Ryuhei Kuki

Ryuhei Kuki (九鬼 隆平, Kuki Ryūhei, born September 5, 1998 in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese Professional baseball Catcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Ryuhei Kuki
Kuki with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 65
Catcher
Born: (1998-09-05) September 5, 1998
Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
Bats: Right Throws: Right
NPB debut
May 26, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.167
Home runs1
RBI1
Hits1
Stolen base0
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
Asian Junior Baseball Championship
2016, Taichung, Taiwan Team

Early Baseball career

Kuki participated in the 3rd grade spring 88th Japanese High School Baseball Invitational Tournament and the 3rd grade summer 98th Japanese High School Baseball Championship as a captain, with Fumimaru Taura, who was lower than the first grade, and a battery at the Syugakukan High School.[1] In 2016, Kuki was selected as the Japan national baseball team in the 2016 Asian Junior Baseball Championship. And he contributed to the team's victory as captain, and was honored with an Excellent Defensive Player Award.[2][3]

Professional career

On October 20, 2016, Kuki was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

In 2017-2018 season, he played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues and played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams. On April 3, 2018, he injured his right thumb and operated.[4]

On May 26, 2019, Kuki debuted as a Pinch hitter against Chiba Lotte Marines and recorded a Hit by pitch.[5] And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2019 Japan Series.[6]

In the match against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on July 5, 2020, Kuki participated as a starter and recorded his first hit in the Pacific League with a home run.[7] However, on September 30, he had surgery on the cervical spine, so he played only five games in the Pacific League for the 2020 season.[8]

Personal

Kuki Yoshitaka, the commander of the Kuki Suigun (Kuki Navy) during the Sengoku period, is his ancestor.[1]

References
  1. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク３位九鬼が契約合意 先祖は戦国武将". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  2. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 頼れる女房役九鬼の１発「元気も自分の持ち味」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 5, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 決勝戦Ｖ打の智弁学園・納がＭＶＰ　Ｕ18表彰一覧". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  4. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が右手親指手術、復帰に2～3カ月". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 3, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  5. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が死球デビュー「びっくりして…」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 26, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  6. "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2019 出場資格者名簿（福岡ソフトバンクホークス）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  7. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が初スタメン初安打初アーチ 熊本・秀岳館高出身". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 5, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  8. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク九鬼が首を手術 復帰まで半年の見込み". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 1, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.


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