Ayumu Ishikawa

2.1. Youth and High School

Ishikawa began his baseball journey in the 3rd grade at Honge Elementary School, joining the Honge Sports Youth Club in his hometown of Uozu City, Toyama. He continued playing soft baseball during his time at Uozu City Seibu Junior High School. Later, he joined the hardball baseball team at Toyama Prefectural Namekawa High School. In his third year, as the team's ace, he started three games in the summer prefectural tournament. However, his team was defeated 3-6 by Toyama Daiichi High School in the third round, preventing him from reaching the prestigious Koshien Tournament. One year his junior on the team was Yuki Takeshima. Ishikawa initially considered ending his baseball career after high school to pursue studies in a fashion-related vocational school, but he was persuaded by those around him to try out for a university team, a selection he successfully passed.

2.2. University and Industrial League

Ishikawa's development as a pitcher continued through his university and industrial league years, eventually catching the attention of professional scouts. He enrolled at Chubu University, making his debut in official games during the spring of his first year. In his second year, he competed in the Spring National University Baseball Championship, marking his first appearance on a national stage. That autumn, he achieved a breakthrough year, securing three wins in league play and earning a selection as a candidate for the University Japan National Team. By his fourth year, Ishikawa had become the team's ace, leading them with a stellar 0.69 ERA in the spring, for which he received the Best ERA award. He also recorded five wins in the autumn, consistently building his resume. Despite attracting attention from professional scouts, he chose not to declare for the professional draft at that time, instead opting to join the industrial league powerhouse Tokyo Gas baseball club.

Upon joining Tokyo Gas in 2011, Ishikawa made his corporate league debut in the spring's JABA Tokyo Sponichi Tournament qualifier against Kazusa Magic, earning his first victory with 5 innings pitched and 2 earned runs allowed. He also started in the 82nd Intercity Baseball Tournament, but was knocked out early after 3 innings and 4 earned runs against Hakuwa Victories. In his second year (2012), despite growing attention from professional scouts, Tokyo Gas was eliminated in the Intercity Baseball Tournament qualifiers, and Ishikawa's performance was not particularly noteworthy, leading to him not being selected as a reinforcement player. The team also failed to advance from the Japan Championship qualifiers, and he was notably not drafted in the October 2012 NPB draft. Reflecting on his 2012 season, Ishikawa admitted he had reduced his practice volume in an attempt to maintain a stable condition, driven by his strong desire to go professional. For his third year (2013), he committed to rigorous weight training and running, which significantly improved his fastball velocity, pushing it past 93 mph ^{(150 km/h)}, and enhancing his control. In the 84th Intercity Baseball Tournament, he demonstrated remarkable stability, starting two games and allowing only 1 earned run over 15 innings with 8 hits, leading Tokyo Gas to the quarterfinals and earning him the tournament's Outstanding Player award. In September, he was selected for the East Asian Games Japan National Team, where he served as a closer in four games, allowing only a single earned run and contributing to Japan's gold medal victory. He concluded 2013 with an impressive 0.50 ERA across seven awards-eligible tournaments, pitching 54 innings with only 3 earned runs, which earned him the Annual Best ERA award; he was one of only two players, including Daiki Tomei, to achieve a sub-1.00 ERA that year.

On October 24, 2013, during the 2013 Nippon Professional Baseball draft, Ishikawa was selected as the first overall pick by two teams: the Yomiuri Giants and the Chiba Lotte Marines. In the subsequent lottery draw, Marines manager Tsutomu Ito won the negotiation rights. Watching the draft from the Tokyo Gas baseball club's clubhouse in Ota City, Ishikawa later recounted getting goosebumps from manager Ito's triumphant arm raise after winning the lottery. He became the third player from Toyama Prefecture to be selected in the first round of the NPB draft, following Masamitsu Suzuki (2005) and Masato Nakazawa (2009). He also holds the distinction of being the last player born in the Showa era to be a first-round draft pick. On November 28, Ishikawa finalized his contract with the Marines at a hotel in Tokyo, agreeing to a reported 100.00 M JPY signing bonus, a 50.00 M JPY incentive package, and an annual salary of 15.00 M JPY. During the press conference, he expressed his determination to "work hard to become a player who can meet expectations." His uniform number was assigned as 12.

3.1. 2014 Season

Ishikawa began his professional career in 2014, earning a spot in the Chiba Lotte Marines' starting rotation right out of spring training. He showed immediate promise in the pre-season, recording a 1.42 ERA over four appearances, securing his place on the opening-day roster alongside fellow rookies Yuta Yoshida, Shohei Yoshihara, and Seiya Inoue. His professional debut came on March 30, as a starter in the third game of the season against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome. Pitching to rookie catcher Yoshida, he threw 5.2 innings, giving up 8 hits and 2 unearned runs, but did not factor into the decision as the Marines lost 3-2.

His first professional victory arrived on April 6 against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at QVC Marine Field. Despite a 34-minute rain delay in the 5th inning, Ishikawa pitched a complete game, allowing only 3 hits and 1 run over 9 innings, securing a 7-1 win for Lotte. He continued to be a consistent presence in the starting rotation. On August 5, after earning his seventh win against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, he suffered a split nail on his right middle finger, leading to his removal from the active roster the following day. He returned to minor league action on August 23 and was reinstated to the first team on August 29. On October 1, he delivered his first professional shutout against the Saitama Seibu Lions at QVC Marine Field, allowing just 4 hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts over 9 innings, securing his 10th win of the season. This made him the only Pacific League rookie to reach the qualifying innings limit, finishing with 10 wins, 8 losses, and a 3.43 ERA in 25 starts. His impressive performance earned him the Pacific League Rookie of the Year honor, making him the first player from Toyama Prefecture to receive the award. Following the season, he signed a new contract with an estimated annual salary of 37.00 M JPY, a 22.00 M JPY increase.

3.2. 2015 Season

In 2015, Ishikawa continued to be a staple in the Marines' opening-day rotation. He started the home opener against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, pitching 7 innings and allowing 3 runs to earn his first win of the season. On April 28, he pitched his second career complete-game shutout against the Saitama Seibu Lions, allowing only 2 hits over 9 innings, contributing to a 3-0 victory and extending his season-opening winning streak to three games. He also recorded another shutout win against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on June 30.

Despite again reaching the qualifying innings limit, Ishikawa experienced significant challenges due to a lack of run support from his team. On three separate occasions, he suffered a loss even after pitching 7 or more innings and allowing 2 or fewer earned runs. He concluded the season with 12 wins and a league-leading 12 losses, along with a 3.27 ERA over 27 starts. Notably, he became the first Lotte pitcher in 64 years to record back-to-back double-digit win seasons to start his career. In the postseason, he started Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series First Stage against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 runs to earn the win. His strong performance led to a contract renewal with an estimated annual salary of 75.00 M JPY, an increase of 38.00 M JPY.

3.3. 2016 Season

Ishikawa entered the 2016 season as a member of the Marines' opening-day rotation for the third consecutive year. He made his season debut as a starter in the second series opener against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on March 29, delivering a strong performance with 7 innings pitched, 4 hits, and only 1 run allowed, earning the win. However, he was scratched from his next scheduled start due to a stiff neck and was subsequently removed from the active roster on April 6.

He returned to the first team on April 19 against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, pitching 7.1 innings and allowing 2 runs, but took the loss. On May 10, he suffered a complete game loss against SoftBank, allowing 2 runs. Despite this, he bounced back quickly, securing his third win of the season on May 17 against the Saitama Seibu Lions with 7 innings and 1 run allowed. On July 2, he pitched a shutout against the Orix Buffaloes, extending his personal winning streak to seven games and tying for the league lead in wins with nine, while also leading the league in ERA. His impressive form earned him his first All-Star Game selection via manager's recommendation on July 4, and he participated in Game 1.

Ishikawa continued his dominant pitching in the second half of the season, recording two more shutouts - one against SoftBank on August 11 for his 12th win, and another against Orix on September 14 for his 14th win. He maintained his consistent performance through the end of the regular season, finishing with 23 starts, a league-leading 5 complete games (tied), a league-leading 3 shutouts, 14 wins, 5 losses, and a remarkable 2.16 ERA, which earned him the Best ERA title. He also received the Best Battery Award with his catcher, Tatsuhiro Tamura. In the postseason, he started Game 2 of the Pacific League Climax Series First Stage against the SoftBank Hawks, but took the loss after allowing 2 runs over 5.2 innings. Following the season, he was selected for the Japan National Team's warm-up games in November. His excellent season was rewarded with a contract renewal for an estimated 130.00 M JPY, a 55.00 M JPY increase, marking the highest salary for a Marines player in his fourth professional year.

3.4. 2017 Season

The 2017 season presented significant challenges for Ayumu Ishikawa, coming off his participation in the 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) with the Japan National Team, which he rejoined the Marines from on March 24. His regular season debut on April 4, as the starter for Lotte's home opener against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, was a struggle. He threw 120 pitches over just 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 runs (1 earned), resulting in a loss.

His struggles continued in his subsequent starts: on April 11 against the Orix Buffaloes, he threw 98 pitches in just 3 innings, surrendering 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs (4 earned), taking another loss. On April 18, against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, he gave up 6 runs in 5 innings. With an 0-3 record and a 7.62 ERA through his first three starts, he was demoted to the minor league indefinitely, with speculation that his poor performance was a lingering effect of his WBC participation. Ishikawa was reinstated to the first team on May 23. However, on June 6, he suffered his sixth consecutive loss to start the season against the Chunichi Dragons, though he felt his pitching was showing signs of improvement. He finally earned his first victory of the season on June 13 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, pitching 7 innings and allowing 1 run. On July 2, he was ejected from a game against the Nippon-Ham Fighters for a dangerous pitch.

By the All-Star break, Ishikawa's record stood at 1 win and 8 losses with a 4.45 ERA. In the second half, he continued to struggle with three more starts where he allowed 6 or more earned runs, limiting his total starts to just six. He finished the 2017 season with an uncharacteristic 3 wins and 11 losses, and a 5.09 ERA in 16 starts. Following this disappointing season, his contract was renewed for an estimated 110.00 M JPY, a decrease of 20.00 M JPY.

3.5. 2018 Season

Ayumu Ishikawa began the 2018 season showing signs of a strong rebound. He made his first start on April 3 against the Orix Buffaloes, pitching 7 innings and allowing only 1 run to earn the win. On April 17, against the same team, he delivered a complete-game victory, surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) over 9 innings, marking his third consecutive win to start the season.

Despite a brief three-game losing streak that followed, he quickly found his form, embarking on a personal six-game winning streak where he allowed one or fewer earned runs in each start. His performance during the interleague play was particularly outstanding, as he led both leagues with 4 wins in 4 starts, ranked second in innings pitched (26.2 innings), and third in ERA (1.01), earning him the Nippon Life Award. By July 1, his record stood at 9 wins and 3 losses with a 2.17 ERA, which led to his second All-Star Game selection, where he pitched in Game 2.

However, the second half of the season brought a series of misfortunes. On July 24, he left a game against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after just 2 innings due to discomfort in his right shoulder. On July 31, in a game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he endured a historically difficult first inning, allowing a professional baseball record-tying 11 hits and conceding 10 runs in just 0.2 innings, both career-worsts. He was immediately removed from the active roster on August 1. While this was initially intended as a refreshing adjustment, he unfortunately suffered a right ankle sprain during a running session, leading to a prolonged absence. Ishikawa eventually returned to the first team on September 21 against the Saitama Seibu Lions, but he struggled, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings. He continued to struggle in his subsequent two starts, giving up 6 runs in each. He finished the season with 9 wins, 8 losses, and a 3.92 ERA in 21 starts. Following the season, he signed a contract for an estimated 115.00 M JPY, a 5.00 M JPY increase.

3.6. 2019 Season

The 2019 season saw Ayumu Ishikawa earn his first career opening-day start for the Chiba Lotte Marines. In that game, he pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 4 runs, and did not receive a decision. Following this, he developed lower back pain during his preparation for the next start and was removed from the active roster on April 4. He returned to the first team on April 14 against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, delivering 5 scoreless innings but again without a decision.

After a period without a win, he secured his first victory of the season on May 12 against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, pitching 6 innings and allowing 4 runs, which ignited a personal three-game winning streak. However, on June 9, he took a loss against the Yomiuri Giants after allowing 6 runs in 4 innings. On June 15, he was removed from the roster due to right elbow discomfort, which was later diagnosed as flexor carpi ulnaris inflammation, with an estimated return to pitching in two weeks.

Ishikawa made a unique return to the first team on July 10, appearing as a relief pitcher for the first time in his professional career against the Nippon-Ham Fighters. Entering in the 5th inning with a 3-run lead, he pitched 2 scoreless innings and earned his first career hold. On August 6, he again entered in relief after starting pitcher Daiki Iwashita suffered an ankle injury, pitching 4 scoreless innings. This successful relief stint paved the way for his return to the starting rotation on August 13 against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, where he pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just 1 run, though he didn't factor into the decision. On August 20, he earned his first win in 79 days against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, pitching 8 innings, allowing 6 hits, no walks, and 2 runs, while striking out 11. He attributed his improved control to his recent experience as a reliever. He continued his strong pitching as a starter, recording Quality Starts in all seven of his post-return starts, achieving a 5-0 record with a 1.90 ERA during that span.

Overall, Ishikawa appeared in 27 games (17 starts) in 2019, finishing with 8 wins, 5 losses, and 5 holds, with a 3.64 ERA. In the offseason, he signed a contract for an estimated 105.00 M JPY, a 10.00 M JPY decrease. He also privately informed the team of his aspiration to play in MLB in the future, a goal the team supported.

3.7. 2020 Season

The 2020 season saw Ayumu Ishikawa designated as the Chiba Lotte Marines' opening-day starter for the second consecutive year, a decision that came after Manabu Mima, the initially planned starter, suffered an abdominal injury, and the season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite allowing a league-worst 19 home runs during the season, he finished with a record of 7 wins and 6 losses, and a 4.25 ERA in 21 starts. In a condensed schedule, Ishikawa played a crucial role as an "innings eater" for the Marines. He pitched a league-leading 133.1 innings without any significant absences, contributing significantly to the team's advancement to a second-place finish in the league. Following the season, he signed a new contract for an estimated 110.00 M JPY, a 5.00 M JPY increase.

3.8. 2021 Season

Ayumu Ishikawa's 2021 season began with a challenging start as he began spring training with the minor league team, missing the opening-day rotation for the first time in his professional career due to lower body conditioning issues that delayed his preparation. His first appearance of the season was not until April 13. He struggled in May, allowing 4 or more earned runs in all three of his starts, leading to his removal from the roster on May 24. On June 3, he underwent a right elbow joint cleaning surgery, which cast doubt on his return to play that season.

However, Ishikawa's rehabilitation progressed, and he returned to minor league action on August 18. Though he struggled in that initial outing, managing only one out while allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, and 7 runs, he steadily improved. By September 1, he pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 unearned runs in a minor league game. He made a strong return to the first team on September 9 against the Orix Buffaloes and demonstrated consistent pitching thereafter. He earned his first win since returning on September 19 against Orix, pitching 6 scoreless innings. On October 14, he threw his first complete-game win since April 17, 2018, also against Orix, and followed it with 8 scoreless innings against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on October 24. These crucial performances demonstrated his significant presence as the team contended for the league title. Despite the impact of his surgery, he finished the regular season with 6 wins, 3 losses, and a 3.38 ERA in 12 starts.

In the postseason, Ishikawa started Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage, delivering a solid performance with 7 innings pitched and 1 run allowed. His future was a subject of much attention in the offseason, given his previously expressed interest in pursuing MLB via the posting system, as well as his acquisition of domestic free agent rights during the season. However, on December 4, he announced his decision to remain with the Marines, foregoing his domestic FA rights. On December 10, he signed a new two-year contract for an estimated 150.00 M JPY, a 40.00 M JPY increase, affirming his commitment to the team.

3.9. 2022 Season

Ayumu Ishikawa was named the Chiba Lotte Marines' opening-day starter for the third time in his career and the second consecutive year in 2022. He marked the occasion by earning his first career opening-day win, pitching 7 scoreless innings against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on March 25. He maintained a strong presence in the starting rotation, posting an impressive 1.81 ERA through 11 starts. However, he was sidelined by lower back pain and removed from the active roster on June 15.

He returned to the first team on July 13 against the Saitama Seibu Lions, delivering a commendable performance of 7 innings and 2 runs allowed, but unfortunately, he took the loss due to a lack of run support. On July 20, also against the Seibu Lions, he earned his sixth win of the season with 6 innings pitched and 3 runs allowed, though he surrendered two home runs in that outing. His susceptibility to home runs became more noticeable in subsequent starts. On September 6, he notably allowed three consecutive home runs against the Seibu Lions. In his next start on September 13 against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he struggled significantly, giving up 10 hits and 7 runs in just 4.2 innings. He was then removed from the active roster on September 17 due to upper body conditioning issues, which effectively ended his season. Ishikawa concluded the 2022 season with 7 wins, 7 losses, and a 2.93 ERA in 20 starts.

3.10. 2023 Season: Injury and Development Contract

The 2023 season marked a significant setback in Ayumu Ishikawa's career. He was initially slated to be the Chiba Lotte Marines' opening-day starter for the fourth time, but he had to withdraw due to right upper limb conditioning issues. Throughout the entire season, Ishikawa was absent from first-team play, marking the first time in his professional career that he did not make a major league appearance. His limited action consisted of only three appearances in the minor league, where he posted a 7.71 ERA.

On October 25, the Marines announced that Ishikawa had been diagnosed with a symptomatic Bennett's lesion and a labral tear in his right shoulder. He underwent surgery on October 24 to remove bone spurs and decompress the posterior capsule, along with a cleaning procedure on the labrum. On October 31, he was released from his active roster contract, with plans for him to re-sign under a development contract. He officially re-signed as a development player on November 30, with his estimated annual salary decreasing by 40.00 M JPY to 110.00 M JPY. His uniform number was changed to 122 under the development contract.

3.11. 2024 Season: Return to Active Roster

The 2024 season saw Ayumu Ishikawa successfully rehabilitate from his shoulder surgery and make a remarkable return to the Chiba Lotte Marines' active roster. While on his development contract, he pitched in eight minor league games, accumulating 25 innings with an impressive 2-0 record and a 1.08 ERA. His strong performance in the minor leagues led to his reinstatement to the active roster on June 24, with his uniform number reverting to his original 12.

On June 30, Ishikawa made his highly anticipated return to the first team, starting against the Orix Buffaloes. This marked his first major league start in 656 days, since September 13, 2022. He delivered a stellar performance, pitching 5 scoreless innings and allowing only 3 hits, earning his first win in 669 days since August 31, 2022, a testament to his perseverance and effective rehabilitation.

4.1. 2016 Warm-up Games

In November 2016, Ishikawa was selected to the Japan National Team, known as Samurai Japan, to participate in warm-up games against the national baseball teams of the Netherlands and Mexico. He made a start against the Netherlands on November 12, where he pitched 4 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. These games served as preparation for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

4.2. 2017 World Baseball Classic

Ishikawa was part of the Japan National Team roster for the 2017 World Baseball Classic in March 2017. He was a starting pitcher in two key games during the tournament. In the first round, he started against the Cuban national team, delivering a composed performance by pitching 4 innings and allowing just 1 earned run. In the second round, he again took the mound as a starter, this time against the Netherlands. However, this outing proved more challenging, as he struggled against the powerful Dutch lineup, surrendering 5 earned runs in 3 innings and being unable to maintain an early lead. Overall in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Ishikawa made 2 appearances, both starts, with a record of 1 win and 0 losses. He pitched a total of 7.0 innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 home runs, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts, accumulating 6 earned runs for an ERA of 7.71.

6.1. Appearance Music

Ayumu Ishikawa has used various entrance songs throughout his career:

• "Timber" by Pitbull featuring Kesha (2014)
• "Shiroi Kumo no You ni" (白い雲のように) by Saruganseki (2015)
• "Till I Collapse" by Eminem (2017)
• "Love Never Felt So Good" by Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake (2016, 2018-2021, 2024-)
• "Where Is The Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas (2022)

7.1. Titles and Individual Awards

• Best ERA: 1 time (2016)
• Rookie of the Year (2014)
• Monthly MVP: 2 times (Pitcher Division: September 2015, August 2020)
• Best Battery Award: 1 time (2016, with catcher Tatsuhiro Tamura)
• Interleague Play Nippon Life Award: 1 time (2018)
• Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Rookie of the Year (2014)

7.2. Major Records

• Firsts:**
  • First appearance and first start: March 30, 2014, vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome; pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 2 runs (0 earned), no decision.
  • First strikeout: March 30, 2014, vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks; struck out Nobuhiro Matsuda swinging in the 1st inning.
  • First win, first start win, first complete game, and first complete game win: April 6, 2014, vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at QVC Marine Field; pitched 9 innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 run.
  • First shutout win: October 1, 2014, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions at QVC Marine Field; pitched 9 innings, allowing 4 hits, 10 strikeouts, and no walks.
  • First hold: July 10, 2019, vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at ZOZO Marine Stadium; pitched 2 scoreless innings as the 3rd reliever.
  • First hit (batting): May 24, 2014, vs. Yomiuri Giants at QVC Marine Field; recorded an infield single off Tomoyuki Sugano in the 5th inning.
• Milestones:**
  • 1000 innings pitched: April 27, 2021, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions at MetLife Dome; achieved by inducing a flyout from Tomoya Mori to left field in the 4th inning with one out, becoming the 358th player in NPB history to reach this milestone.
• Other Records:**
  • Three consecutive seasons with double-digit wins since his debut (2014-2016), a first in Chiba Lotte Marines franchise history.
  • Allowed 11 hits in one inning on July 31, 2018, vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, which is an NPB record (tied).
  • Named Opening Day Starter: 3 times (2019, 2020, 2022).
  • All-Star Game appearances: 2 times (2016, 2018).

8.1. Nippon Professional Baseball

8.2. World Baseball Classic