Hitoki Iwase

Hitoki Iwase (岩瀬 仁紀, born November 10, 1974) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from Nishio, Aichi, Japan. He holds the NPB record for career saves and mound appearances.[1]

Hitoki Iwase
Iwase with the Chunichi Dragons
Pitcher
Born: (1974-11-10) November 10, 1974 Nishio, Aichi, Japan
Bats: Left Throws: Left
NPB debut
April 2, 1999, for the Chunichi Dragons
Career statistics (through 2018)
Win-Loss	59–51
ERA	2.23
Games played	1002
Saves	407
Strikeouts	840
Teams
Chunichi Dragons (1999–2018)
Career highlights and awards
NPB All-Time Saves Leader (402 saves) 1× Japan Series champion (2007) 10× NPB All-Star (2000-2001, 2003, 2005-2007, 2010-2013) 5× NPB Saves Leader (2005-2006, 2009, 2010, 2012) 3× Central League Middle Reliever of the Year (1999-2000, 2003) NPB record for saves in a single season with 46 (2005) Combined perfect game with Daisuke Yamai (2007) Comeback Player of the Year (2017)
Last updated on: February 20, 2020

Olympic medal record
Men's Baseball
	Athens 2004	Team Competition

In 2005, he marked 46 saves with a 1.88 ERA, renewing the single-season save record previously set by Kazuhiro Sasaki. This was subsequently broken by Dennis Sarfate of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in 2017.

He was chosen to play on the Japanese Olympic baseball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics, and won a bronze medal.

In the 2007 Japan Series, he saved a perfect game with eight innings thrown by Daisuke Yamai.

In 2008, he was selected to play on the Japanese Olympic baseball team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. In group stage against South Korean Olympic baseball team, his pitch was hit by Hyunsoo Kim, making him lost in the match. In semifinal against South Korean team as well, his pitch was hit by Seung-Yeop Lee which was led to two-run home run, making him lost again in the match. His overall performance in 2008 Summer Olympics was 3 defeats and ERA 13.75.