Yasunobu Okugawa

Yasunobu Okugawa (奥川 恭伸)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lbs.

• High School Seiryo High School

• Born April 16, 2001 in Kahoku, Ishikawa, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yasunobu Okugawa pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Okugawa led Seiryo High School to advance to the final game of the 2019 Summer Koshien, but Riseisha High School beat them. He then represented Japan in the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup. In his lone start, he struck out 18 in 7 innings, allowing no walks, two hits and one run to beat Canada. He also batted once, getting a hit against South Africa. He led the event in whiffs, one ahead of Junya Nishi and Yun-dong Heo. He was named the event's All-Star SP,

Three teams selected him in the first round of the 2019 NPB draft, and the Yakult Swallows won the lottery. Okugawa spent his rookie year in the NPB Farm Leagues (making one rough appearance with the top team, giving up 5 runs in 2 innings), then joined the rotation in 2021. He was 9-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 18 starts in the 2021 season (tying for 8th in the league in wins), and won his first Central League pennant. In the final stage of the 2021 CLCS, Okugawa shut out the Yomiuri Giants in the series opener, and won the CLCS MVP. He was the youngest player to hurl a shutout in the Climax Series, and also the youngest player to win a CS MVP. In the 2021 Nippon Series, he pitched 7 innings in Game 1, but he ended up with a no-decision because of Scott McGough's blown save. The Swallows still beat the Orix Buffaloes in 7 games. He got 12 votes for the 2021 Central League Rookie of the Year Award, finishing third behind Ryoji Kuribayashi's 201 votes and Shugo Maki's 76. He was also 14th in voting for the 2021 Central League Most Valuable Player Award (between Koyo Aoyagi and Yuya Yanagi).

However, Okugawa suffered a right elbow injury, and the team suggested he receive Tommy John surgery. Okugawa rejected, but he still missed the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons.