Kou Matsukawa

Kou Matsukawa (松川 虎生)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 216 lb.
• High School Wakayama Municipal High School

• Born October 20, 2003 in Hannan, Osaka Japan

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Biographical Information

Catcher Kou Matsukawa played his first season in Nippon Pro Baseball in 2022 with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League. Only 18 at the time, he quickly gained fame as in one of his first starts behind the plate on April 10th, he caught the perfect game thrown by his 20-year-old teammate, Roki Sasaki, the first in a regular season NPB game in 28 years. Sasaki's performance was utterly dominant, as he struck out 19 Orix Buffaloes batters, including 13 straight at one point, tying the league's all-time mark for most Ks in a game set by Koji Noda. He drove in three runs during the game. After the game, Sasaki gave much of the credit for his performance to his catcher, for guiding him flawlessly through the contest. A few days earlier, on March 25th, he had been only the eight catcher to make his NPB debut as the starter on Opening Day, and only the third to do so coming out of high school. He played 76 games that season, but batted just .173 with only 5 extra-base hits, all doubles, and 14 RBIs in 185 at-bats. His slugging percentage of .200 was one of the lowest ever in NPB history. He was named to play in the 2022 NPB All-Star Games in spite of his weak hitting and became the youngest player ever to drive in a run in the contest when his Game 2 hit off Hiroki Tokoda score Akito Takabe. He also received a few votes for the 2022 Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award.

Originally a pitcher in junior high school, he switched to catcher and starred with his high school team, becoming team captain in his second year, before turning pro in 2021. He was Chiba Lotte's first pick in the 2021 NPB draft that October.