Japan's top setup Softbank Hawks 's Yuki Matsumoto, will make his WBC debut... Will he even play in his first international tournament? "Furious fastball" | Pacific League

Japan's best setup pitcher Softbank Hawks 's Yuki Matsumoto, will be playing in the WBC for the first time... Will he play in his first international tournament? "Furious fastball"

Sports Hochi

2026.1.16(金) 12:00

On the 16th, Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata (50) announced the 11 additional members of the Japanese national team that will participate in the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, and Softbank Hawks 's right-handed relief pitcher Yuki Matsumoto (29) was selected.

　「まず、ＷＢＣという大舞台で日本代表に選んでいただいたことをうれしく思います。日の丸を背負う責任感というものは大きいですが、そこを力に変えて自分のピッチングができればと思います。しっかりと自分の役割を果たし、世界一になれるように頑張ります」とコメントした。

Matsumoto, who was a right-handed pitcher with a top speed of 150 km/h, attracted a lot of attention from his days at Morioka University High School (Iwate Prefecture). His batting prowess, with a total of 54 Home Run in high school, also drew attention, and he joined Softbank Hawks as the first pick in the 2014 draft. However, his path to becoming a Japanese player was not smooth.

Due to inflammation in his right elbow during his high school days, he did not even pitch in the second team in his first year in 2015. He made his first team debut in his second year in 2016, but only made one appearance, and he was unable to establish himself in the first team until 2019.

His breakout year came in 2008, when he switched to the second baseman position and pitched in 25 games, helping his team win the national championship. reliever In 2010, he pitched in 44 games, and from 2011, he pitched in 50 or more games for three consecutive years. Last season, he won his first title reliever with an impressive record of 5 wins, 2 losses, 39 hold and ERA 1.07 in 51 appearances. He pitched two-thirds of 50 innings and runs only 6. In the Japan Series with Hanshin Tigers, he was a set-up man and contributed to the team's victory in Japan. pitcher He was also a member of the Japan Series with the fastball team and contributed to Japan's top team as a set-up man. His direct pitches, which he would throw in a pinch or when he was feeling emotional, were called "butthurt " by fans and became an official baseball team item.

Although he had no previous connection with the Japanese flag, he made his first appearance on Samurai Japan in the "LUXAS Samurai Japan Series 2025 Japan vs. Korea" in November of last year. He pitched one inning and closer all three batters with just seven pitches, demonstrating his suitability on the international stage and earning his first appearance in a major international tournament.

So far, there are only four pitcher who specialize in relief, including Taira (Seibu Lions), who will be reassigned as a starter this season, as well as Tase (The Giants), Ishii (Hanshin Tigers), and Matsumoto in the Samurai Japan team. The right-hander, who is as fast as any major leaguer at 159 km/h, is expected to be in the winning lineup.

◆ Matsumoto Yuki (born April 14, 1996 in Yokohama City) is 29 years old. He began playing baseball in the first grade of elementary school and played for the Seya Boys at Minami-Seya Junior High School. At Morioka University High School, he was on the bench from the spring of his first year and played in Koshien three times, in the summer of his first year, the spring of his second year, and the summer of his third year. He has worn number 1 jersey since the fall of his second year as pitcher and outfielder. He joined Softbank Hawks as the first pick in the 2014 draft. He has made 285 appearances, with 21 wins and 18 losses, 14 saves and 112 hold, and ERA 3.22. He throws right-handed and bats left-handed. He is 183 cm tall and weighs 92 kg. His wife is former SDN48 member Kaida Juri. His annual salary this season is 180 million yen.

◆ WBC Japan national team members

★ indicates the players announced this time

[pitcher = 10]

1. Yuki Matsui (Padres)

14. Taikai Ito (Nippon-Ham)

15. Large group (The Giants)

16. Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

17 Yusei Kikuchi (Angels)

19. Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles free agent)

26. Atsuki Taneichi (Lotte)

61 Kaiba Taira (Seibu Lions)

66 ★ Yuki Matsumoto (Softbank Hawks)