| Riku Watanabe | |
|---|---|
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 79 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: September 24, 2000 Nishihara, Kumamoto, Japan | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| NPB debut | |
| May 24, 2022, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| NPB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
| Batting average | .273 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| RBI | 9 |
| Hits | 9 |
| Teams | |
| |
Riku Watanabe (渡邉 陸, Watanabe Riku, born September 24, 2000) is a Japanese professional baseball Catcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Professional career
On October 25, 2018, Watanabe was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks as a developmental player in the 2018 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1][2]
In 2019–2021 season, he played in informal matches against the Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's second league.
August 30, 2021, he re-signed a ¥6 million contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control.[3]
On May 24, 2022, Watanabe made his First League debut in the Interleague play (NPB) against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.[4] On May 28, he played as a starting member in the match against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and recorded his first Home run.[5] In 2022 season, he finished the regular season in 20 games with a batting average of .273, a 3 home runs and a RBI of 9.
In 2023 season,Watanabe played in 79 games in the Western League, but never had a chance to play in the Pacific League.[6]
References
- ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトB育成ドラ1の渡辺に指名あいさつ". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under control (roster of players), each team can have developmental players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management within the 3 year contract period (Non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
- ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンク・渡辺陸が支配下登録「期限ギリギリでほっとした」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). August 30, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 渡辺、甲斐の代打でプロ初出場「いろんなことを吸収」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 24, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 育成出身バッテリー大活躍 渡辺陸プロ初弾から2打席連発5打点 大関4勝目". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 28, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク渡辺陸20万円ダウンの830万円で更改 1軍で昨季3本塁打も今季出場なし「自分自身に期待していた…悔しい」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 8, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Career statistics - NPB.jp
- 79 Riku Watanabe PLAYERS2024 - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site
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This page was last edited on 15 December 2023, at 06:51