Ryota Igarashi

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Igarashi was born on May 28, 1979, in Rumoi, Hokkaido, Japan. His father, originally from Yūbari, Hokkaido, was an alpine ski national team athlete. His mother was a classmate of Tsutomu Wakamatsu, a former player and manager for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, from Rumoi Municipal Rumoi Junior High School. Although born in Hokkaido and raised in Sapporo, Igarashi moved to Chiba Prefecture in the fourth grade of elementary school. He began playing soft baseball for the Kashiwai Jaguars in elementary school and later joined the Chiba Kita Little Seniors team in junior high. Initially, he played as a first baseman but also gained experience as a catcher in elementary school, where his strong arm was noted by coaches. He later described his junior high years as a player who "couldn't hit, run, or field," and his former teammates expressed surprise at his eventual professional success.

1.2. Amateur Career

Upon entering Keiai Gakuen High School, Igarashi's exceptional arm strength led to his transition to the pitcher's mound, a move that diverged from his junior high coach's intention to develop him as a catcher. Despite this, he quickly developed, and by his second year of high school, his fastball velocity reached close to 87 mph ^{(140 km/h)}. In his final year, his team was defeated in the fifth round of the Chiba prefectural tournament. Nevertheless, he had established himself as one of Chiba Prefecture's top power pitchers. His potential was recognized when the Tokyo Yakult Swallows selected him in the second round of the 1997 NPB draft. He was assigned the uniform number 53.

2.1. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB): Tokyo Yakult Swallows (1998-2009)

Igarashi began his professional journey with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, establishing himself as a formidable relief pitcher before seeking opportunities in the MLB.

In 1998, his debut season, Igarashi primarily played in the minor league (ni-gun). He made 10 appearances, notable for recording 30 strikeouts. On September 26, he pitched a 6-inning perfect game in ni-gun, though the game was shortened due to rain. He also earned the Farm Japan Championship MVP award, a significant achievement as the first high school rookie to do so.

His 1999 season saw him get his first call-up to the first team on April 20. He debuted in the 12th inning against the Chunichi Dragons, but struggled with control and was tagged with the loss. Despite this, injuries to other pitchers kept him in the first team. On May 27, he secured his first professional win against the Yokohama BayStars, pitching one scoreless inning in relief before his team rallied for a comeback victory. He was briefly demoted to ni-gun in late June and participated in the Fresh All-Star Game, allowing two runs in two innings. However, he returned to the first team in August, with his fastball hitting 96 mph ^{(154 km/h)} in the late season, leading to more high-leverage appearances. Despite control issues, he finished the year with 6 wins solely as a reliever.

In 2000, Igarashi earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. While the team started slowly, Igarashi's strong performance, including a 3-1 record in April, helped the team recover. He recorded 11 wins as a reliever before the All-Star break, leading the league in wins at one point and earning his first All-Star selection via manager's recommendation. However, a blister injury on August 8 led to a demotion to ni-gun, and he did not record another win, ultimately losing the league lead. After the season, he received the Best Battery Award alongside catcher Atsuya Furuta, marking the largest age difference for the award at the time. His salary saw a substantial increase from 16.00 M JPY to an estimated 43.00 M JPY. He was initially offered uniform number 11 but requested to return to his beloved number 53.

The 2001 season started with a calf muscle strain during spring training, sidelining him for a month. He returned in March for Opening Day but suffered a right elbow injury in May, leading to another demotion. He returned in mid-July, contributing to the team's championship run despite a tumultuous year. He pitched 41 games with a career-best 2.59 ERA. In the 2001 Japan Series against the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, he surrendered a three-run home run to Tuffy Rhodes in Game 2, becoming the losing pitcher and not appearing in subsequent games.

In 2002, he and teammate Hirotoshi Ishii were dubbed "Rocket Boys" by fans, a nickname reflecting their high-velocity fastballs. Igarashi served as a reliable setup man, remaining in the first team from Opening Day through the end of the season for the first time in his career. He made his second All-Star appearance in July, impressing with his fastball. He pitched in 64 games, securing 8 wins as a reliever, and posted a career-best 2.08 ERA. He also led the Central League with eight wild pitches.

Igarashi maintained his presence in the first team for the entirety of the 2003 season, a testament to his reliability amidst numerous pitching injuries. He earned his third All-Star selection via manager's recommendation. He appeared in 66 games, leading the Central League in appearances for the year, and was a key component of the team's "victory formula" in the seventh and eighth innings.

The 2004 season saw Igarashi transition to the closer role following Shingo Takatsu's departure to MLB. On June 3, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers, he threw a fastball clocked at 98 mph ^{(158 km/h)} to Makoto Imaoka, tying the NPB record for the fastest pitch at the time. After the 2004 NPB Players' Strike, on September 20 against Hanshin, he recorded 98 mph ^{(158 km/h)} four times, including three consecutive pitches, against Akihiro Yano, cementing his "fastball king" reputation. This record was later broken by Marc Kroon in May 2005, and then by Yoshinori Satō in 2010 for Japanese pitchers. He was the top vote-getter in the fan ballot for the All-Star Game, making his fourth appearance. He finished the season with 5 wins, 3 losses, and a team-record 37 saves, earning him the Best Relief Pitcher award.

In 2005, Igarashi was expected to continue as the closer but suffered a thigh injury before Opening Day, causing him to be inconsistent and eventually demoted to ni-gun in mid-April for the first time since 2001. Despite a difficult start, he was again the top vote-getter in the All-Star fan ballot, marking his fifth selection. He appeared in 49 games, falling short of his four-year streak of 60-game appearances. On April 6, he combined with Shugo Fujii and Hirotoshi Ishii to record 19 strikeouts, an NPB record.

The 2006 season began with a save in the opening game against Hanshin, but his performance became unstable, leading to another demotion in mid-June. Although he returned in August, he was removed from the first team roster after a September 18 game. Subsequent examinations revealed a right elbow ligament tear, necessitating Tommy John surgery in the offseason. He announced on November 12 that he would miss the entire 2007 season due to rehabilitation.

2007 was spent entirely on rehabilitation, with no appearances in official games, either first or second team. He made his return to actual play during the Phoenix League in October.

In 2008, Igarashi made a full recovery, having a smooth spring training and exhibition season. He returned to the mound in an official game on March 28 against the Yomiuri Giants, pitching in the ninth inning and recording a fastball of 96 mph ^{(154 km/h)} in a scoreless outing, his first in a year and a half. However, he suffered a calf muscle tear in that game, sidelining him for three weeks. He was reactivated on April 29 and subsequently saw increased usage in close and winning games. On September 20, he recorded his fastest pitch since his return, 98 mph ^{(157 km/h)}, against Yokohama at Jingu Stadium, earning his first save in approximately two and a half years. Despite the surgery, his velocity returned to pre-injury levels, and he showed improved control with significantly fewer walks. On August 2, he became eligible for free agency for the first time in his 11-year career, stating he would consider his options after the season. He finished with a 3-2 record, 3 saves, 12 holds, and a career-best 0.94 WHIP in 44 appearances. The closer role had by this time gone to South Korean pitcher Chang-yong Lim.

In 2009, Igarashi continued as the eighth-inning setup man for Lim. He broke Lim's club record of 20 consecutive scoreless appearances by reaching 21. On August 29, he made his 500th career appearance against the Chunichi Dragons but suffered a back injury while fielding a bunt, leading to his removal from the roster the next day. Towards the end of the season, he showed signs of fatigue, giving up more hits and walks. In the offseason, with Arn Tellem as his agent, he exercised his free agency rights with the intention of pursuing a career in Major League Baseball.

2.2. Major League Baseball (MLB) Career (2010-2012)

After his successful tenure in Japan, Igarashi pursued his dream of playing in Major League Baseball, experiencing a new level of competition and challenges.

2.2.1. New York Mets (2010-2011)

On December 16, 2009, Igarashi signed a two-year contract worth 3.00 M USD with the New York Mets. He was expected to serve as the setup pitcher for closer Francisco Rodríguez and joined the team alongside fellow Japanese pitcher Hisanori Takahashi (formerly of the Yomiuri Giants).

In 2010, despite a high 7.90 ERA in spring training, Igarashi made his MLB debut on April 8, relieving Jonathon Niese in the 7th inning against the Florida Marlins. He started well, allowing only one run in his first seven MLB appearances, and even recorded a fastball of 97 mph (approximately 97 mph ^{(156 km/h)}) against the Colorado Rockies on April 14. However, he was placed on the disabled list on April 21 due to a hamstring injury. He returned on May 23 but struggled, leading to a demotion to the minor leagues in early July with a 7.91 ERA. He returned in late August and earned his first MLB win in the team's 161st game, a fortunate outcome as his team took the lead immediately after he pitched only one-third of an inning. He finished the season with a 1-1 record, 7.12 ERA, and 1.55 WHIP in 31 appearances. While his fastball remained effective for strikeouts, he began incorporating a curveball (knuckle curve) at a similar rate to his forkball, but his control of the curveball was poor (strike rate below 40%), and his forkball was hit hard (batting average against .421).

For 2011, Igarashi was designated for assignment on January 3 following the Mets' signings of Chris Capuano and Taylor Buchholz. He received a spring training invitation and began the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He recorded his first save with Buffalo on April 10 and was promoted to the major league the next day. However, he was demoted back to Triple-A on May 16. After posting strong numbers in Buffalo (0-1, 4 saves, 0.94 ERA, 0.80 WHIP in 19 appearances), he was recalled on July 15. He finished the MLB season with a 4-1 record, 4.66 ERA, and 1.84 WHIP in 45 appearances. His strikeout rate (9.78) was his highest since 2005, with high fastballs generating a swing-and-miss rate over 30%, but his walk rate (6.52) remained a concern. All five of his MLB wins were earned by pitching only one-third of an inning. On October 20, he became a free agent after failing to agree on a new contract with the Mets, despite a clause that kept him under team control. He then pitched in the Dominican Winter League for the Leones del Escogido, appearing in 11 games with 3 saves, a 3.38 ERA, and 1.41 WHIP.

2.3. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB): Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2013-2018)

Igarashi made his return to NPB, joining the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, where he continued to be a key reliever and set significant league records.

On November 17, 2012, Igarashi signed a three-year contract worth an estimated 600.00 M JPY with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He rejoined NPB wearing his original uniform number 53.

In 2013, his first appearance back in Japan and at his new home stadium was on March 29 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, where he pitched a scoreless eighth inning in relief. On April 7, he failed to secure a hold against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, giving up a game-losing three-run home run to Sho Nakata. However, he earned his first hold since returning to Japan on April 11 against the Orix Buffaloes, pitching a scoreless 10th inning in a walk-off victory. On April 20, he requested a temporary assignment to ni-gun for adjustment, which was approved by the coaching staff. He returned on May 31, pitching a perfect inning against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He then recorded five consecutive holds from June 22 to July 3. On July 9, he earned his first save since his return against the Saitama Seibu Lions. On July 14, he recorded his first save failure against the Buffaloes, allowing the tying run before the Hawks won on a walk-off, which also gave Igarashi his first win and first home win at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome since returning to Japan. Subsequently, he was primarily used as a closer, achieving 20 consecutive scoreless appearances from July 25 to September 16. On September 30, against the Seibu Lions, he became the first pitcher in NPB history to record 50 career wins exclusively as a reliever, pitching two scoreless innings before the Hawks won in the 10th.

The 2014 season saw Igarashi transition to a setup role after the Hawks acquired Dennis Sarfate. He started the season strongly, allowing only one earned run in 33 games from April 12 to July 26, and then maintaining a scoreless streak over 16 games from July 30 to September 5. He also recorded 23 consecutive holds, including two saves, from July 2 to September 2. His impressive performance earned him his second Monthly MVP award for July, his first in the Pacific League. On August 3, he made his 600th NPB appearance against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, becoming the 37th player in league history to reach this milestone. Five days later, on August 8, he set a new NPB record by making his 601st consecutive relief appearance from his debut, surpassing Soichi Fujita's record. On August 28, he achieved his 100th career hold, becoming the 16th player to do so. On September 5, he broke Brian Falkenborg's club record by recording his 40th hold of the season. However, his form wavered later in September; on September 7, he took his first loss of the season against the Seibu Lions, giving up a go-ahead double. On September 20, he suffered a walk-off loss to the Lions. In a critical game on September 25 against the Rakuten Eagles, he controversially issued four consecutive bases-loaded walks in the 7th inning, resulting in four runs and causing the Hawks to lose their self-championship chance. This notorious performance was only the fifth time in NPB history for a pitcher to issue four bases-loaded walks in a single inning, and the first in 60 years. Despite this setback, on October 2, in the season's final game against the Orix Buffaloes, he recorded his 44th hold, a new club and league record for the season, as the Hawks secured the league championship in extra innings. He contributed to the team's new regular season record of 130 total holds. In the postseason, he earned his first Climax Series win on October 15. In the 2014 Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers, he pitched five scoreless innings over four games and earned his first Japan Series win as the Hawks clinched the championship on October 30. Following the victory, he participated in the championship parade in Fukuoka City alongside chairman Sadaharu Oh and team captain Seiichi Uchikawa.

In 2015, Igarashi experienced a calf strain during spring training, delaying his start to the season. He was activated on April 17 and made his season debut on April 21 against the Rakuten Eagles, pitching one scoreless inning. He maintained an impressive streak of 19 scoreless appearances from April 21 until June 11. Although he gave up a game-losing three-run home run to the Chiba Lotte Marines on August 7, his first home run allowed in two years, he continued to provide stable relief pitching as a setup man. He recorded a save on September 13 against the Rakuten Eagles, contributing to the Hawks' second consecutive Japan Series championship. He finished the season with 54 appearances, a 3-1 record, 31 holds, 2 saves, and a career-best 1.38 ERA over 52 innings. In the offseason, on December 7, he signed a two-year contract worth an estimated 350.00 M JPY plus incentives, a 200.00 M JPY increase, acknowledging his consistent performance.

Igarashi was named to the Opening Day roster in 2016 and made his season debut on March 26. On April 5, he recorded his 141st career hold, tying Jeff Williams for fourth all-time in NPB. However, on April 21, he suffered a left thigh muscle tear during practice at QVC Marine Field, forcing him to miss two months. He rejoined the first team on June 23 and made his return appearances in a series against the Lotte Marines. On June 30, he successfully navigated a tough situation, securing a hold. In July, he made nine appearances, but on July 30, in a tie game against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, he allowed three walks and a hit by pitch, resulting in a walk-off loss, his first of the season. On August 28, he made his 700th NPB appearance at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome against the Chiba Lotte Marines, becoming the 15th player in NPB history to reach this milestone. Due to his injury absence, he finished the season with 33 appearances, a 0-1 record, 7 holds, and a 3.62 ERA, marking his first season in Japan without a win. In the offseason, he voluntarily participated in the Mexican Winter League with the Tomateros de Culiacán to experiment with a split-finger fastball. There, he was mistakenly identified as Hisanori Takahashi by the team's general manager and manager, leading to his first career starts in professional baseball (both NPB and MLB). He recorded his first win as a starter on November 10 and his third win on November 16, pitching eight innings with only one hit, no runs, and 12 strikeouts. In total, he appeared in seven games (five as a starter) in the Mexican Winter League, with a 3-2 record and a 1.93 ERA over 37.1 innings pitched.

In 2017, Igarashi spent spring training attempting to learn a changeup, a new pitch for him in his 20th professional year. He earned his first win of the season on April 2 in the third game of the season against the Lotte Marines. On April 21, he recorded his 800th combined NPB/MLB game appearance against the Rakuten Eagles at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome. On June 18, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, he took an at-bat for the first time since 2005. He pitched 1.2 innings pitched scoreless innings, contributing to the team's best interleague record. He continued to be a key reliever through July, appearing in 39 games and compiling a 6-0 record with 10 holds. However, on July 11, he suffered a left thigh muscle injury against the Rakuten Eagles, diagnosed as a hamstrings tendon tear, with a recovery period of two to three months, effectively ending his regular season. After rehabilitation, he made his return on September 13 against the Orix Buffaloes. He finished the season with 46 appearances, recording a career-high (since his return to Japan) six wins without a loss, and 11 holds, contributing to the Hawks' first league championship in two years. In the postseason, he appeared in Game 4 of the 2017 Japan Series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, helping the team secure their second Japan Series title in three years. On December 1, he signed a one-year contract for an estimated 360.00 M JPY plus incentives, an increase of 10.00 M JPY, with an automatic renewal clause based on performance.

The 2018 season was challenging for Igarashi, as he was sidelined by a herniated disc and only made his first team return in July. On November 4, the Hawks announced his release from the team, but he expressed his intention to continue his playing career. He became a free agent on December 2.

2.4. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB): Tokyo Yakult Swallows (2019-2020) and Retirement

After his release from the Hawks, Igarashi made a final return to his original NPB team, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, where he concluded his storied career.

On December 26, 2018, it was announced that Igarashi would rejoin the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for the 2019 season, with the official announcement coming on January 30, 2019. He once again donned his original uniform number 53. His estimated salary was 20.00 M JPY, a significant reduction of 340.00 M JPY from his previous contract with the Hawks. He stated his intention to "return the favor with results." He earned his first win back with the Swallows in his fourth appearance on April 5 against the Chunichi Dragons. In April, he recorded five wins as a reliever, becoming the first 40-year-old pitcher in NPB history to achieve five wins in a single month. He was also a candidate for the March/April Monthly MVP award. On May 28, his 40th birthday, he made his 800th NPB appearance against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, becoming the seventh player in NPB history to reach this milestone and the oldest to do so exclusively in relief, surpassing Kazuhiro Iwase. On August 8, he achieved his 900th combined NPB/MLB game appearance, becoming the fourth player to reach this mark. Despite some time in ni-gun for re-adjustment, he appeared in 45 games, posting a 2.98 ERA, 5 wins, and 4 holds. His salary was doubled to 40.00 M JPY in contract negotiations, and he expressed his goal of reaching 1000 combined career appearances.

The 2020 season began with Igarashi suffering from poor conditioning just before Opening Day, preventing him from joining the first team. He never made an appearance in the first team during the season and decided to retire from professional baseball in August. He held a press conference on October 15 to announce his retirement. His final game appearance was on October 25 against the Chunichi Dragons at Meiji Jingu Stadium, where he faced one batter in the 8th inning, getting him out on the first pitch, a pop fly. Coincidentally, the last batter he faced, Moises Sierra, was a former teammate from his Triple-A stint with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2012. Following the game, a retirement ceremony was held, where he received flowers from manager Shingo Takatsu and his family. He was then carried off the field by his teammates. During the traditional lap around the field, he climbed the right field fence, a celebratory act famously performed by former Swallows players like Atsuya Furuta after championship victories. Igarashi concluded his 23-year professional career as the last active player from the 1997 NPB draft class to retire.

3.1. Pitching Repertoire and Style

Igarashi was a right-handed pitcher who threw from a three-quarters arm slot. His primary pitches included a fastball (both four-seam and two-seam), a forkball or split-finger fastball, a curveball, and a cutter. His fastball routinely sat in the mid-90s mph (averaging around 93 mph or 93 mph ^{(150 km/h)} in MLB), and he famously recorded 98 mph ^{(158 km/h)} in NPB, which tied the league record at the time. In the minor leagues in MLB, he reached 99 mph (approximately 99 mph ^{(159 km/h)}). His forkball averaged around 86 mph (approximately 86 mph ^{(138 km/h)}).

Throughout his career, Igarashi maintained a high strikeout rate, with a career NPB K/9 of 9.95. In his early career with the Yakult Swallows (pre-2005), his fastball accounted for 70-80% of his pitches. Alongside Hirotoshi Ishii, he was affectionately known as the "Rocket Boys" for their impressive mid-90s fastballs.

After his Tommy John surgery and return in 2008, his forkball usage increased to approximately 40% of his pitches. In 2010, during his time with the New York Mets, he began incorporating a curveball (specifically a knuckle curve) at a similar frequency to his forkball, in addition to his primary fastball. While his fastball remained effective for strikeouts, issues with the control of his curveball (strike rate below 40%) and his forkball (opponents batting .421 against it) emerged. By 2011, he refined his forkball by adopting a deeper grip for more drop and also started using a slider. He demonstrated a high swing-and-miss rate on high fastballs (over 30%) and maintained a high strikeout rate (9.78 K/9) but continued to struggle with a high walk rate (6.52 BB/9). After joining the SoftBank Hawks, his fastball averaged around 92 mph ^{(148 km/h)}, and he started using the knuckle curve (learned with the Yankees) and a cutter more frequently, reducing his forkball usage.

3.2. Mechanical and Strategic Adjustments

Igarashi possessed a distinctive pitching form, characterized by a "carrying" motion where he pushed his arm out, and a fast quick motion in the early 1.1 seconds range. This unique mechanic, specifically his ability to fold his arm and achieve a minimal radius arm swing, was believed to be the source of his explosive fastball velocity.

He received insights on body mechanics from Olympic hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, who emphasized the importance of using the lower body to leverage the upper body, realizing that the arm "swings" as a result of lower body action rather than being actively "thrown."

His former catcher, Atsuya Furuta, played a crucial role in Igarashi's development as a power pitcher. Furuta intentionally did not try to correct Igarashi's wildness during his early years when he struggled with control, instead allowing his natural fastball talent to flourish. This unconventional approach is cited by Igarashi as a key factor in his success as a hard-throwing pitcher.

Following his Tommy John surgery in 2006, Igarashi underwent extensive rehabilitation in 2007. This period of recovery and focused re-training allowed him to restore his pre-surgery velocity and improve his overall mechanics and control. In 2016, during his stint in the Mexican Winter League, he experimented with different pitches, including a split-finger fastball. In 2017, in his 20th professional season, he notably committed to learning a changeup in spring training, demonstrating his continued dedication to refining his pitch repertoire.

4.1. Family and Relationships

Ryota Igarashi is married to Orie, who was formerly a mascot girl for the Yokohama BayStars. Together, they have a daughter named Kotone and a son named Haruki. During his MLB career, especially in the wake of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Igarashi noted that much of his family lived approximately 200 mile south of the affected zone. Throughout his career, he frequently expressed his deep attachment to Japanese baseball, initially even denying aspirations to play in MLB, though he later pursued the opportunity when eligible for free agency. Igarashi is also a self-professed big fan of the Japanese comedy trio The Nelsons.

4.2. Swallowsman Public Persona

In the offseason of 2008, a mysterious masked character known as "Swallowsman" appeared, claiming to be "Igarashi's friend" who had traveled from Rumoi, Hokkaido, to assist with Igarashi's training. The character's origin stemmed from Igarashi wearing a Swallows-designed mask, gifted by professional wrestler U.M.A, at a 2007 fan appreciation event. It was later revealed that "Swallowsman" was Igarashi himself. Swallowsman briefly maintained an online blog, which has since been closed. With Igarashi's decision to pursue MLB in the 2009 offseason, Swallowsman declared a temporary hiatus from activities, stating his intention to pursue professional wrestling in Mexico (lucha libre).

6.1. Major Awards and Recognition

• Best Relief Pitcher (NPB): 1 (2004)
• Monthly MVP (Pitcher): 2 (July 2004, July 2014)
• Best Battery Award: 1 (2000, with catcher Atsuya Furuta), notable for being the battery with the largest age difference to win the award at the time.
• Farm Japan Championship MVP: 1 (1998)

6.2. Notable Career Milestones

• NPB Firsts:**
  • First appearance: April 20, 1999, against the Chunichi Dragons at Meiji Jingu Stadium, as the third relief pitcher in the 12th inning. He pitched one-third of an inning and was the losing pitcher.
  • First strikeout: April 20, 1999, against Takeshi Yamasaki.
  • First win: May 27, 1999, against the Yokohama BayStars at Meiji Jingu Stadium, pitching one scoreless inning as the third relief pitcher in the 7th inning.
  • First save: October 3, 1999, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, as the second relief pitcher in the 8th inning, completing two scoreless innings.
  • First hold: May 21, 2005, against the Orix Buffaloes at Meiji Jingu Stadium, pitching 1 and one-third scoreless innings as the fourth relief pitcher in the 7th inning.
• NPB Milestones:**
  • 500 game appearances: August 29, 2009, against the Chunichi Dragons at Meiji Jingu Stadium (84th player in NPB history).
  • 600 game appearances: August 3, 2014, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome (37th player in league history).
  • 100 holds: August 28, 2014, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, becoming the 16th player in NPB history.
  • 700 game appearances: August 28, 2016, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome (15th player in NPB history).
  • 800 game appearances: May 28, 2019, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Meiji Jingu Stadium (7th player in NPB history; oldest to achieve 800 appearances exclusively as a reliever, surpassing Kazuhiro Iwase).
• Other NPB Records:**
  • 1-pitch win: May 2, 2006, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Meiji Jingu Stadium, getting Takahiro Arai to hit a foul fly with two outs in the 9th inning (21st player in NPB history, 12th in the Central League).
  • All-Star Game selections: 6 (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014).
  • Consecutive relief appearances from debut: 823 (an NPB record at the time, later broken by Naoki Miyanishi in 2023).
  • Four bases-loaded walks in one inning: September 25, 2014, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, in the 7th inning against Motohiro Kinoshita, Shintaro Masuda, Tatsuya Iwasaki, and Tetsuro Nishida (5th player in NPB history, first in 60 years).
• NPB/MLB Combined Milestones:**
  • 900 game appearances: August 8, 2019, against the Hanshin Tigers at Meiji Jingu Stadium (4th player in combined NPB/MLB history).

7.1. Annual Pitching Statistics

• Bold indicates league leader.

7.2. Annual Defensive Statistics

7.3. Uniform Number History

• 53 (1998-2009) - Tokyo Yakult Swallows
• 18 (2010-2011) - New York Mets
• 17 (2012 - March 30, 2012) - Pittsburgh Pirates
• 56 (May 25, 2012 - May 27, 2012) - Toronto Blue Jays
• 43 (June 7, 2012 - June 10, 2012) - New York Yankees
• 41 (June 28, 2012 - June 29, 2012) - New York Yankees
• 53 (August 12, 2012) - New York Yankees
• 53 (2013-2018) - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
• 53 (2019-2020) - Tokyo Yakult Swallows

7.4. Walk-Up Songs

• "Kibou no Wadachi" by Southern All Stars (2013)
• "Skull And Crossbones (Pirates Mark)" by Klaus Badelt (2013-2016, 2018-)
• "Sandstorm" by Darude (2017-)
• "Feel Invincible" by Skillet (2017)

8.1. TV

• Sports Watcher / Minna no Sports Sports for All (2021-2023, TV Tokyo)
• Hiruobi! (2022-present, TBS)
• news every. (2022-present, Nippon TV)
• S☆1 (2022, TBS)
• World Sports MLB / 11 (Regular appearances from 2022-present, NHK BS1)
• In addition to these, Igarashi frequently appears on other wide-show and information programs for topics related to the WBC and Shohei Ohtani.