1. Overview
Ryōma Nishikawa (西川 龍馬Nishikawa RyōmaJapanese, born December 10, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball player who plays as an outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes of NPB. Born in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, and raised in Minato Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Nishikawa is a right-handed thrower and left-handed batter. Known for his exceptional contact hitting and versatility, he has played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2016-2023) before joining the Buffaloes in 2024. His career highlights include winning the Best Nine award, achieving multiple league records, and representing Japan in international competitions.
2. Player Career
Ryōma Nishikawa's baseball journey began in his childhood, leading him through successful amateur stages before he became a prominent professional player in Japan.
2.1. Pre-professional Career
Nishikawa's early life and development in baseball laid the foundation for his professional career.
2.1.1. Childhood and Early Baseball
Born in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, Ryōma Nishikawa moved to Minato Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, in his first year of elementary school. His father, a history enthusiast, named him Ryōma after the prominent historical figure Sakamoto Ryōma. He began playing soft baseball with the Fukuzaki Yanchers. During his time at Osaka Municipal Chikko Junior High School, he played for the Taisho Little Senior hardball team.
2.1.2. High School Career
After graduating from junior high, Nishikawa enrolled in Tsuruga Kehi High School in Fukui Prefecture, where he quickly established himself as a key player in the hardball baseball club, becoming a regular from his first summer. In the autumn of his second year, he was appointed captain and led his team to victory in the Hokushinetsu District High School Baseball Tournament. In the spring of his third year, he participated in the 84th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, but his team was defeated in the first round by Urawa Gakuin High School. In the summer of the same year, his team lost in the semifinals of the National High School Baseball Championship Fukui Tournament to Fukui University of Technology Fukui High School, which featured pitcher Hide Sugawara. Notable teammates from Tsuruga Kehi High School include Masataka Yoshida, who was one year his senior, and Yusuke Tamamura, Junki Kishimoto, and Ryota Kita, who were one year his junior.
2.1.3. Industrial League
Opting not to attend university, Nishikawa joined Oji Paper, a prominent industrial league baseball team, stating he "didn't want to be spoiled" and had a strong desire to become a professional player as soon as possible. He was assigned to the company's Kasugai factory in Aichi Prefecture and joined the hardball baseball club. By his third year in 2015, he had become a regular third batter for the team and participated in the 86th Intercity Baseball Tournament. In September of the same year, he was selected as a member of the Japan national team for the 27th BFA Asian Baseball Championship.
2.2. Hiroshima Toyo Carp Era
Nishikawa spent eight seasons with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, developing into a key offensive player and contributing to the team's success before his eventual departure.
2.2.1. Draft and Debut
In the 2015 NPB Draft, Nishikawa was selected by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the fifth round as an infielder. He signed with the team for an estimated contract fee of 40.00 M JPY and an estimated annual salary of 7.50 M JPY. He was assigned jersey number 63, a number previously worn by prominent Carp players like Yoshihiro Maru and Kosuke Tanaka. The Carp's scout, Yushi Matsumoto, was instrumental in his signing. Notably, the Carp also drafted catcher Ryota Funakoshi from Oji Paper in the fourth round, making them teammates once again. Funakoshi later left the Carp in 2019 and returned to Oji Paper in 2020.
2.2.2. 2016 Season: Rookie Year
Nishikawa made the opening day roster for the 2016 season. He made his professional debut on March 26 in the second game of the opening series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, entering as a third baseman in the eighth inning. The following day, March 27, in the same series, he recorded his first professional hit, a triple, which was a unique achievement as he was the first Carp rookie since the 1965 draft to record his first hit as a triple. On July 14, he played a full game in the Fresh All-Star Game held at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium, batting leadoff as the second baseman for the Western League selection team. He concluded his rookie season playing in 62 games with a batting average of .294.
2.2.3. 2017 Season: First Home Run and National Team
In 2017, Nishikawa saw increased playing opportunities. On April 30, in a game against the DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, he hit his first professional home run, a two-run shot off Tomoya Mikami, after being brought in as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. He played in 98 games that season, significantly increasing his at-bats from 58 to 220, recording 5 home runs and a slugging percentage of .417. Following the season, he was selected to represent Japan in the inaugural 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship.
2.2.4. 2018 Season: .300 Average and Position Change
Nishikawa started the 2018 season on the first-team roster but struggled offensively, leading to his demotion to the minor league on May 2 for a 20-day adjustment period. Upon his return to the first team, he found his stride and eventually replaced the struggling Tomohiro Abe as the starting third baseman. Although he did not accumulate enough plate appearances to qualify for the league's batting title, he achieved a batting average over .300 for the first time in his professional career. He played a significant role in the Carp's third consecutive league championship. However, he faced challenges defensively at third base, exhibiting throwing difficulties and committing 17 errors, the highest among third basemen who met the league's defensive requirements that year.
2.2.5. 2019 Season: Outfielder Conversion and Record-Breaking Performance
For the 2019 season, Nishikawa transitioned from an infielder to an outfielder, though he remained registered as an infielder. This move was prompted by his previous year's defensive struggles at third base and the departure of Yoshihiro Maru, the Carp's former starting center fielder, who had moved to the Yomiuri Giants via free agency. Early in the season, Nishikawa was often placed in the cleanup spot in the batting order. From May 1, the first official game of the Reiwa era, until June 5, he recorded a hit in 27 consecutive games, playing against teams like the Hanshin Tigers and Saitama Seibu Lions.
On July 15, he solidified his role as the leadoff hitter and center fielder in a game against the DeNA BayStars. He then achieved a remarkable feat by hitting leadoff home runs in four consecutive series: against the Yomiuri Giants (July 21), Chunichi Dragons (July 24), Tokyo Yakult Swallows (July 27), and again against the Yomiuri Giants (July 31). This set a new team record for four leadoff home runs in a single month and an unprecedented NPB record for leadoff home runs in four consecutive series. In August, Nishikawa recorded 42 hits, tying a team record for the most hits in a single month. He maintained his strong performance throughout the season, playing in 138 games and reaching the league's required plate appearances for the first time. Although his batting average was slightly under .300 at .297, he hit a career-high 16 home runs, marking his first season with double-digit home runs. Defensively, he played 127 games in the outfield but only 5 games at first base in the infield. Following the season, during the autumn camp, he resumed practicing at third base, as the coaching staff believed his ability to play two positions would enhance the team's strategic flexibility.
2.2.6. 2020 Season: Injury and Rehabilitation
In 2020, Nishikawa continued to be registered as an infielder but was primarily utilized as an outfielder. For the first two months of the regular season, he consistently batted third, maintaining a strong batting average of .318, which ranked fourth in the league. However, his season was significantly impacted by injuries. On August 25, during a game against the DeNA BayStars, he left the game after two at-bats and was removed from the active roster the following day due to what the team announced as "poor physical condition." It was later revealed that he had been suffering from a right ankle injury since before opening day and had developed flank pain as a result of compensating for the ankle. He was sidelined for approximately a month and a half, dedicating his time to rehabilitation with the third team.
Nishikawa returned to the first team on October 11 and quickly regained his form. On October 18, he hit his first career two-home run game against the Yakult Swallows. The following day, October 19, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he was placed in the cleanup spot for the first time in his career, making him a starter in every batting order position. He also recorded a two-run hit in the third inning, achieving the milestone of having recorded a hit from every batting order position. Despite the injuries, he played in 76 games, finishing the season with a .304 batting average, though he did not meet the league's required plate appearances. On November 11, he underwent surgery for a right peroneal tendon sheath formation. During contract negotiations on December 3, the club did not recognize his right ankle injury as a "work-related injury." After a brief 12-minute negotiation, he signed a contract for an estimated 63.00 M JPY, a decrease of 5.00 M JPY from the previous year. He reflected on the season, stating he felt "no sense of having played baseball" and that the year was "a battle with injury." In the offseason, he continued his self-training with players like Kensuke Kondoh.
2.2.7. 2021 Season: Overcoming Slump and Consistent Play
Nishikawa began the 2021 season batting third and hit his first home run of the year off Hiroshi Fukutani in the opening game against the Chunichi Dragons on March 26. He had a strong April, hitting 5 home runs. However, he entered a slump in May, sometimes batting as low as seventh in the lineup. His batting average remained around .250 even into July. To combat this, he switched to a lighter bat in the second half of the season, reportedly a model similar to that used by Juan Soto. Despite the mid-season struggles, he played in a team-high 137 games, finishing with a .286 batting average and hitting double-digit home runs (12) for the first time in two years. His consistent performance led to a contract renewal for 76.00 M JPY, an increase of 13.00 M JPY, marking his highest career salary. He also confirmed his intention to continue wearing jersey number 63.
2.2.8. 2022 Season: First Walk-off Home Run and FA Qualification
The 2022 season saw Nishikawa achieve several significant milestones. On March 29, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, he delivered a game-winning two-run timely hit off Atsuki Yuasa in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded, securing a come-from-behind walk-off victory. On May 7, in a game against the DeNA BayStars, he hit his first career walk-off home run off Kazuki Mishima in the bottom of the tenth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie.
However, his season was again interrupted by injury; on June 5, he was removed from the active roster due to a lower-body condition. He returned to the first team approximately two months later on August 6. The following day, August 7, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers, he hit the 5000th home run of the Reiwa era in NPB. Despite playing in only 97 games due to injuries and not meeting the required plate appearances, he maintained an impressive batting average of .315, hit 10 home runs, and achieved an OPS of .822. During this season, he also qualified for free agency but chose to remain with the Carp, citing manager Takahiro Arai as a key factor in his decision. He was expected to sign a single-year contract. For the 2023 season, his jersey number was changed to 5, a number previously worn by Hisayoshi Nagano and one Nishikawa had used during his time with Oji Paper. On December 8, he renewed his contract for 120.00 M JPY.
2.2.9. 2023 Season: Best Nine Award and FA Declaration
In 2023, Nishikawa continued his strong offensive performance. On July 4, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, he recorded a career-high 5 RBIs, including a two-run timely hit off Yuki Nishi in the first inning and a three-run home run off Ren Kajiya in the seventh. However, on July 11, during a game against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome, he sustained a right oblique strain while hitting a fly ball to left field in the sixth inning and had to leave the game. The injury was diagnosed as a right oblique muscle tear, leading to his removal from the active roster on July 12.
He returned to the active roster on August 8. On the same day, in a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium, he hit a timely single off Masanori Ishikawa in the first inning, marking his 100th hit for the third consecutive year. On August 23, in a game against the DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, he hit a game-opening timely single off Haruhiro Hamaguchi in the first inning, extending his streak to five consecutive games with an RBI and three consecutive games with a game-opening RBI. On September 2, he re-injured his right oblique against the Chunichi Dragons. He was excluded from the bench on September 10 and removed from the active roster on September 11. He returned to the first team on September 26, and in a game against the Chunichi Dragons at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, he hit a game-winning groundout in the first inning, bringing his season RBI total to 56, the most on the team. He finished the season playing in 109 games, with a batting average of .305 (second in the league), 9 home runs, and 56 RBIs. Following the season, he received his first Best Nine award as an outfielder. On November 14, he officially declared for free agency.
2.3. Orix Buffaloes Era
Following his declaration of free agency, Nishikawa made a significant move to the Orix Buffaloes, marking a new chapter in his career.
2.3.1. Transfer and Contract
On November 22, 2023, the Orix Buffaloes officially announced that they had signed Ryōma Nishikawa. His decision to join the Buffaloes was influenced by the team being his hometown club in Osaka and the perceived seriousness of the negotiations with General Manager Junichi Fukura. He was assigned jersey number 7, a number previously worn by his high school senior, Masataka Yoshida, before Yoshida's transfer to Major League Baseball. Nishikawa signed a four-year contract with the Buffaloes, reportedly worth an estimated 1.20 B JPY.
2.3.2. 2024 Season: New Beginnings
In the 2024 preseason, Nishikawa played in 13 exhibition games, recording a batting average of .233 (7 hits in 37 at-bats), 1 home run, and 4 RBIs. He was named to the opening day starting lineup for the Buffaloes. On March 29, in the season opener against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Kyocera Dome Osaka, he recorded his first hit as an Orix player off Kohei Arihara. On April 28, in a game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Es Con Field Hokkaido, he hit his first home run with the Buffaloes off Takayuki Kato.
3. Player Characteristics
Ryōma Nishikawa is highly regarded for his exceptional offensive skills, particularly his hitting prowess, complemented by his speed and defensive versatility.
3.1. Hitting Prowess
Nishikawa is renowned for his outstanding contact hitting ability and precise bat control. He possesses a unique talent for turning difficult pitches into hits or home runs, including those that would typically be called balls, such as pitches that bounce or high-inside fastballs. This exceptional batting sense has earned him the moniker "genius" among peers and analysts. Yushi Matsumoto, a scout who observed Nishikawa during his industrial league days, noted his incredibly soft bat control, drawing comparisons to the legendary hitter Tomonori Maeda. Throughout his career with the Hiroshima Carp, Nishikawa's versatility meant he was often moved around the batting order, even playing as the cleanup hitter for the first time in his 463rd career game, while also having appeared in the ninth spot seven times.
3.2. Speed and Defense
Beyond his hitting, Nishikawa is recognized for his considerable running speed, having recorded a 50-meter dash time of 6.0 seconds. While scout Matsumoto initially evaluated him as an "average player" physically during his industrial league days, his overall athleticism became evident in professional play. Nishikawa has demonstrated versatility in playing multiple positions. Although he initially played as an infielder, particularly at third base, he faced defensive challenges in 2018, committing 17 errors, which led to his conversion to an outfielder in 2019. Despite these challenges, his ability to play various positions has been a valuable asset to his teams.
4. Awards and Records
Ryōma Nishikawa has accumulated several significant individual awards and set notable records throughout his professional career.
4.1. Major Awards
- Best Nine Award: 1 time (Outfielder: 2023)
- Monthly MVP: 1 time (Batter: August 2019)
- Monthly Sayonara Award: 1 time (March/April 2022)
4.2. Notable Records
- First Appearance**: March 26, 2016, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, entering as a third baseman in the 8th inning for Héctor Luna.
- First At-Bat and First Hit**: March 27, 2016, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, an RBI triple off Yota Kosugi in the 8th inning.
- First RBI**: April 5, 2016, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, a timely hit off Kentaro Kyuko in the 8th inning.
- First Start**: June 9, 2016, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome, starting as the 8th batter and designated hitter.
- First Home Run**: April 30, 2017, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, a two-run home run to right field off Tomoya Mikami in the 8th inning as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Braiser.
- First Stolen Base**: May 14, 2017, against the Yomiuri Giants at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, a home steal (pitcher: Masahiro Inui, catcher: Seiji Kobayashi) during a double steal and failed squeeze attempt involving second runner Shoyo Noma.
- Four Leadoff Home Runs in a Month**: July 2019, making him the 7th player in NPB history to achieve this feat (8th occurrence), and setting a new team record for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
- Four Consecutive Series with a Leadoff Home Run**: Achieved from July 19-21 to July 30-August 1, 2019, against the Yomiuri Giants, marking the first time in NPB history.
- Hit from All Batting Order Positions**: Achieved on October 20, 2020, against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
- All-Star Game Selection**: 1 time (2023), though he withdrew due to a right oblique muscle tear.
5. National Team Career
Ryōma Nishikawa has represented Japan in several international baseball competitions.
5.1. International Appearances
Nishikawa's national team career includes:
- Japan national team for the 2015 BFA Asian Baseball Championship.
- Japan national team for the 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship.
- Participation in the ENEOS Samurai Japan Series 2018, playing against Australia.
6. Personal Life and Other
Beyond his professional baseball career, Ryōma Nishikawa's personal life and public engagements offer further insights into his background and profile.
6.1. Family and Background
Ryōma Nishikawa's name, "Ryōma," was chosen by his father, who had a keen interest in history, in honor of the renowned Japanese historical figure Sakamoto Ryōma. Both his father and grandfather were avid supporters of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Nishikawa has cited Akihiro Higashide, his senior from Tsuruga Kehi High School who also played as an infielder for the Carp and later became his batting coach, as a significant role model. Since joining the Hiroshima Carp, Nishikawa has consistently engaged in offseason training with other professional players, such as Kensuke Kondoh, with the exception of 2020 when he focused on rehabilitation from injury.
6.2. Media and Commercial Appearances
Nishikawa has appeared in various media and commercial campaigns. He served as an image character for Toa Jisho, appearing in commercials for the company in 2017 and again in 2019, the latter alongside catcher Tsubasa Aizawa. In 2019, he also became an image character for Momiji Bank, featuring in their commercials with Kosuke Tanaka. His television appearances include "Car Chika! TV New Year's Dream SP," where he made surprise visits to a girls' softball club and a young fan, and "Supolaba New Year's Special Naniwa Carp Boys Trip," both in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
7. Statistical Data
The following tables provide a comprehensive overview of Ryōma Nishikawa's performance throughout his professional baseball career.
7.1. Yearly Batting Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Plate Appearances | At Bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Triples | Home Runs | Total Bases | RBIs | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | Sac Bunts | Sac Flies | Walks | Intentional Walks | Hit By Pitch | Strikeouts | Double Plays | Batting Average | On-base Percentage | Slugging Percentage | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Hiroshima | 62 | 58 | 51 | 8 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .294 | .339 | .392 | .731 |
| 2017 | Hiroshima | 95 | 220 | 204 | 23 | 56 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 85 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 4 | .275 | .309 | .417 | .725 |
| 2018 | Hiroshima | 107 | 361 | 327 | 44 | 101 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 147 | 46 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 51 | 4 | .309 | .364 | .450 | .814 |
| 2019 | Hiroshima | 138 | 585 | 535 | 70 | 159 | 23 | 3 | 16 | 236 | 64 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 81 | 9 | .297 | .336 | .441 | .777 |
| 2020 | Hiroshima | 76 | 328 | 296 | 36 | 90 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 126 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 52 | 6 | .304 | .368 | .426 | .794 |
| 2021 | Hiroshima | 137 | 551 | 504 | 57 | 144 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 201 | 60 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 70 | 14 | .286 | .335 | .399 | .733 |
| 2022 | Hiroshima | 97 | 424 | 390 | 60 | 123 | 19 | 3 | 10 | 178 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 74 | 8 | .315 | .366 | .456 | .822 |
| 2023 | Hiroshima | 109 | 443 | 416 | 48 | 127 | 20 | 1 | 9 | 176 | 56 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 10 | .305 | .337 | .423 | .760 |
| 2024 | Orix | 138 | 553 | 519 | 42 | 134 | 25 | 0 | 7 | 180 | 46 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 97 | 11 | .258 | .294 | .347 | .641 |
| Career Total (9 years) | 959 | 3523 | 3242 | 388 | 949 | 159 | 14 | 71 | 1349 | 387 | 44 | 25 | 29 | 23 | 216 | 18 | 13 | 521 | 66 | .293 | .337 | .416 | .753 | |
- Statistics current as of the end of the 2024 season.
7.2. Yearly Fielding Statistics
| Year | Team | First Base | Second Base | Third Base | Outfield | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Putouts | Assists | Errors | Double Plays | Fielding % | Games | Putouts | Assists | Errors | Double Plays | Fielding % | Games | Putouts | Assists | Errors | Double Plays | Fielding % | Games | Putouts | Assists | Errors | Double Plays | Fielding % | ||
| 2016 | Hiroshima | - | 12 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 27 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 2 | .952 | - | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Hiroshima | - | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .846 | 48 | 28 | 51 | 2 | 6 | .975 | - | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Hiroshima | 3 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 86 | 47 | 119 | 17 | 10 | .907 | - | |||||
| 2019 | Hiroshima | 5 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1.000 | - | - | 127 | 250 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .992 | ||||||||||
| 2020 | Hiroshima | - | - | - | 74 | 138 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .993 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Hiroshima | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | - | - | 127 | 241 | 6 | 2 | 3 | .992 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Hiroshima | - | - | - | 97 | 206 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .995 | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Hiroshima | - | - | - | 109 | 207 | 4 | 2 | 0 | .991 | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Orix | - | - | - | 132 | 235 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .988 | |||||||||||||||
| Career Total | 9 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1.000 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 2 | .926 | 161 | 82 | 183 | 20 | 18 | .930 | 666 | 1277 | 24 | 11 | 7 | .992 | |
- Statistics current as of the end of the 2024 season.
- Bold indicates a league-leading figure for that specific year.
7.3. Jersey Numbers
- 63 (2016-2022)
- 5 (2023)
- 7 (2024-)