with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, the Central League champion, being awarded a one-win advantage against the Tigers, the winner of the First Stage. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows advanced to face the 2022 Pacific League Climax Series winner in the 2022 Japan Series with a 4-0 sweep of the Tigers. First stage Summary Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Final stage Summary : ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sankei Sports
is a Japanese-language daily sports newspaper published by Sankei Shimbun. In 2014, it had a circulation of 1,270,000. The newspaper is known by its nickname . See also * Fujisankei Communications Group , abbreviated FCG, is Japan's largest media conglomerate. Its chair is Hisashi Hieda. The group engages in a wide range of businesses, from Mass media in Japan, media and entertainment, including Television in Japan, television, Japanese newspape ... * Japanese media External links *Sanspo.com Daily newspapers published in Japan Sports newspapers published in Japan Fujisankei Communications Group Mass media companies based in Tokyo Companies based in Osaka Prefecture Newspapers established in 1955 1955 establishments in Japan {{Japan-newspaper-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Developmental Player System (Nippon Professional Baseball)
The is a system that allows players to be held for the purpose of training players separately from the 70 Registration of players under control (Nippon Professional Baseball), registered players under control of each team created in the fall of at Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). It is akin to the practice squads seen in other sports. Summary The system was established in 2005 to create an environment in which amateur players could gain playing experience after company-owned amateur baseball teams were folding following the economic recession of the Lost Decades. Players who are part of the system are considered "semi-controlled" in that they play for the team they are signed to but they are not a Registration of players under control (Nippon Professional Baseball), controlled player and thus their team doe not have exclusive rights to them. The Developmental Player System include players drafted as rookies (e.g. Yusuke Kosai, Michitaka Nishiyama), foreign players signed as d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, or with one from a deceased donor. The procedure is common among collegiate and professional athletes in several sports, particularly in baseball. The surgery is performed to restore optimal function for repetitive elbow movements or specifically throwing ability, often extending the careers of professional athletes. In many athletes, the surgery is done more than once during their careers. The procedure was devised in 1974 by orthopedic surgeon Frank Jobe, a Los Angeles Dodgers team physician who served as a special advisor to the team until his death in 2014. It is named after the first baseball player to undergo the surgery, major league pitcher Tommy John, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 26 seasons. The initial operatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kyuji Fujikawa
is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who currently serves as the manager for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB from 1999 to 2012, and 2016 to 2020 for Hanshin, and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. Fujikawa pitched in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics. A prototypical power pitcher, Fujikawa is said to have one of the most explosive fastballs in all of Japanese professional baseball and is one of Japan's premier relievers. Early life Fujikawa was born in Kōchi, Kōchi, in 1980, making him a member of the so-called Matsuzaka Generation. His name "Kyuji" literally means "baseball kid" in Japanese, and is often used as part of the phrase "Kōkō-kyuji" (高校球児) to refer to a high school baseball player. It was reportedly given to him by his father because he had thrown a no-hitter in a sandlot baseball game the day before Fujikawa was b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yuta Iwasada
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ... (NPB). Career Early career Yuta started his baseball career in 4th grade as an outfielder for the Wakaba Elementary School, and in 6th grade, made it to the semi-finals of a national baseball tournament. He doubled as 1st-base infielder and pitcher for the Kumamoto Hitsuyukan Senior High but his team never made it to nationals. He entered the Yokohama College of Commerce, and in his sophomore year, was chosen to pitch for the national team for the US-Japan Collegiate Baseball Championships. In his senior year, he was awarded Best Nine in the Kanagawa University Baseball League after winning 6 games in the tournament. Hanshin Tigers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
