Despite a slow start to the season due to three consecutive losses in their opening home series and injuries to key players, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks showed their resilience and secured their second consecutive league championship and their first Japan Series title in five years. This article will review their season, which ended with a record of 87 wins, 52 losses, and 4 ties, and a winning percentage of .626, divided into a pitcher and fielder analysis.

Moinelo, Kohei Arihara, and Tomohisa Ozeki win titles; four pitcher reach double-digit win

In his second year as a pitcher, Moinelo had another outstanding season, going 12-3 with a 1.46 ERA in 24 games, earning him his second consecutive ERA title. In June, he recorded 18 strike out in a game against the Tokyo Yakult on the 6th, tying for third all-time in NPB history and the most by a foreign player. On the 13th, he pitched complete game win against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, allowing only 3 hit strike out 1 runs while striking out 13 over 9 innings. He finished with a 2-0 record, a 0.90 ERA, and 42 strike out in 4 games, earning him the Monthly MVP award.

Furthermore, in the Persol CS Pacific League Final Stage, he started the first game and pitched brilliantly, allowing no runs in seven innings. The team, which had won two straight games and was one win away from clinching the title, then suffered three consecutive losses, and the series went to a crucial sixth game with the record tied at 3 wins and 3 losses. Moinelo pitcher again after only four days of rest, but he pitched well, throwing 93 pitches over seven innings, allowing only three hit and one runs. He was awarded the MVP.

Opening day pitcher pitcher Kohei Arihara pitched well through five innings in the opening game, but gave up six runs in the sixth inning, resulting in a loss. His next start was also a pitch, giving up six runs in the middle of the fourth inning, but on April 25th he earned his first win of the season with eight hit innings, allowing only five runs. In July, he had an excellent record of 4 wins and 0 losses in four games with ERA of 1.50, earning him the monthly MVP award, and went on an eight-game winning streak in the middle of the season. He finished with 14 wins and 9 losses in 26 games with ERA 3.03, winning the most wins title for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

In 24 appearances, he went 13-5 with a ERA 1.66 record and a .722 winning percentage, his first title and the No. 1 ranking in winning percentage. Tomohisa Ozeki pitcher He was the core of the team with a career-high 9 wins in a row, starting with a win win against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on May 17, and cleared the innings pitched rule. He did not win a game against The Giants on June 12, but pitched 5 perfect innings and 3 hit 2 Walk 8 strike out no runs innings in the 9th.

　On April 6th, pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa pitched six runs pitch against the Saitama Seibu Lions, earning his first win since returning to NPB. In August, he posted a 4-0 record with a 1.73 ERA in four games, earning him the monthly MVP award. In his first year, he reached the required number of innings pitched, tied his personal best with 12 wins and 6 losses and a 2.74 ERA, supporting the team as part of the "10-win quartet" and making a significant contribution to their championship victory.

The impenetrable relief pitching staff of Koya Fujii → Yuki Matsumoto → Kazuki Sugiyama is the win formula.

The strength of Fukuoka Softbank this season was also due to their solid relief pitching staff. pitcher Yuki Matsumoto played a key role in the team's winning pattern from the start of the season, recording 15 consecutive holds starting from the game against Orix Buffaloes hold April 8th. In total, he appeared in 51 games, recording 5 wins, 2 losses, 39 holds, ERA of 1.07, and 44 hold points, earning him his first career title, the Best reliever Award.

pitcher Kazuki Sugiyama, who also won his first career saves title, was promoted to closer in June, replacing the struggling pitcher Osuna. He pitched in tense situations and protected the team's win with strike out high strike out rate of 11.89. He joined the title race with 7 saves in July and 9 in August, and added 8 more saves in September, reaching a tie for the top spot with 31 saves in the final game of the season. He made a significant contribution by appearing in a team-high 75 games, including the postseason.

Although he did not win the title, Koya Fujii pitcher was also one of the relief pitchers who kept the team win. pitcher made his first appearance of the season on March 29th, pitching in the bottom of the 10th inning with extra inning tied, but gave up the winning hit, resulting in a disappointing start to the season. However, he made the necessary adjustments afterward and returned to the winning pattern, performing brilliantly from May onward with 14 consecutive runs appearances. Although he was sidelined at the very end of the season due to lower back pain, he appeared in 51 games, recording 2 wins, 3 losses, 19 holds and 2 saves, strike out rate of 13.50, and ERA of 1.44, supporting bullpen.

Others struggled immediately after the opening of the season, but since the summer when they returned, they have regained their original pitch Hernandez. pitcher He played a variety of roles such as a fireman, a firefighter, and a straddler, and made 38 appearances, the most in his career. Shuto Ogata pitcher He joined the team from The Giants in a trade in May. Ryusei Oe pitcher Relievers outside of the winning pattern also struggled, including Both starters and bullpen were consistent, leaving a league-leading ERA 2.39.

2023 Draft Pick #1, Yugo Maeda, earns his first professional win, leaving a strong impression as a young Hawk.

The young eagles also made their presence felt this season. In his third year in the starting rotation, he was unable to get a white star in the early innings of the season. Jun Maeda pitcher In his third year in the rotation, he had a hard time getting a white star in the early going, but on May 15 at Saitama Seibu Lions, he got his first white star of the season with a no hit no walk pitch score until the fourth inning. As a result, he got his first white star of the season with 2 hit 1 Walk 5 strike out no runs 103 pitches in 7 innings. hit pitch He also got his second win against Chunichi in the interleague game, pitching eight innings, his longest outing, without pitching since July.

Similarly, third-year pitcher Haru Matsumoto started the season as a relief pitcher in the first team. He made a name for himself with 12 consecutive scoreless runs, and then moved to the starting rotation. He earned his first win as a starter this season on June 22 against Hanshin Tigers Tigers, and in the following game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on July 3, he pitched a career-high 7 innings, allowing only 7 hit, no Hit by Pitch strike out 14, and giving up only 1 runs (0 earned runs). He ultimately finished the season with 6 wins, 6 losses, 2 holds, and ERA of 2.76 in 29 appearances.

pitcher Yugo Maeda, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, had a successful season in the minor leagues, winning the monthly MVP award in June, and made his first appearance in the major leagues on July 13 against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles. He pitched well through five innings, allowing only two hit, and although he gave up consecutive hits in the bottom of the sixth inning, he runs with triple play, keeping the score at 0-0. With luck on his side, pitcher earned his first professional win. Although he didn't achieve the results he hoped for in subsequent appearances, he laid the foundation for future success.

Fukuoka Softbank have produced five pitcher title winners. As they aim for a third consecutive championship next season, pitcher Arihara, who recorded 14 wins, is expected to leave the team, raising concerns about changes in their starting rotation. However, they have acquired pitcher Xu Ruoxi from the Wei Chuan The Dragons. Will their stable pitcher staff bring them win next season?

Written by Aoi Nemoto