Haruki Nishikawa
Nishikawa with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Tokyo Yakult Swallows – No. 3
Infielder/Outfielder
Born: (1992-04-16) April 16, 1992 (age 31)
Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
NPB debut
March 30, 2012, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.274
Hits1,326
Home runs62
Runs batted in422
Stolen Bases332
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Haruki Nishikawa (西川 遥輝, Nishikawa Haruki, born April 16, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Career

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters selected Nishikawa with the second selection in the 2010 NPB draft.[1]

On March 30, 2012, Nishikawa made his NPB debut.

Nishikawa hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2016 Japan Series, which Nishikawa would go on to win.[2]

On February 27, 2019, he was selected first time for Japan national baseball team at the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico.[3]

In 2020, Nishikawa hit .296/.419/.388 with 5 home runs, 15 doubles, and 3 triples to go along with 37 stolen bases. After the 2020 season, on December 3, 2020, the Fighters announced it was allowing Nishikawa to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).[4] On January 3, 2021, Nishikawa failed to secure a deal with any of the MLB teams.[5] Nishikawa became a free agent following the 2021 season.[6]

On December 22, 2021, Nishikawa signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.[citation needed] On November 17, 2023, Nishikawa signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.

References

  1. ^ "北海道日本ハムファイターズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Coskrey, Jason (October 27, 2016). "Late-game heroics propel Fighters to brink of Japan Series title: Haruki Nishikawa slugs game-winning grand slam in ninth inning". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "西川遥輝選手のポスティングシステム申請手続きについて". 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "日本ハム、西川遥輝のポスティング不成立を発表 メジャー移籍は叶わず". Full-Count (in Japanese). January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Pay attention to the trends of players who have acquired FA rights Hanshin Umeno, Hiroshima Ohsera & Guri, Takachiga, etc. What will happen !? | Full-Count". 15 November 2021.
Categories