Junichi Katayama

Junichi Katayama (片山 純一)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 174 lb.

• School Asia University
• High School Setouchi High School

• Born September 29, 1982 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Japan

Biographical Information

Junichi Katayama has pitched for the Japanese national team.

Katayama helped Asia University finish second in the 2003 All-Japan University Baseball Championship and was on the Japanese squad that placed second in the 2004 World University Championship. He then played for JR East in the Japanese industrial leagues. In the 2012 Asian Championship, he was named MVP, beating host Taiwan in a long relief outing (5 2/3 IP, 2 H, 5 K, 1 R in a 2-1 win) and retiring the last couple batters in a 4-0 win over South Korea after relieving Ryo Akiyoshi, thus playing a role in Japan's two wins over their closest rivals. Japan won the event.

The Hiroshima native pitched for Japan when they won the 2013 East Asian Games. In the 2015 Asian Championship, he led Japan's staff with three appearances. He pitched a perfect inning to wrap up Taisuke Yamaoka's win over China, then tossed another perfect inning against South Korea to maintain Katsutoshi Satake's 1-0 lead (Japan lost 2-1). He struggled in the finale as the 5th pitcher in a 3-1 loss to Taiwan, giving up four hits and one run in one inning.