Masahiko Morifuku

Masahiko Morifuku (森福 允彦)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 8", Weight 150 lb.

• High School Toyokawa High School

• Born July 29, 1986 in Toyohashi, Aichi Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Masahiko Morifuku has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Morifuku played for Shidax in the industrial leagues after college. He pitched 1/3 of an inning in the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week, allowing one hit against the Dutch national team. In the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, he was 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three relief outings and one start for the Japanese national team. He tied David Bergman, Shota Oba, Adiel Palma and Tom Stuifbergen for the tourney lead in wins. His victories came against the Philippines national team and Taiwan while he lost to Cuba (4 R, 8 H, 3 BB in 3 IP) in his lone start.

The Softbank Hawks took him in the fourth round of the 2006 NPB draft. He made his debut with the big club in 2007, allowing one run in six innings spread over seven appearances. Morifuku gave up five runs, nine hits and six walks in 6 2/3 IP in 2008. The little lefty surrendered 7 runs in 11 innings in 2009. Masahiko was used 36 times in 2010, going 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA, .202 opponent average and 0.90 WHIP. He got 15 votes for the 2010 Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award, trailing Ryo Sakakibara, Keisuke Katto and None of the Above (48 voters did not name anyone).

Morifuku made his first Pacific League All-Star team in 2011.

With a low three-quarters delivery (nearly sidearm) Morifuku throws a low to mid-80s fastball (tops out at 88 mph), a solid slider, and a shuuto (two-seamer).

Sources

• Japanbaseballdaily.com
• Chinese Baseball Wiki
• Defunct IBAF site
• 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week