1. Overview
Daichi Ishii (石井 大智Ishii DaichiJapanese, born July 29, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball player who serves as a pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is notable as the first graduate of a Higher National College of Technology (KOSEN) to enter Nippon Professional Baseball.
2. Early Life and Amateur Career
Daichi Ishii's baseball journey began in his hometown, leading him through a unique academic path at a technical college before he pursued a professional career, distinguishing himself as a pioneering figure from the KOSEN system in professional baseball.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Ishii was born in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan. He began playing baseball in the third grade, joining the "Asahikawa Sports Boys' Club." During his time at Akita Higashi Junior High School, he was initially the ace pitcher until his second year. In his third year, his classmate Shotaro Narita took over the ace role, and Ishii transitioned to an infielder.
q=Akita City|position=right
He then enrolled in Akita National College of Technology, a decision initially made with the intention of quitting baseball and pursuing a career in industrial engineering, specifically in environmental urban engineering. However, he continued playing baseball at the college. At the time of his enrollment, his former coach, Hiromasa Shirane, noted that Ishii's throwing distance was approximately 262 ft (80 m) and his fastball velocity was around 75 mph (120 km/h) at best. Ishii dedicated himself to improving his velocity, becoming the team's ace by the fall of his second year. In the summer of his third year, he pitched a three-hit shutout in the first round of the Akita Tournament against Omagari Agricultural High School Ota Branch, though his team was subsequently defeated 0-7 in the second round by Akita Shuei High School.
After losing eligibility for official high school baseball federation tournaments in his fourth and fifth years, Ishii focused on physical training and maintaining his practical skills through practice games. In his fourth year, he engaged in job hunting and received an offer from a major company. However, by his fifth year, he confided in coach Shirane about his aspiration to become a professional baseball player, inspired by his junior high teammate Shotaro Narita joining the Chiba Lotte Marines, which made him want to compete on the same stage. To support Ishii's ambition, Shirane arranged for him to participate in a tryout held by the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku Island League Plus, where he received an unofficial offer from Kochi's manager, Tokihiro Komada. Academically, Ishii maintained high grades, consistently ranking in the top 25% of his class, and even brought dumbbells into his research lab to continue his training while working on his graduation thesis, which focused on the seismic resistance of wooden houses.
In November 2017, Ishii was selected by the Kochi Fighting Dogs in the fourth round of the Shikoku Island League Plus draft and officially joined the team, wearing uniform number 17. At the time, his fastball velocity was 85 mph (136 km/h) to 85 mph (137 km/h). Komada later admitted in 2021 that he did not initially believe Ishii had the potential to reach NPB, despite his ability to perform in the independent league.
2.2. Independent League Career (2018-2020)
Daichi Ishii's tenure with the Kochi Fighting Dogs saw a significant development in his pitching prowess, marked by consistent performance improvements and a notable increase in fastball velocity, ultimately leading to his selection in the NPB draft.
2.2.1. 2018 Season
In his inaugural season with the Kochi Fighting Dogs in 2018, Ishii made 21 appearances, recording a 2-4 win-loss record with a respectable ERA of 2.08. Following the season, he was selected to represent the Shikoku Island League Plus All-Stars in the Miyazaki Phoenix League.
2.2.2. 2019 Season
The 2019 season marked a significant improvement for Ishii. He started the opening game against the Tokushima Indigo Socks, delivering a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts and allowing only one hit, a double by Junichiro Kishida, in the first inning. Throughout the season, he pitched in 18 games, throwing a team-high 108 1/3 innings, achieving a 6-5 record with an impressive ERA of 1.50. He led the league with 122 strikeouts, earning the league's Most Strikeouts title. His fastball velocity also saw a substantial increase, reaching a career-high of 94 mph (151 km/h). For the second consecutive year, he was selected to the Shikoku Island League Plus All-Stars for the Miyazaki Phoenix League. Manager Tokihiro Komada later praised Ishii's exceptional commitment to practice during this period, noting its impact on his velocity improvement.
2.2.3. 2020 Season
Ishii's final year in the independent league, 2020, saw him continue his strong performance. He appeared in 17 games, recording a 6-7 record with an ERA of 1.69 and accumulating 129 strikeouts. In September, he further improved his personal best fastball velocity, reaching 95 mph (153 km/h). He started the crucial championship decider against Tokushima on October 23, pitching 7 innings and allowing 3 runs (0 earned), but was the losing pitcher, conceding the league title to Tokushima. By this season, Ishii had attracted significant attention from NPB scouts, with 10 NPB teams sending scouting reports.
In the 2020 Nippon Professional Baseball draft, Daichi Ishii was selected in the eighth round by the Hanshin Tigers. He signed a provisional contract with a signing bonus of 15.00 M JPY and an estimated annual salary of 5.50 M JPY. He was assigned uniform number 69. Ishii's draft selection was particularly noteworthy as he became only the second player from a Higher National College of Technology (KOSEN) to be drafted into NPB, after Masato Oniyashiki. Crucially, Ishii was the first KOSEN *graduate* and the first graduate from a *National* Higher National College of Technology to be drafted, as Oniyashiki was drafted during his third year at a private KOSEN.
3. Professional Career (2021-present)
Daichi Ishii's professional career with the Hanshin Tigers has been marked by a gradual ascent, overcoming initial challenges to establish himself as a key reliever, eventually contributing to the team's successes and setting historic milestones for KOSEN graduates in NPB.
3.1. Hanshin Tigers (2021-present)
Ishii's journey with the Hanshin Tigers has seen him develop from a rookie battling for a roster spot to a reliable bullpen arm, demonstrating resilience and steady improvement over his seasons.
3.1.1. 2021 Season
Ishii began his rookie season in 2021 by making the Hanshin Tigers' first-team roster for spring training. He further earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. His professional debut occurred on March 26 against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium, where he pitched in the seventh inning as the third reliever. In this appearance, he allowed a game-tying triple to Yasutaka Shiomi, marking a tough start to his NPB career. After five appearances, he was demoted to the minor league on April 19. He was promoted and demoted twice more, and after being removed from the roster on August 26, he did not return to the first team. He finished his first year with 18 appearances, a 0-1 record, and an ERA of 6.23.
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3.1.2. 2022 Season
In 2022, Ishii again made the Opening Day roster and continued to pitch as a reliever. He showed significant improvement from the previous year, achieving an impressive ERA of 0.75. However, his appearances were limited to 18 games, the same as his rookie year, partly due to a positive test for COVID-19 during the season.
3.1.3. 2023 Season
The 2023 season proved to be a breakout year for Daichi Ishii. He made the Opening Day roster for the third consecutive year. On May 11, in a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he earned his first professional win, becoming the first KOSEN graduate to achieve a win in NPB. However, he sustained a lower back injury during this outing, which prevented him from participating in the post-game hero interview. The injury, reported by sports newspapers as a possible stress fracture, led to his de-registration from the active roster on May 12, suggesting a potentially long absence. Despite this setback, he returned later in the season and finished with career-high statistics: a 1-1 record, 19 holds, and an ERA of 1.35. He also participated in both the 2023 Central League Climax Series and the 2023 Japan Series. In the offseason, on December 5, his contract was renewed for an estimated 40.00 M JPY, an increase of 27.50 M JPY.
q=Hanshin Koshien Stadium|position=right
3.1.4. 2024 Season
Ishii secured his fourth consecutive Opening Day roster spot in 2024. His season began with struggles, as he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in 1 inning during a March 30 game against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome. This marked his third consecutive game allowing runs since the preseason, leading to his removal from the bench the following day and subsequent de-registration on April 3. He was re-promoted to the first team on May 4. On June 21, in a scoreless game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he pitched a scoreless ninth inning as the fourth reliever, and the Tigers secured a walk-off victory in the bottom of the inning, earning Ishii his first win of the season. After his re-promotion, he showed stable pitching, including a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless appearances in the latter half of the season. In September and October, he pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings across 14 appearances, maintaining a 0.00 ERA for the month, and was selected as the Hanshin Tigers' Player of the Month. He concluded the season with 56 appearances, a 4-1 record, 1 save, 30 holds, and an ERA of 1.48. On December 6, his contract was renewed for an estimated 82.00 M JPY, an increase of 42.00 M JPY.
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4. Player Profile
Daichi Ishii is a right-handed pitcher who throws overhand. His fastball reaches a maximum velocity of 96 mph (155 km/h). His pitch repertoire includes a fastball, sinker, slider, cut fastball, and curveball. He developed his sinker by studying the pitching style of Tetsuya Shiozaki.
5. Personal Life
Daichi Ishii revealed in November 2022 that he had married prior to the start of the 2022 season. His wife is a non-celebrity woman from Kanagawa Prefecture, who is seven years his senior. They met during his time with the Kochi Fighting Dogs, where she worked as a stadium announcer. Their courtship lasted approximately one year and two months after his NPB draft selection. Ishii has shared that his wife provided significant emotional support; for instance, after his challenging professional debut in 2022 where he allowed a home run to José Osuna, she encouraged him to "play without regrets" when he returned home. In September 2024, Ishii's first child, a son, was born.
6. Career Statistics and Records
6.1. Nippon Professional Baseball Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Saves | Holds | Win-Loss% | Batters Faced | Innings Pitched | Hits | Home Runs | Base on Balls | Intentional BB | Hit Batters | Strikeouts | Wild Pitches | Balks | Runs Allowed | Earned Runs | ERA | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hanshin Tigers | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 75 | 17.1 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 6.23 | 1.33 | |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 94 | 24.0 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0.75 | 0.83 | ||
| 2023 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | .500 | 165 | 40.0 | 43 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1.35 | 1.28 | ||
| 2024 | 56 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 30 | .800 | 189 | 48.2 | 34 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 1.48 | 0.99 | ||
| Career: 4 Years | 136 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 49 | .556 | 523 | 130.0 | 105 | 7 | 37 | 8 | 3 | 127 | 8 | 0 | 36 | 28 | 1.94 | 1.09 | ||
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
| Year | Team | Pitcher Fielding | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Putouts | Assists | Errors | Double Plays | Fielding% | ||
| 2021 | Hanshin | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2023 | 44 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2024 | 56 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | |
| Career | 136 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .923 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
6.2. Independent League Statistics
| Year | Team | ERA | Games | Wins | Losses | Saves | Complete Games | Shutouts | No-Walk Games | Innings Pitched | Batters Faced | Hits | Home Runs | Strikeouts | Base on Balls | Hit Batters | Runs Allowed | Earned Runs | Wild Pitshes | Balks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kochi Fighting Dogs | 2.08 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56.1 | 226 | 43 | 1 | 62 | 13 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1.50 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 108.1 | 419 | 62 | 2 | 122 | 35 | 3 | 24 | 18 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1.69 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 101 | 396 | 82 | 2 | 129 | 11 | 2 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 0 | |
| IL: 3 Years | 1.69 | 56 | 14 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 265.2 | 1041 | 187 | 5 | 313 | 59 | 7 | 70 | 50 | 25 | 0 | |
- Bold indicates league leader for that category.
6.3. Notable Records
6.3.1. Nippon Professional Baseball
;Firsts (Pitching Records)
- First Appearance: March 26, 2021, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (1st game) at Meiji Jingu Stadium, as the third reliever in the 7th inning, pitching 2/3 inning and allowing 1 run.
- First Strikeout: March 26, 2021, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (1st game) at Meiji Jingu Stadium, striking out Tetsuto Yamada swinging in the 7th inning.
- First Hold: April 1, 2023, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars (2nd game) at Kyocera Dome Osaka, as the sixth reliever in the 10th inning, pitching 1 scoreless inning.
- First Win: May 11, 2023, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (9th game) at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, as the second reliever in the 8th inning, pitching 1 scoreless inning.
- First Save: October 3, 2024, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars (25th game) at Yokohama Stadium, as the fifth reliever in the 9th inning, pitching 1 scoreless inning to complete the game.
q=Kyocera Dome Osaka|position=right
q=Yokohama Stadium|position=right
;Firsts (Batting Records)
- First Plate Appearance: August 4, 2022, against the Yomiuri Giants (18th game) at Tokyo Dome, grounding out to first base against Iori Yamasaki in the 3rd inning.
6.4. Uniform Numbers
- 17 (2018-2020)
- 69 (2021-present)
6.5. Entrance Music
- "Ashita wa Kitto Ii Hi ni Naru" (明日はきっといい日になるJapanese, "Tomorrow Will Surely be a Good Day") by Yu Takahashi (2021)
- "Zecchou wa Ima" (絶頂は今Japanese, "The Peak is Now") by Yu Takahashi (2022)
- "HIGH FIVE" by Yu Takahashi (2023-present)