Eiji Ochiai

3.1. Chunichi Dragons Career

Ochiai joined the Chunichi Dragons in 1992. In his rookie year, he underwent a significant surgical procedure to embed a sapphire in his elbow, which led to him spending the entire season in rehabilitation. He made his first-team debut in 1993, and for several years thereafter, his appearances were limited to short-relief roles due to the lingering condition of his elbow. From 1995, driven by team needs, he began to receive more opportunities as a starting pitcher. While he demonstrated the ability to pitch complete games as a starter, his performances were inconsistent, characterized by significant fluctuations between good and bad outings, which prevented him from achieving sustained success in that role. During the period when Hiromitsu Ochiai, who shared the same surname, was also an active player for the Dragons, Eiji was typically identified on scoreboards as 落合英_{Ochiai Ei}^Japanese (Ochiai Eiji), while Hiromitsu was simply listed as 落合_Ochiai^Japanese. However, at Tokyo Dome for a time, Hiromitsu was occasionally listed as 落合博_{Ochiai Hiro}^Japanese (Ochiai Hiroshi), and some print media, such as the Yomiuri Shimbun, also used 落合博_{Ochiai Hiro}^Japanese for Hiromitsu.

A pivotal moment in his career occurred in 1998 with the arrival of Yukinori Miyata, his former university senior, as the pitching coach. Miyata's strategy involved establishing Ochiai as a dedicated setup man, bridging the gap to closer Sun Dong-yol. In this new role, Ochiai flourished, appearing in 55 games, which was the second-highest in the league after Takehiro Yumicho. He posted a 2.82 ERA, with 4 wins, 5 losses, and 5 saves, earning him the Most Valuable Middle Reliever title with 19.70 relief points. The following year, in 1999, Ochiai was selected for his first All-Star Game in his eighth professional season. That year, he formed a powerful bullpen alongside Lee Sang-hoon and rookie Hitoki Iwase, playing a crucial role in the team's league championship victory. In the 1999 Japan Series against the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, he made three relief appearances, notably relieving Kenshin Kawakami in the 9th inning of Game 2 to secure a win. In the offseason on December 24, he signed a new contract for 86.00 M JPY, an increase of 29.00 M JPY.

In 2000, Ochiai's season began with a setback as he suffered right shoulder pain during spring training, leading to a start in the minor leagues. While reports on March 18 indicated he aimed for a May return to the first team, recurring pain in mid-April and mid-May delayed his recovery. Consequently, he made only one appearance in the first half of the season, against the Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium on July 19. He ultimately pitched in 21 games, finishing with a 2.75 ERA. In 2001, he recorded his first save in two years on May 10 against the Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome. Despite a period of five consecutive games where he allowed runs, he concluded the season with an impressive 1.73 ERA over 45 appearances.

In 2002, during the opening game on March 30 against the Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome, Ochiai injured his left side and was subsequently removed from the roster the following day. He appeared in 37 games that year, recording 1 win, 2 losses, and 1 save, with a 2.62 ERA. In the offseason on December 16, he signed a contract for 85.00 M JPY, a decrease of 3.00 M JPY. On August 3, 2003, he acquired free agency rights. That season, he made a career-high 61 appearances, achieving an excellent record of 7 wins, 0 losses, and 1 save, with a 1.77 ERA. Despite acquiring FA rights, he chose to remain with the Dragons, signing a three-year contract valued at 400.00 M JPY.

In 2004, under the newly appointed manager Hiromitsu Ochiai, Eiji Ochiai experienced right shoulder discomfort in March, which again led to him starting the season in the minor leagues. He was activated on April 21 and made his first appearance of the season the following day against the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome. He continued to be a crucial part of the bullpen, even stepping into the closer role when Iwase struggled. On September 26, he made his first start in seven years, pitching five scoreless innings and earning a victory. He also made three relief appearances in the 2004 Japan Series against the Seibu Lions.

For the 2005 season, the coaching staff instructed him to transition back to a starting role. He was part of the opening rotation for the first time in eight years and secured his first win of the season on May 5 against the Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome. However, he struggled in his next start, allowing four runs in four innings against the Seibu Lions at Invoice Seibu Dome during interleague play, leading to his return to a relief role.

In 2006, new rules regarding pitching forms in professional baseball, which affected Ochiai's two-step motion, forced him to modify his delivery. This issue contributed to him starting the season in the minor leagues. Upon his return to the first team, he struggled to find consistent results, making only five appearances that year. Although he was not with the first team when the Dragons won the league championship, his long-time trainer, Nagata, was seen raising a plate with Ochiai's uniform number "26" during the manager's celebratory toss, symbolizing his support. Teammates Masahiro Araki and Kenta Asakura, who admired Ochiai, reportedly wrote "26" under their caps during games. After the 2006 season, Ochiai was released by the team. He declined an offer to become a second-team pitching coach, expressing a desire to continue playing, but ultimately announced his retirement.

3.2. Playing Style and Achievements

Eiji Ochiai was primarily known for his powerful fastball, which reached speeds of 93 mph ^{(150 km/h)}. While he had periods as a starting pitcher, his most significant contributions came as a middle reliever, particularly after 1998 when he solidified his role as a key setup man for the Chunichi Dragons. He was recognized for his effectiveness in this role, earning the Most Valuable Middle Reliever title in 1998.

Ochiai holds several unusual and notable records in Nippon Professional Baseball, including being the first pitcher in NPB history to record both a "one-pitch win" and a "one-pitch loss."

• One-pitch win**: On July 11, 1999, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome, Ochiai entered in the 9th inning with one out. On his very first pitch, he induced a game-ending double play from Makoto Imaoka, securing the win for his team. This was the 9th such instance in NPB history.
• One-pitch loss**: On April 27, 1995, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Ochiai entered in the 10th inning. On his first pitch, he gave up a walk-off home run to Glenn Davis, resulting in a loss for his team. This was the 12th such instance (13th occurrence) in NPB history.

3.3. Awards and Records

• Most Valuable Middle Reliever: 1 time (1998)

Firsts

• First appearance: July 28, 1993, against the Yokohama BayStars in the 19th game of the season at Nagoya Stadium, relieving in the 9th inning, completing the game with 1 inning pitched and 0 runs allowed.
• First strikeout: August 5, 1993, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the 13th game of the season at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, striking out Akira Eto in the 8th inning.
• First win: September 28, 1993, against the Yomiuri Giants in the 21st game of the season at Nagoya Stadium, relieving in the 7th inning, pitching 1 inning with 0 runs allowed.
• First save: July 2, 1994, against the Yokohama BayStars in the 15th game of the season at Yokohama Stadium, relieving in the 8th inning with one out, completing the game with 1 and 2/3 innings pitched and 0 runs allowed.
• First start and first win as a starter: May 27, 1995, against the Yakult Swallows in the 7th game of the season at Chiba Marine Stadium, pitching 6 innings with 1 run allowed.
• First complete game win and first shutout: April 24, 1996, against the Yakult Swallows in the 5th game of the season at Meiji Jingu Stadium.
• First hold: July 1, 2005, against the Yakult Swallows in the 7th game of the season at Meiji Jingu Stadium, relieving in the 5th inning, pitching 2 innings with 0 runs allowed.

Other Records

• One-pitch win: July 11, 1999, against the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome.
• One-pitch loss: April 27, 1995, against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
• First pitcher in NPB history to record both a one-pitch win and a one-pitch loss.
• All-Star Game appearances: 2 times (1999, 2003).

3.4. Year-by-Year Statistics

4.1. Coaching Career

From 2007 to 2009, Ochiai served as a baseball commentator for Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting (CBC). During this period, he also undertook coaching training with the Samsung Lions in South Korea, a team managed by Sun Dong-yol, his former teammate from the Chunichi Dragons. In 2010, Ochiai officially joined the Samsung Lions as their pitching coach. Following his appointment, the team's earned run average significantly improved. From 2011, under new manager Ryu Joong-il, Ochiai was granted full authority over pitcher management, and his coaching abilities were highly praised. In the 2012 season, the Samsung Lions achieved their second consecutive Korean Series championship. After the 2012 Asia Series, Ochiai resigned from his position, despite receiving offers to coach in Japan, as he had initially planned to stay in South Korea for about three years. Among his notable pupils at Samsung was Oh Seung-hwan, who later achieved significant success with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan and in Major League Baseball.

From 2013 to 2014, he returned to baseball commentary, working on a per-contract basis for CBC, Tokai Radio, and TV Aichi. He also served as a baseball critic for Chunichi Sports newspaper. On October 16, 2014, it was announced that he would join the Chiba Lotte Marines as their first-team pitching coach, wearing uniform number 88. In 2017, his registered name was changed to "Eiji," making him one of only two coaches in NPB at the time to use only their given name, following Eiji (formerly Eiichi Takamoto), his former teammate at Chunichi. On October 11 of the same year, he was informed that his coaching contract would not be renewed for the following season.

In November 2017, he rejoined the Samsung Lions during their autumn camp and officially returned as their pitching coach for the 2018 season. In the autumn of 2019, he was promoted to manager of the Samsung Lions' second team for the 2020 season, becoming the first Japanese former pitcher to hold such a position. In 2021, with Kazuyoshi Tatsunami appointed as the new manager of the Chunichi Dragons, Ochiai was selected to be the first-team head coach and pitching coach for the 2022 season. Tatsunami publicly stated that he intended for Ochiai to wear uniform number 77, a number famously worn by former manager Senichi Hoshino, emphasizing its significance for the team.

On October 6, 2024, it was initially announced that Ochiai would be leaving the Chunichi Dragons at the end of the season. However, shortly after, the newly appointed manager Kazuki Inoue requested his return. On October 28, 2024, it was announced that Ochiai would be rejoining the Dragons as the second-team manager, with his uniform number changing back to 88 for the 2025 season.

4.2. Commentary and Media Work

Eiji Ochiai has had two distinct periods as a baseball commentator and media personality. His first stint was from 2007 to 2009, immediately following his retirement from playing. During this time, he worked as a baseball commentator for Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting (CBC), appearing on their programs such as 侍プロ野球_{Samurai Puro Yakyū}^Japanese (Samurai Professional Baseball) and 燃えよドラゴンズ_{Moe yo Dragons}^Japanese (Burn, Dragons), which are local sports news and baseball broadcasts for the Tokai region. He also had a segment called 落合英二ブルブルの輪_{Ochiai Eiji Buruburu no Wa}^Japanese (Eiji Ochiai's Trembling Circle) on CBC's sports information program サンデードラゴンズ_{Sunday Dragons}^Japanese. Initially, he often served as a "net-behind commentator," sitting in the stands near the backstop, which was unusual for commentators but allowed him to interact with fans and be seen by players, who found his presence "strange." For national broadcasts, he sometimes continued this "net-behind" role even in later years.

His second period as a commentator began in 2013 and lasted until 2014, following his first coaching tenure with the Samsung Lions. During this time, he resumed his roles as a baseball commentator for CBC, Tokai Radio, and TV Aichi, and also became a baseball critic for Chunichi Sports newspaper.

5.1. Personality and Relationships

Ochiai is widely reported to possess strong psychic abilities or intuition, leading to several notable anecdotes throughout his career:

• During a game, he reportedly handed his bat to then-teammate Taiho Yasuki, predicting, "If you use this bat, you'll hit it." Yasuki then proceeded to hit a home run.
• In 1996, he similarly gave a bat to Takeshi Yamazaki, who went on to win the home run title that year.
• In 1999, during a segment on the NTV information program ズームイン!!朝!_{Zoom In!! Asa!}^Japanese (Zoom In!! Morning!), he was asked where the team would clinch the championship. He predicted, "I see manager Senichi Hoshino being tossed in a stadium with an outdoor bullpen." The Chunichi Dragons indeed clinched the championship at Meiji Jingu Stadium, which notably features an outdoor bullpen.
• On June 30, 2009, during a game against the Hanshin Tigers, with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 6th inning, Atsushi Fujii came to bat. Despite Fujii not being known as a home run hitter and having a poor batting average of 1-for-7 in bases-loaded situations that season, Ochiai predicted, "I can see Fujii gracefully rounding the bases." Fujii then hit his first career grand slam, a go-ahead home run, in that at-bat.
• Kenshin Kawakami, a former teammate at Chunichi, has also shared his own psychic anecdotes involving Ochiai on his YouTube channel.

Regarding his relationships with others, Ochiai had a unique dynamic with his former manager, Senichi Hoshino. While Hoshino was known for physically disciplining unmarried players for their performance, he reportedly told Ochiai after his marriage, "Don't worry, I don't hit married guys." This policy generally applied to other married players as well.

Despite being one year older than Motonobu Tanishige, who transferred to the Yokohama BayStars, Ochiai was inexplicably called "Ei-chan" by Tanishige and spoken to informally. Ochiai jokingly commented on サンデードラゴンズ_{Sunday Dragons}^Japanese that his age difference was "compensated for by his achievements."

Ochiai had a long-standing relationship with Naomichi Dohue, whose father, Teru Dohue, was the team dormitory manager. At Ochiai's retirement ceremony during the 2006 fan appreciation day, he notably addressed Dohue, who had already been drafted by the Dragons and completed a provisional contract but had not yet officially joined the team. Ochiai stated, "I entrust the dream of a Japan Series championship, which I could not achieve, to the players and coaches here, and to Naomichi Dohue, who is watching somewhere in this Nagoya Dome." This statement surprised the audience, as Dohue was present in disguise with his Aiko University Meiden High School baseball teammates. In 2007, the year Naomichi Dohue officially joined the Dragons, the Chunichi Dragons won the Japan Series. During the 2007 Okinawa camp, Dohue was photographed wearing shorts gifted by Ochiai, bearing the name "EIJI 26."

5.2. Family

Eiji Ochiai is married to a former figure skater who, during her early career, coached notable skaters such as Miki Ando and Mao Asada.