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Ryo Akiyoshi

Ryo Akiyoshi
Akiyoshi with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1989-03-21) 21 March 1989 (age 35)
Tokyo, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
1 April, 2014, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
NPB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss20-24
ERA3.05
Holds78
Saves71
Strikeouts359
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
2017 World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Team

Ryo Akiyoshi (秋吉 亮, Akiyoshi Ryō, born 21 March 1989 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Professional career

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

Akiyoshi with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.

On 24 October 2013, Akiyoshi was drafted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the 2013 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

On 1 April 2014, Akiyoshi debuted in the Central League against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as a starting pitcher. On Mayl 13, he pitched against the Yomiuri Giants and recorded his first win.[2]

During the 2014-2018 season with the Swallows, he contributed to the team as a setup man. In all, he pitched in 283 games with a 19–17 Win–loss record, a 2.68 ERA, a 67 Holds, a 34 Saves, and a and a 274 strikeouts in 298.2 innings.

On 16 July 2016, Akiyoshi was named an All-Star and pitched in the 2016 Mazda All-Star Game 2016.[3]

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

11 December 2018, Akiyoshi and Ryota Yachi were transferred to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in a 2-2 trade with Hirotoshi Takanashi and Kengo Ohta.[4]

On 12 April 2019, he recorded his first save since joining the Fighters.[5]

Akiyoshi played the 2019-2021 seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he contributed to the team as a Closer. In all, he pitched in 96 games with a 1–6 Win–loss record, a 4.04 ERA, a 11 Holds, a 37 Saves, and a and a 84 strikeouts in 91.1 innings.

On 16 November 2021, he elected free agency following the 2021 season.[6]

Fukui Nexus Elephants

On 31 January 2022, Akiyoshi signed with the Fukui Nexus Elephants of the independent league Nihonkai OCEAN League.[7]

He recorded 18 Games pitched, a 1–2 Win–loss record, a 2.66 ERA, a 7 Saves, and a 35 strikeouts in 20.1innings.[8]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On 19 July 2022, Akiyoshi signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[9] On 3 August, he made his debut as a pitcher for the Hawks.[10] He pitched in only two games in the Pacific League in the 2022 season.[citation needed]

On 17 October 2022, the Hawks announced he was a free agent.[11]

International career

On 15 February 2016, Akiyoshi represented the Japan national baseball team at the Samurai Japan Warm-up Game Japan vs Chinese Taipei.[12]

24 January 2017, he was elected to the Japan national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ヤクルト】3位パナ・秋吉は即戦力投手". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 24 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ヤクルトのドラ3秋吉 巨人戦でプロ初勝利「絶対抑えてやろうと思った」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 13 May 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) マツダオールスターゲーム2016". NPB.jp (in Japanese). 16 July 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters press release 2018/12/11(火) 東京ヤクルトスワローズとトレードが成立". Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Official site (in Japanese). 11 December 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Sankei Sports baseball news 秋吉、日本ハム移籍初S!九回3人ピシャリ". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 12 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters press release 2021/11/16(火) FA資格取得選手との交渉について". Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Official site (in Japanese). 16 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Fukui Nexus Elephants press release 2022/01/31 プレスリリース 新入団選手のお知らせ". Fukui Nexus Elephants Official site (in Japanese). 31 January 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】独立L福井から秋吉亮を獲得 NPB通算379試合20勝、71セーブ、78ホールド". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 16 July 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 緊急補強の秋吉亮「ここからが勝負」 離脱者続出の救援陣の救世主に 本拠地で入団会見". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 「見返したい」古巣相手も…清宮に悲弾 新加入の秋吉亮がほろ苦初登板". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2022/10/17(月) プレスリリース 来季契約について". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). 17 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Japan national baseball team Official site press release 選手発表 3月開催の侍ジャパン強化試合、出場26選手発表!". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). 15 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Japan national baseball team Official site press release 「2017 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™」侍ジャパン 出場選手について". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). 24 January 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2022.