Yuki Tsumori

Yuki Tsumori (津森 宥紀)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 178 lbs.

• School Tohoku Fukushi University
• High School Wakayama Higashi High School

• Born January 21, 1998 in Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yuki Tsumori pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Tsumori was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the third round of the 2019 NPB draft, and he debuted on June 21, 2020. It may not be a pleasant memory for Tsumori, because Seiya Inoue blasted a grand slam in his first career at-bat. Tsumori was the only pitcher in NPB history to give up a grand slam to the first batter he faced in his career. Despite his debut, Tsumori pitched well in his rookie year and recorded a 2.76 ERA in 14 relief outings. Tsumori became an important part of the Hawks' bullpen in 2021, collecting 11 holds with a 2.18 ERA in 45 appearances. He was selected into the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, and pitched a shutout inning in Game 2.

The Wakayama native extended his solid performance in 2022 as he notched 18 holds with a 2.91 ERA in 51 games. In the 2022 PLCS, Tsumori pitched a shutout inning in both Game 1 and Game 2, but couldn't stop the Orix Buffaloes from beating the Hawks in 4 games. He relieved Atsuki Taneichi in 2023 NPB All-Star Game 2, but Kazuma Okamoto hit a leadoff double, and Shugo Maki's single sent Okamoto in. Tsumori retired Sho Nakata and forced Toshiro Miyazaki to ground into a double play to escape the jam. He notched 22 holds with a 3.51 ERA in 56 appearances in 2023, and ranked 7th in holds (19 behind Luis Perdomo). In the 2023 PLCS's first stage, he pitched a shutout inning in Game 1 against the Chiba Lotte Marines, but struggled in Game 3. Replacing closer Roberto Osuna in the 10th inning, Tsumori gave up two hits - to Katsuya Kakunaka and Takashi Ogino - then Yudai Fujioka blasted a game-tying 3-run home run against him. Hisanori Yasuda had a walk-off hit for Lotte later, and the Hawks was eliminated from the postseason.

Sources

• Wiki Japan
• NPB.com Bio
• 2023 NPB All-Star Game 2