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Ukyo Shuto

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Ukyo Shuto
Shuto with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 23
Infielder / Outfielder
Born: (1996-02-10) February 10, 1996 (age 28)
Ōta, Gunma, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
NPB debut
April 7, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.246
Home runs12
RBI70
Hits271
Stolen bases154
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2023 Miami Team
WBSC Premier12
Gold medal – first place 2019 Tokyo Team
U-23 Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2018 Barranquilla Team

Ukyo Shuto (周東 佑京, Shūtō Ukyō, born February 10, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder/outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

He is the world record holder with a record of 13 consecutive games with stolen bases.[1]

Early baseball career

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Shuto participated three times in the Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship and once in the Meiji Shrine Baseball Championship while studying at the Tokyo University of Agriculture Hokkaido Okhotsk.

In 2017, he was selected most valuable player in the Hokkaido Universities Baseball League.[2]

Professional career

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On October 26, 2017, Shuto was drafted as a developmental player by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[3][4]

In 2018 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 leagues. On October 3, despite being a developmental player, he was selected as the Japan national baseball team for the 2018 U-23 Baseball World Cup because of his speed and defense.[5]

On March 26, 2019, Shuto signed a 6 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control.[6] In the 2019 season, he played mainly as a defensive player and a pinch runner and recorded 25 stolen bases while being caught five times while batting .196/.212/.294 in 102 at bats.[7]

On October 30, 2020, Shuto achieved 13 games consecutive stolen bases, breaking the NPB record for Yutaka Fukumoto's 11 games consecutive stolen bases in 1974 and the MLB record for 12 games consecutive stolen bases for Bert Campaneris in 1969.[1] In 2020 season, Shuto won the Pacific League stolen bases leader award with a record of 50 stolen bases,[8] and hitting .270/.325/.352 in 307 at bats, with a one home run, a 27 RBIs. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, Shuto contributed to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series championship with one hit, one stolen base and good defense.[8][9] December 17, Shuto was honored for the Pacific League Stolen bases Leader Award and NPB Commissioner's Special Award at the NPB AWARD 2020.[10][11]

In the 2021 season, he had played in the season opener, but on June 10 he broke the index finger of his right hand and was dropped from the first team registration.[12] He also underwent surgery on his right shoulder on September 10, the team announced.[13] Because of this, he only played in 70 games, finishing the season with a .201 batting average, three home runs, five runs batted in, and 21 stolen bases.

On June 7, 2022, Shuto recorded a total of 100 stolen bases in the interleague play against the Hanshin Tigers.[14] He also hit his first walk-off home run on June 18 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and his first lead-off home run on August 4 against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[15][16] In 2022 season, he finished the regular season with a .267 batting average, five home runs, a 15 RBI, and a 22 stolen bases in 80 games.

On April 11, 2023, Shuto recorded a three stolen bases in a game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[17] He also recorded a total of 150 stolen bases in the against the Orix Buffaloes on September 23, 2023.[18] Shuto played 114 games, and finished the season with a .241 batting average, a 2 home runs, a 36 stolen bases, and a 17 RBIs.

His 36 stolen bases are tied with Hiroto Kobukata for the top record in the Pacific League, and he was honored with the Pacific League Stolen bases Leader Award at NPB AWARD 2023 for the first time since the 2020 season.[19]

International career

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On October 3, 2018, despite being a developmental player, he was selected as the Japan national baseball team for the 2018 U-23 Baseball World Cup because of his speed and defense.[5]

On October 1, 2019, unusual case, Shuto was evaluated for base-running technique as a pinch runner and was selected as the Japan national baseball top team for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament.[20][21] He led the tournament with four stolen bases.[22]

Shuto was called up to the Japan national baseball team for the Samurai Japan Series 2022 and recorded a stolen base against the Australia on November 10, 2022.[23]

Shuto joined Samurai Japan for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he is remembered for scoring the winning run on a walk off double by Munetaka Murakami in the semifinals against Mexico. He was pinch running for Masataka Yoshida, who drew a walk the previous at-bat. He ran from first to home in 10.28 seconds, maxing at 30.4 feet per second.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク周東ついに「世界一」13試合連続盗塁". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 30, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 東農大北海道・周東指名待つ 走力抜群イチロー超え". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク育成２位、東農大北海道・周東は俊足". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  4. ^ In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under control (active 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 control within the 3-year contract period (non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  5. ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site news (Japanese) 周東選手が侍ジャパン選出！U-23 W杯に出場". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク育成の周東佑京、川原弘之と支配下登録". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 26, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  7. ^ "Ukyo Shuto Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
  8. ^ a b "Sankei Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク・周東がシリーズ初盗塁「まず一つできて、ほっとしている」". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク周東やっと出た13打席目の初安打 再三の美技も披露". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 24, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2020年度 表彰選手 (パシフィック・リーグ)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  11. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2020年度 日本野球機構表彰". NPB.jp (in Japanese). December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news ソフトバンク 周東が骨折で登録抹消 工藤監督「昨日は大丈夫と言っていたけど」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). June 10, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク周東、右肩手術が終了 復帰まで約6カ月で今季絶望に". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 11, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  14. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news ソフトバンク・周東がプロ通算100盗塁 梅ちゃんバズーカかいくぐり大台に到達". Daily Sports (in Japanese). June 7, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  15. ^ "Daily Sports baseball news ソフトバンク首位返り咲き 周東が人生初サヨナラ弾 世代の星・松井裕に"下克上"". Daily Sports (in Japanese). June 19, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "Nikkansports Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】周東佑京、自身初の初回先頭打者本塁打「真っすぐを完璧に」初球とらえて4号". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトB・周東 3盗塁&WBC準決勝ばり劇勝生還 さすが世界のスピードスター". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). April 12, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news 周東が通算150盗塁を達成 今季32盗塁で3年ぶり2度目の盗塁王へばく進中". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). September 23, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク周東佑京、2度目の盗塁王に「走ってくると分かった上での難しさ」苦悩乗り越えた喜び明かす【NPBアワーズ】". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "TOPTEAM 2019 List of Players Announced on 10/24/2019"". Official website of Japan national baseball team (in Japanese). October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  21. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク周東プレミア12選出へ 異例の代走侍". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 26, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "II Premier12 2019 - the official site - WBSC".
  23. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク周東が「侍初打点」 犠飛に二盗に猛アピール". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  24. ^ "Shohei Ohtani, Japan rally to beat Mexico and advance to World Baseball Classic final". Los Angeles Times. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
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