| Kenji Yoshitsuru | |
|---|---|
 Kenji Yoshitsuru, coach of the Chiba Lotte Marines, at Chiba Marine Stadium. | |
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 95 | |
| Catcher / Coach | |
| Born: May 3, 1971 Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| NPB debut | |
| April 11, 1993, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| Last appearance | |
| 2, 2002, for the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| NPB statistics (through 2002) | |
| Batting average | .236 |
| Hits | 147 |
| Home runs | 9 |
| Runs batted in | 59 |
| Stolen base | 6 |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach
| |
Kenji Yoshitsuru (吉鶴 憲治, Yoshitsuru Kenji, born May 3, 1971) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher, and current the third squad battery coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1][2]
He previously played for the Chunichi Dragons, the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Professional career
Active player era
On November 21, 1992, Yoshitsuru was drafted fourth round pick by the Chunichi Dragons in the 1992 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[3]
He made his debut in the Central League during the 1993 season, played 24 games.[3]
He played three seasons with the Dragons, but in 1996, his fourth season, he was traded to the Chiba Lotte Marines along with Tsuyoshi Yoda.[3]
He played in a career-high 98 games for the Marines during the 1997 season and set a career-high .283 batting average during the 1998 season, and he played 10 seasons with the Marines and retired after the 2002 season.[3]
In his 10-season career, Yoshitsuru played a total of 389 games, batting .236 with 147 hits, nine home runs, and 59 RBI.
After retirement
After his retirement, Yoshitsuru was the battery coach for the Chiba Lotte Marines from the 2003 season through the 2016 season.[4]
He became the third squad battery coach for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2017 season and moved to first squad battery coach for the 2018 season.[4][5]
He will serve as the third squad battery coach for the second time during the 2023 season.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2022/11/28(月) プレスリリース 2023年コーチングスタッフについて(2022年11月28日現在)". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 28, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "Kenji Yoshitsuru". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d ""Weekly Baseball online player data 吉鶴憲治(よしつるけんじ) 捕手 右投右打" (in Japanese). Weekly Baseball online. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2016/11/5(土) プレスリリース 新入団コーチのお知らせlanguage=ja-JP". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site. November 5, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2017/11/09(土) プレスリリース コーチングスタッフ担当変更のお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 9, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Career statistics - NPB.jp (in Japanese)
- 95 Kenji Yoshitsuru PLAYERS2024 - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site
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This page was last edited on 20 May 2024, at 19:04