Yuki Koyama

Yuki Koyama (小山 雄輝)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 170 lb.

• School Tenri University
• High School Obu High School

• Born December 5, 1988 in Chita, Aichi Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Yuki Koyama has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Koyama had control problems early in his college career and was moved to shortstop. He made adjustments to his delivery, became the Tenri ace and was picked for the Best Nine in his league. The Yomiuri Giants took him in the fourth round of the 2010 NPB draft. He pitched three games in 2011 (5 R in 13 IP, no decisions), spending most of the year in the minors. His first strikeout in NPB came against Terrmel Sledge; he left the game with a 2-2 tie after 4 against the Yokohama BayStars, relieved by Jonathan Albaladejo. Yuki was 2-2 with a 1.87 ERA and .92 WHIP in 10 games (6 starts) for Yomiuri in 2012. In the 2012 Japan Series, he was roughed up for 3 hits and one walk in 1 1/3 IP in a game 3 relief stint but Yomiuri topped the Nippon Ham Fighters for the Japan Series title. In the 2012 Asia Series, Yomiuri won again; Koyama did his share, holding the Perth Heat to one run in 5 2/3 IP to beat Anthony Claggett.

Koyama saw similar amount of time with the big team in 2013 (0-2, 3.86 in 10 G). In game 3 of the 2013 Japan Series, he replaced a struggling Toshiya Sugiuchi and gave up 2 hits and 2 walks in 3 1/3 shutout innings before being replaced by Nobutaka Imamura. Yomiuri lost the game and the Series to the Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Koyama throws a slider, curveball, forkball and fastball (peak 93 mph).

Sources

• Japan Baseball Daily by Gary Garland
• Japanese Wikipedia