Shinji Iwata

Shinji Iwata (岩田 慎司)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.
• School Meiji University
• High School Toho High School

• Born January 27, 1987 in Gifu, Gifu Japan

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Shinji Iwata was a star player in college at Meiji University, where he was also a very good hitter, but had a middling career in Nippon Pro Baseball, spending most of his time with the Chunichi Dragons' ni-gun squad in the Western League, with only occasional appearances with the top team in the Central League from 2010 to 2016. He relied on breaking pitches, particularly a forkball that was described as "moving like a knuckleball" and a curveball to get batters out, as his fastball was below average.

He was a member of the Japan university national baseball team that competed in the 2008 World University Championship in the Czech Republic. He defeated Taiwan in Japan's first game on July 19th, pitching a one-hitter and facing the USA in the Gold Medal Game on July 27th, he locked up in a classic duel with Mike Minor, pitching 10 scoreless innings, before the U.S. won, 1-0, in 12 innings. Just before that, he had pitched for Japan in the 2008 Haarlemse Honkbalweek as probably the best pitcher on a Japanese squad that disappointed, finishing tied for third with a 3-4 record. He was a 5th-round draft pick in the 2008 NPB draft despite his college success.

His professional career after that was a let-down. In 2009, he only pitched in the minors, going 0-1, 6.31 in 26 games and spent most of 2010 at that level as well, having a very good season, before making his debut with Chunichi in June, going 1-1, 2.61 in 5 games. He never spent a full season at the top level, shuffling between the two teams every year from 2010 to 2016. In 2012, it looked like he had established himself as he went 5-5, 2.74 in 20 games as a starter, replacing an injured Kenshin Kawakami in the rotation, but he fell back to 1-2, 5.61 in 2013. He never found much success again and retired at the end of the 2016 season. In parts of 7 seasons at the top level, he went 9-15, 3.72 in 49 games. After his retirement he was a pitching coach for Chunichi's ni-gun squad.