It was announced on the 28th that Orix Buffaloes outfielder Shuhei Fukuda (33) will retire at the end of this season. He contributed to the team's consecutive league championships in 2021 and 2022, mainly as leadoff hitter. He plans to leave baseball world for a while and take on a new challenge.
Fukuda, who left Orix Buffaloes at the end of this season, has decided to hang up his uniform. In October, he was informed that he would not be signing a contract for next season, and he strongly wished to continue playing in the NPB. He did not receive any official offers from other teams, so he has put an end to his eight-year professional baseball career.
"The fact that I didn't receive any offers from other teams means that the player named Shuhei Fukuda is not worthy. Of course, I feel frustrated, but I have to accept the reality," he said of his graceful decision to retire without extending his retirement beyond the new year. He was undoubtedly a memorable player.
He joined the team as the third pick in the 2017 draft from NTT East Japan. "My best memory is the training camp in my first year. The day before, I put on the uniform and looked in the mirror... My blood really boiled," he said, recalling this vivid memory. In 2019, his second year as a professional, he was appointed captain. He blossomed with his gutsy play.
In 2009, he mainly played as the leadoff hitter, contributing to the team's first championship in 25 years. On September 30, 2010, in a game against Lotte (Kyocera Dome), he successfully executed a "walk-off safety bunt." This saved the team from a precarious situation where a draw or worse would have meant missing out on the championship, leading to the team's second consecutive league championship. A home-grown player from Osaka, he was also very popular with the fans.
This season, he returned number 1. He did not revive at number 65 and only played in 23 games. "I have nothing but gratitude for GM Fukura, who has been indebted to me since my time as a coach Orix Buffaloes. From now on, he plans to leave the baseball world once and start a second life. The leadoff man who supported the golden age ended the thick and short story.
◆Fukuda Shuhei (Fukuda Shuhei) Born August 8, 1992 in Osaka Prefecture. 33 years old. After graduating from Koryo High School, Meiji University, and NTT East Japan, he joined Orix Buffaloes as the third pick in the 2017 draft. In 2019, while serving as captain, he stolen base a career-high 30 bases. In 2022, his second year after switching from infield to outfield, he won the Golden Glove Award. His career stats are a batting average of .254, 5 Home Run, 143 RBI, and 90 stolen base in 677 games. He is 167 cm tall and weighs 65 kg. He throws right and bats left. Married.
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