For the first time in Chunichi's history, players are at risk of life if hit by Fujinami's fastball

Aug 18, 2025

For the first time in Chunichi's history, players are at risk of life if hit by Fujinami's fastball
After making his first start against Chunichi on the 17th. Photo Source = Sports Nippon



For the first time in Chunichi's history, players are at risk of life if hit by Fujinami's fastball
Fujinami made his first start against Chunichi on the 17th and allowed one run in five innings. He pitched a stable pitch with a strike rate close to 70%. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS
There was no control trouble that I was concerned about, and it didn't collapse suddenly.

Right-hander Fujinami Shintaro (31), who returned to Japan for the first time in three years, made a successful comeback. As a member of the Yokohama BayStars, he made his first start in an away game against the Chunichi Dragons in Nagoya on the 17th and allowed one run in five innings. He gave up five hits and one walk and struck out five. It was his first regular season appearance in 1,059 days since he faced Hiroshima Carp for the Hanshin Tigers on September 23, 2022.

Replacement with winning pitcher requirements in 2-1 lead situation. The relief team failed to protect Hu Jinami's 58th career victory. Yokohama, which allowed a 2-4 upset, tied the game 4-4 in the eighth inning and scored an extra point in the 12th inning. He came from behind to win 5-4 and won four consecutive games. It followed the Central League's second-place Yomiuri Giants by half a game.




Fujinami, who played for Hanshin, challenged the major leagues through the posting system in 2023. He started with the Oakland Athletics in his first year and finished the season with the Baltimore Orioles. Throwing seven games as a starter for Oakland, he was relegated to the bullpen. He played in a total of 64 games, recording 7 wins, 8 losses, 5 holds, 2 saves and a 7.18 ERA.

He hasn't made it to the major leagues in the last two seasons due to chronic control problems. He signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners last winter. He tried to get promoted to the big league from Triple-A but failed. After being released as a free agent on June 17, he decided to return to Japan after agonizing over it. Yokohama actively reached out.

Fujinami was sluggish in the final second-tier game before joining the first team. While pitching three ⅓ innings, he gave up seven four outs, drawing concerns. He calmed his anxiety in his first game.




For the first time in Chunichi's history, players are at risk of life if hit by Fujinami's fastball
Fujinami, who was released from Seattle, signed with Yokohama last month. He returned to the Japanese professional baseball league after three years. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS
On this day, Chunichi filled the entire game with left-handed hitters. He said it was the first time in the club's history. Fujinami has a lot of pitches against right-handed hitters due to poor control. He could end his career by being hit by a fastball up to 160 kilometers per hour. Junichi Inoue Kazuki "I didn't want to be injured. I couldn't be in the best lineup" It's humiliating for Hu Jinami. Seiya Hosokawa, the right-handed hitter, played as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.

Fujinami hit back-to-back hits by No. 5 to 6 in the second inning and was driven to the first and third bases with no outs. He gave up one run on an infield grounder. All three hits, including one hit in the first inning, were hit fastballs with speeds of 150 kilometers per hour. Japanese media reported that Fujinami later switched to a new pitching pattern. He caught a strike with a slider and a cut fastball and induced a swing and miss. In the fourth inning, he threw a splitter in a crisis with one out and runners on the first and third bases, recording a double play. Manager Daisuke Miura praised "He played well and held on desperately well."

Japanese media said Fujinami faced eight left-handed hitters against Yakult Swallows on July 30, 2020. At that time, Fujinami allowed four runs in seven innings and became a losing pitcher.




For the first time in Chunichi's history, players are at risk of life if hit by Fujinami's fastball
Fujinami took the mound in the major leagues for Oakland and Baltimore in 2023. Since then, he has signed minor league contracts with the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners and sought to be promoted to the big league, but failed. Sports Chosun DB
Of the 86 pitches, the strike was 68 percent. It reached a maximum speed of 156 km/h. He said he threw simply thinking about the strike zone.

I'm curious about the next game.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.