Yuta Watanabe
Watanabe with the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers – No. 92
Pitcher
Born: (1991-09-19) September 19, 1991
Sanjō, Niigata, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
NPB: September 4, 2020, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record3-1
ERA2.63
Holds11
Strikeouts23
Teams

Yuta Watanabe (渡邉 雄大, Watanabe Yūta, born September 19, 1991 in Sanjō, Niigata) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball.

He previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Professional career

Niigata Albirex BC

On December 6, 2013, Watanabe was drafted by the Niigata Albirex BC, who belongs to the Baseball Challenge League of the Independent baseball league.[1]

In the 2014 season, Watanabe recorded 19 games pitched, a 7–2 win–loss record, a 2.91 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 87.1 innings.[2]

In the 2015 season, Watanabe recorded 33 games pitched, a 6–3 win–loss record, a 2.91 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 87.1 innings.[3]

In the 2016 season, Watanabe recorded 32 games pitched, a 3–1 win–loss record, a 2.70 ERA, one save and 37 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.[4]

In the 2017 season, Watanabe recorded 46 games pitched, a 1–2 Win–loss record, a 1.29 ERA, 16 Saves and 66 strikeouts in 55.2 innings.[5]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

Watanabe with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2019.

On October 26, 2017, Watanabe was drafted as a developmental player by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[6][7]

From 2018 to 2019 season, he played in informal matches against the Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB second league.

On August 31, 2020, Watanabe signed a 6 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control[8] On September 4, he debuted in the Pacific League against the Chiba Lotte Marines as a relief pitcher.[9] However, in the match against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on September 9, he was replaced due to an accident on his left elbow.[10] As a result, he spent the rest of the season rehabilitating his left elbow.[11] In 2020 season, Watanabe pitched 3 games in the Pacific League.

In 2020 season, he was only able to pitch in six games due to an elbow injury. On October 18, 2021, the Hawks announced he was a free agent.[12]

Hanshin Tigers

On December 9, 2021, the Hanshin Tigers announced that they have signed Watanabe as a developmental player.[13]

On March 22, 2022, the Tigers re-signed him as a registered player under control.[14] On May 1 against the Yomiuri Giants, he pitched as a relief pitcher and recorded his first win.[15] In 2022 season, he finished the regular season with a 3-1 win–loss record, 10 holds, and a 2.45 ERA in 32 games pitched.

References

  1. ↑ "Niigata Albirex BC news (Japanese) 2013年度ＢＣリーグドラフト会議指名選手のお知らせ". Niigata Albirex BC. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Baseball Challenge League Stats (Japanese) 2014年個人投手成績 一覧". Baseball Challenge League. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Baseball Challenge League Stats (Japanese) 2015年個人投手成績 一覧". Baseball Challenge League. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Baseball Challenge League Stats (Japanese) 2016年個人投手成績 一覧". Baseball Challenge League. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Baseball Challenge League Stats (Japanese) 2017年 投手成績ランキング". Baseball Challenge League. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク育成６位渡辺が合意「1日も早く1軍」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 8, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under control (active roster of players), each team can have developmental players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under control within the 3-year contract period (non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  8. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンクの変則左腕・渡辺雄が育成から支配下に 10月に父になる28歳の苦労人に朗報". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). August 31, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) 育成出身28歳の苦労人がデビュー ソフトバンク渡辺雄「拾ってもらった恩返し」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 5, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) 緊急降板のソフトバンク渡辺雄は左肘に違和感…工藤監督「心配」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 10, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク渡辺雄は靱帯一部損傷か、左肘にPRP注射で今季絶望". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 17, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2021/10/18(月) プレスリリース 来季契約について". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 18, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Daily Sports baseball news ソフトバンク戦力外の渡辺が阪神入団会見「左のワンポイントで必死に」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). December 9, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Nikkansports Sports baseball news 阪神渡辺雄大と支配下契約「1軍で活躍しなければ意味がない」背番号「92」 支配下は67人に". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 22, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Nikkansports Sports baseball news 【阪神】渡辺雄大30歳７カ月でプロ初勝利　福間に次ぐ高齢初勝利". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 22, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.


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