Kōtarō Kiyomiya

清宮 幸太郎 (Kiyomiya Kōtarō) is a Japanese baseball player who currently plays for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Pacific League as a First Baseman. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, Kotaro, who stands 6 feet 0 inches (1.84 m) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kg). He was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2017 draft. He is the son of notable Japanese rugby union coach, Katsuyuki Kiyomiya.

Kōtarō Kiyomiya
Kōtarō Kiyomiya batting for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – No. 21
infielder
Born: (1999-05-25) May 25, 1999
Tokyo, Japan
Bats: Left Throws: Right
NPB debut
May 2, 2018, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
NPB statistics
(through 2019)
Batting average.202
Home runs14
Hits83
Runs batted in51
Runs43
Stolen bases0
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Japanese High School Baseball
  • Holds Japanese High School Baseball record for most Home Runs with 111 home runs[1]
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup
2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup Team

Early career

Kiyomiya drew major news attention since the 2012 Little League World Series, where at the age of 13 he employed an 80 mph fastball (major league equivalent of throwing 104 MPH) to lead Team Japan to a 12-2 LLWS championship win over Goodlettsville (TN). He was also noted to have hit 60 home runs in 50 games[2] Kiyomiya then went to Waseda Jitsugyo High School where he set the Japanese High School Baseball record for home runs with 111 home runs over three seasons in high school. On August 23, 2017 it was announced that he will serve as captain of Samurai Japan for the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup.

Professional career

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Seven teams chose Kotaro in the first round of the 2017 draft, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters won the right to negotiate with Kiyomiya by winning the lottery.[3] Kotaro then chose the jersey number 21.[4]

On February 27, 2019, he was selected for Japan national baseball team at the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico,[5] but on March 4, 2019, he canceled his participation due to broken right hamate bone.[6]

References
  1. Coskrey, Jason (26 October 2017). "Fighters land rights to prized slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya". Retrieved 3 December 2017 – via Japan Times Online.
  2. Zaldivar, Gabe. "Little League World Series: Japan's Kotaro Kiyomiya Is Biggest Little Star". Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  3. Coskrey, Jason (26 October 2017). "Fighters land rights to prized slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya". Retrieved 3 December 2017 – via Japan Times Online.
  4. "Nippon Ham, Kiyomiya No. 21 "To the batter who represents Japan"". 24 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  5. "ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019「日本 vs メキシコ」に出場するメンバー28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  6. "「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」日本チーム出場選手変更（辞退）について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
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