1. Overview
Satoshi Iriki (入來 智Iriki SatoshiJapanese, 이리키 사토시Iriki SatoshiKorean; June 3, 1967 - February 10, 2023) was a Japanese baseball player who primarily played as a pitcher. His diverse professional career spanned Japan's NPB, the KBO, and the CPBL, making him one of the few players to compete across multiple Asian leagues. Iriki was known for his fierce pitching style and a career marked by versatility, moving between starting, middle relief, and closing roles. His personal life post-retirement was characterized by numerous career transitions, highlighting the challenges many athletes face after their playing days. He tragically died at the age of 55 in a traffic collision, leaving behind a legacy remembered by his family and the baseball community.
2. Early Life and Amateur Career
Satoshi Iriki's journey in baseball began in his childhood, leading him through amateur leagues before he entered the professional arena.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Iriki was born on June 3, 1967, in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. He started playing baseball at the age of four. He attended Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School in Kagoshima Prefecture. During the 1985 summer Kagoshima Tournament, he pitched as the third reliever in the semi-finals but his team was defeated by Kagoshima Shoko High School (now Shonan High School).
2.2. Amateur Baseball Career
After graduating from high school, Iriki joined Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima, an industrial league baseball team. His performance there caught the attention of professional scouts. In the 1989 Nippon Professional Baseball draft, he was selected in the sixth round by the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. Notably, his 同期dōkiJapanese (contemporaries/fellow draft picks) in the same draft class included future baseball stars such as Hideo Nomo and Hiroo Ishii, who later became his teammate on the Yomiuri Giants.
3. Professional Baseball Career
Satoshi Iriki's professional baseball career was extensive, encompassing stints in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
3.1. Japan Professional Baseball (NPB)
Iriki spent the majority of his career in Japan's NPB, where he played for four different teams and developed a reputation for his versatility on the mound.
3.1.1. Kintetsu Buffaloes (1990-1995, 1997-1998)
Iriki began his professional career with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1990. During his initial six-year tenure from 1990 to 1995, he became a utility pitcher, excelling in various roles including starting, middle relief, and closing. He appeared in 125 games for the team during this period. After a brief departure, he returned to the Buffaloes in 1997 following a trade. In 1997, on August 24, in a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines, Kintetsu remarkably overturned a 10-run deficit to win 11-10. The decisive 11th run was scored by Iriki, who entered the game as a pinch-runner for Kazunori Yamamoto, who had drawn a walk. This was a rare occurrence for a pitcher, as interleague play did not exist in the Pacific League at the time, making plate appearances for pitchers almost non-existent. As a result, Iriki had a unique record of one run scored with zero plate appearances in that year. On August 30, 1997, in a game against the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks at Osaka Dome, he secured a starting victory upon his return to Kintetsu, commenting, "I can't lose to my younger brother," referring to Yusaku, who had joined the Giants that year.
3.1.2. Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1996)
In June 1996, Iriki was traded from the Kintetsu Buffaloes to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in exchange for catcher Ryo Yoshimoto. However, his time with the Carp was short-lived. In the offseason of the same year, he was part of a rare "return trade," moving back to the Kintetsu Buffaloes with Yoshimoto also returning to Hiroshima.
3.1.3. Yomiuri Giants (1999-2000)
In the offseason of 1998, Iriki was traded to the Yomiuri Giants in exchange for Hiroyuki Sato. This move was particularly notable as it reunited him with his younger brother, Yusaku Iriki, making them the first active brothers to play simultaneously for the same team in NPB history. In 1999, Iriki made 22 appearances for the Giants. However, he did not make any first-team appearances in 2000 and was released by the team at the end of that season.
3.1.4. Tokyo Yakult Swallows (2001-2002)
After being released by the Giants, Iriki signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Then-manager Tsutomu Wakamatsu reportedly commented on acquiring Iriki after a tryout, stating that he "felt his spirit and tenacity." The 2001 season proved to be his most impactful, as he achieved a career-high 10 wins, with a strong 9-2 record in the first half of the season. His performance earned him his first selection to the NPB All-Star Game in 2001. In a historic moment, he and his brother Yusaku achieved the first-ever brother relay pitching in an NPB All-Star Game, with Satoshi taking the mound after Yusaku, who was the starting pitcher for the first game. Iriki also played a crucial role in the 2001 Japan Series against his former team, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (who had changed their name from Kintetsu Buffaloes in March 1999). In Game 3 of the series on October 23, held at Meiji Jingu Stadium, he combined with catcher Atsuya Furuta and pitched five innings, allowing only one earned run, earning the win. This victory contributed to the Swallows' championship. Iriki notably declared upon joining the Swallows, "I came here to take revenge on the Giants! So other pitchers from the four teams, please come ask me how to defeat the Giants." This strong anti-Giants sentiment fueled his successful 2001 season, where he significantly contributed to the Swallows' championship, ultimately achieving victories against all NPB teams, including the Japan Series. He credited Atsuya Furuta with teaching him how to use a slow curve and other off-speed pitches, transforming his pitching style from purely relying on power. Iriki stated that Furuta was "truly the person of destiny" for him. Despite Iriki's tendency to shake off catcher's signs and throw pitches based on his own intuition, often leading to missed catches by other catchers, Furuta would catch them so naturally that opponents and even Yusaku during the All-Star game wouldn't notice. When Yusaku asked Furuta if his brother always followed his signs, Furuta reportedly replied coolly, "He doesn't." In 2002, Iriki only managed one win due to an ankle injury and personal reasons, leading to his second release from an NPB team at the end of the season. A brotherly confrontation between Satoshi and Yusaku never materialized during Iriki's two years with the Swallows.
3.2. Korea Baseball Organization (KBO)
In 2003, Satoshi Iriki made a groundbreaking move to the Doosan Bears in the KBO, becoming the first Japanese pitcher to register under the KBO's foreign player quota. Prior to this, since its establishment in 1982, the KBO had largely excluded foreign players (except for Korean residents in Japan who held Japanese nationality) due to concerns about weakening domestic talent. However, following competitive exchanges in the Japan-Korea Professional Baseball Super Game and a growing recognition of the need for foreign talent, the KBO began accepting foreign players in 1998. While there were earlier instances of players like Hiroaki Miyagi (former Yakult) who reportedly entered the league by posing as Zainichi Koreans with the help of acquaintances, Iriki was the first to be officially registered under the new foreign player rules. During his single season with the Doosan Bears, he recorded 7 wins, 11 losses, and 5 saves with an ERA of 3.74.
3.3. Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL)
In 2004, Iriki moved to Taiwan, joining the La New Bears in the CPBL. He secured four wins during his time with the team but was released mid-season. His release from La New Bears marked the end of his active professional baseball career.
4. Playing Style and Personal Characteristics
Satoshi Iriki was characterized by his distinctive and aggressive pitching style, often dubbed "fighting pitching." He wielded a fastball that could reach speeds in the mid-87 mph (140 km/h) range, which he used fearlessly to pitch inside to batters.
A notable anecdote from 1994, during a game against the Orix BlueWave, describes Iriki being hit in the side of the head by a batted ball from Hirofumi Ogawa. Despite the concern of his teammates who rushed to his side, Iriki showed no sign of pain and continued pitching. This memorable moment was frequently featured on the Japanese television program Pro Baseball Chin Play and Good Play Awards.
In 1995, during a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines, Iriki hit batter Pete Incaviglia in the head, leading to a mound-clearing brawl where Incaviglia reportedly knocked Iriki down on the mound.
Iriki was also known for his strong personality and emotional expressions regarding his career. His declaration upon joining the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, expressing a desire for "revenge" against his former team, the Yomiuri Giants, showcased his competitive spirit and contributed to his significant success with the Swallows. He also expressed great respect and gratitude towards his catcher, Atsuya Furuta, who helped him refine his pitching repertoire.
5. Post-Retirement Life
After retiring from professional baseball in 2004, Satoshi Iriki faced significant challenges in transitioning to a new career. He reportedly changed jobs ten times, illustrating the difficult adjustments many athletes experience after their playing careers conclude. Initially, he worked at "Kakashitei," a catering and handmade bento shop managed by his brother-in-law (his wife's brother) in his hometown of Miyakonojo. His diligent work earned him recognition, and in April 2008, he was entrusted with managing a second branch of the shop that was slated to open in Miyazaki City, although he later left that position. At the time of his death, Iriki was working as a caregiver, demonstrating his continued efforts to find stable employment and contribute to society.
6. Death
Satoshi Iriki's life was tragically cut short due to a traffic collision, which had a profound impact on his family and the broader baseball community.
6.1. Traffic Collision
On February 10, 2023, at approximately 9:50 PM, Iriki was driving a light passenger vehicle in Miyakonojo City when he was involved in a head-on collision with a regular passenger vehicle at an unsignaled intersection in Nonomiya-cho. His light vehicle suffered severe damage to the front and overturned into a field. Iriki was rushed to a hospital in Miyakonojo in an unconscious state. He succumbed to his injuries approximately two hours later, at 11:45 PM, due to severe head trauma. He was 55 years old. The other driver, a 33-year-old male organization employee, was unharmed. Investigations revealed that the intersection had a stop sign for the road the other driver was on, suggesting a potential stop sign violation by the other driver.
6.2. Funeral and Aftermath
Upon receiving the news of his brother's accident, Yusaku Iriki, who was in Miyazaki City for an Orix Buffaloes coaching camp approximately 31 mile (50 km) away, immediately rushed to Miyakonojo. A wake for Satoshi Iriki was held on February 12, attended by Yusaku, as well as Orix General Manager Junichi Fukura and Giants' roving pitching coach Yasuo Kubo, who were also in Miyazaki for spring training. Condolences and floral tributes were sent by numerous baseball figures, including Kazuhiro Kiyohara, a former teammate of Iriki's with the Giants. The funeral was held the following day, February 13. As a poignant tribute, items from his playing career, including caps from the teams he played for and his Giants and Yakult uniforms, were placed inside his coffin. His posthumous Buddhist name (Kaimyo) was "Jion'in Hochishinji." Yusaku Iriki tearfully called out "Let's go!" before the coffin was carried out, expressing profound grief over the loss of his brother, stating, "There's no one to argue with anymore..."
7. Awards and Records
Satoshi Iriki received recognition for his performances and achieved several notable milestones throughout his career in Japan Professional Baseball.
7.1. Awards
- Monthly MVP (Pitcher's Division): 1 time (June 2001)
7.2. First Records (NPB)
- First appearance: April 18, 1990, against Orix Braves (Game 2) at Nissei Stadium; entered as the second reliever in the 8th inning with two outs, pitching 1/3 inning and allowing 4 runs.
- First strikeout: April 19, 1990, against Orix Braves (Game 3) at Nissei Stadium; struck out Keijiro Yumioka in the 9th inning.
- First start: August 12, 1990, against Lotte Orions (Game 17) at Fujidera Stadium; pitched 1 inning and allowed 4 runs.
- First win, first complete game win, first shutout win: June 20, 1991, against Nippon-Ham Fighters (Game 10) at Tokyo Dome.
- First save: October 6, 1992, against Seibu Lions (Game 26) at Fujidera Stadium; entered as the second reliever in the 6th inning, completing the game with 4 scoreless innings.
7.3. Other Records (NPB)
- NPB All-Star Game appearances: 1 time (2001)
- Historic "Iriki brothers relay" in the 2001 All-Star Game with his younger brother, Yusaku Iriki.
8. Career Statistics
Satoshi Iriki's pitching statistics reflect his extensive career across three professional leagues.
8.1. Pitching Statistics by Year
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | No-Walk Gms | W | L | SV | HLD | Win% | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | BK | WP | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Kintetsu | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | .000 | 39 | 7.2 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 10.57 | 2.35 |
| 1991 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -- | 1.000 | 205 | 51.2 | 35 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 14 | 2.44 | 1.01 | |
| 1992 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | -- | .571 | 245 | 53.1 | 66 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 40 | 6.75 | 1.59 | |
| 1993 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | -- | .500 | 340 | 80.2 | 68 | 5 | 33 | 2 | 6 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 30 | 3.35 | 1.25 | |
| 1994 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | -- | .400 | 468 | 107.0 | 128 | 12 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 50 | 4.21 | 1.51 | |
| 1995 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -- | .000 | 225 | 50.2 | 61 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 5.33 | 1.48 | |
| 1996 | Hiroshima | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -- | .000 | 80 | 17.0 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 10 | 5.29 | 1.65 |
| 1997 | Kintetsu | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -- | 1.000 | 50 | 13.1 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2.70 | 1.13 |
| 1998 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | -- | .571 | 208 | 47.2 | 46 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 29 | 5.48 | 1.51 | |
| 1999 | Giants | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -- | .667 | 104 | 21.2 | 24 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 4.15 | 1.89 |
| 2001 | Yakult | 24 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | -- | .769 | 528 | 129.1 | 117 | 16 | 32 | 2 | 4 | 80 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 41 | 2.85 | 1.15 |
| 2002 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -- | .250 | 117 | 25.2 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 6.66 | 1.52 | |
| 2003 | Doosan | 39 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .389 | 676 | 159.0 | 155 | 17 | 53 | 3 | 9 | 87 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 66 | 3.74 | 1.31 |
| 2004 | La New | 11 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | .400 | 331 | 77.0 | 81 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 29 | 3.39 | 1.30 |
| NPB: 12 seasons | 214 | 58 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 30 | 2 | -- | .538 | 2609 | 605.2 | 626 | 67 | 211 | 8 | 28 | 422 | 8 | 2 | 311 | 286 | 4.25 | 1.38 | |
| KBO: 1 season | 39 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .389 | 676 | 159.0 | 155 | 17 | 53 | 3 | 9 | 87 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 66 | 3.74 | 1.31 | |
| CPBL: 1 season | 11 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | .400 | 331 | 77.0 | 81 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 29 | 3.39 | 1.30 | |
9. Uniform Numbers
Satoshi Iriki wore the following uniform numbers throughout his professional baseball career:
- 41 (1990-1995, Kintetsu Buffaloes)
- 40 (1996, Hiroshima Toyo Carp)
- 42 (1997-1998, Kintetsu Buffaloes)
- 44 (1999-2000, Yomiuri Giants)
- 28 (2001-2002, Tokyo Yakult Swallows)
- 29 (2003, Doosan Bears; 2004, La New Bears)