Yusei Kikuchi
| Yusei Kikuchi | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Kikuchi with the Saitama Seibu Lions | |||
| Toronto Blue Jays – No. 16 | |||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: June 17, 1991 Morioka, Iwate, Japan | |||
| |||
| Professional debut | |||
| NPB: June 12, 2011, for the Saitama Seibu Lions | |||
| MLB: March 21, 2019, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| NPB statistics (through 2018 season) | |||
| Win–loss record | 73–46 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.77 | ||
| Strikeouts | 903 | ||
| MLB statistics (through June 29, 2019) | |||
| Win–loss record | 30–35 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.70 | ||
| Strikeouts | 596 | ||
| Teams | |||
| |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
| |||
Yusei Kikuchi (菊池 雄星, Kikuchi Yūsei, born June 17, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Kikuchi formerly played for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League.
He is the first Japanese-born player to make his major league debut in Japan.
Professional career
[change | change source]Saitama Seibu Lions
[change | change source]On November 20, 2009, Kikuchi signed a pro deal with the Saitama Seibu Lions; the deal included a 100 million yen (about $1 million) signing bonus, a 15 million yen ($150,000) first year salary, and 50 million yen ($500,000) in performance bonuses.[1]
After the 2011 season, Seibu announced that Kikuchi would join the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League (ABL).[2]
In 2018, Kikuchi was selected for the 2018 NPB All-Star game.[3]
On December 3, 2018, Seibu announced it was allowing Kikuchi to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB),[4] with the 30-day period starting a month later.[5]
Seattle Mariners
[change | change source]On January 2, 2019, Kikuchi signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners.[6][7] Kikuchi made his MLB debut on March 21, 2019, going 4.2 innings while allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and striking out 3.[8]
Toronto Blue Jays
[change | change source]On March 14, 2022, Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[9]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Newman, Patrick. Kikuchi Signs With Seibu, NPB Tracker. Published November 20, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ↑ "「2011–12 Australian Baseball League 」の参加メンバー". 埼玉西武ライオンズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 1, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ↑ "マイナビオールスターゲーム2018 ファン投票結果". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ↑ "菊池雄星投手のポスティングについて". 埼玉西武ライオンズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). December 3, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ↑ Axisa, Mike (December 3, 2018). "Yusei Kikuchi posted for MLB teams: Everything you need to know about the Japanese lefty". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- ↑ "Mariners sign left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to four-year contract". MLB.com. January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ↑ "菊池雄星投手がMLB・シアトル・マリナーズと契約". 埼玉西武ライオンズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ↑ "Mariners Box Score 3/21/2019". mlb.com. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ↑ "Blue Jays reach 3-year deal with lefty Kikuchi". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
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