Ryota Okumoto

Ryota Okumoto (奥本 涼太)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 5", Weight 154 lb.

• Born April 1, 1992 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Ryota Okubmoto has pitched in the Australian Baseball League and for the New Zealand national team.

He debuted in the 2018-2019 ABL, allowing one hit, four walks and three runs (all earned) in 4 2/3 IP over six games for the Auckland Tuatara, striking out six. In 2019-2020, he allowed only one run in 5 1/3 IP (5 H, 2 BB, 3 K). The New Zealand-based team did not play in the ABL in 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of the entire 2021-2022 ABL campaign.

When New Zealand played in the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, Okumoto was one of two Japanese natives on the staff (alongside Nao Fukuda). He pitched once, relieving Elliot Johnstone in the 7th with a 1-0 lead against Argentina but the bases loaded and no outs. He allowed a Lucas Stalman single to tie then hit Sebastián García to force in what would be the winning run. Connor Gleeson relieved and let one of the inherited runners score, leaving Okumoto with an infinite ERA; he was not New Zealand's worst hurler of the event as Eugene Gay was charged with four runs while retiring no one.