Ukyo Shuto

2.1. Birthplace and Early Life

Ukyo Shuto was born on February 10, 1996, in Yabuzuka Honmachi, Nitta District, Gunma Prefecture, which is now part of Ota City. He began playing soft baseball in the second grade of Ota Municipal Yabuzuka Honmachi Elementary School, joining the "Yabuzuka Little Fighters." During his time at Ota Municipal Yabuzuka Honmachi Junior High School, he transitioned to hardball, playing for the Ota Boys team.

2.2. High School Baseball

In 2011, Shuto enrolled at Tokyo University of Agriculture Second High School. In his third year, he served as the team captain, playing as the second batter and shortstop. During the summer Gunma prefectural tournament, he recorded 7 hits in 17 at-bats, achieving a batting average of .412, and stole 5 bases. His team reached the finals but was defeated by Maebashi Ikuei High School, which featured pitcher Kona Takahashi. Shuto did not have the opportunity to play in the Koshien Tournament.

2.3. University Baseball

In 2014, Shuto entered the Faculty of Bioindustry at Tokyo University of Agriculture and joined the hardball baseball club at Tokyo University of Agriculture Hokkaido Okhotsk, which is affiliated with the Hokkaido Student Baseball Federation. He became a regular player from his first year, initially playing as a designated hitter and outfielder. In his second year, he primarily played as an outfielder, then moved to third baseman in his third year, and played both third baseman and shortstop in his fourth year. He served as team captain from the fall of his third year until the spring of his fourth year.

During his university career, Shuto received several accolades in the Hokkaido University Baseball League. He was named to the Best Nine as a third baseman in the spring of his third year, received the Outstanding Player Award in the fall of his third year, and was honored as the Most Valuable Player and Best Nine as a shortstop in the spring of his fourth year. He participated in the Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship three times and the Meiji Shrine Baseball Tournament once. Across seven games in national tournaments, he maintained a .364 batting average. Over his four years in university, he accumulated a total of 40 stolen bases.

3.1. Draft and Signing

On October 26, 2017, Ukyo Shuto was selected by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the second round of the developmental player draft during the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. He officially joined the team on November 7, signing a contract with a signing bonus of 3.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 4.00 M JPY. He was assigned the uniform number 121. On March 26, 2019, Shuto was promoted to a registered player under control, signing a contract worth an estimated 6.00 M JPY. His uniform number was changed to 23.

3.2. 2018 Season

In the 2018 season, Shuto began playing in the Western League, one of NPB's minor leagues, participating in the opening game. By mid-season, he had already recorded 14 stolen bases. On July 12, he was selected for the Fresh All-Star Game, where he collected two hits and earned the Outstanding Player Award. He finished the minor league season having played 90 games, with a .233 batting average, a league-leading 27 stolen bases, and 14 RBIs. His performance also earned him a dispatch to the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he played 26 games and batted .304. Despite being a developmental player, his exceptional speed and defensive abilities led to his selection for the Japan national baseball team to compete in the 2018 U-23 Baseball World Cup on October 3.

3.3. 2019 Season

The 2019 season marked Shuto's promotion to the main roster. He was initially selected for the top-tier "A team" during the spring training camp in Miyazaki. He continued with the first team during the preseason, playing in 14 exhibition games. Although his batting average was low at .091 (1 hit in 11 at-bats), his speed and defensive potential were recognized. Following his registration as a controlled player on March 26, he made his first appearance in the first team in early April due to a series of injuries among position players.

He made his NPB debut on April 7 against the Chiba Lotte Marines, entering as a third baseman in the ninth inning. On April 9, he recorded his first professional stolen base against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. His first start came on April 21 against the Saitama Seibu Lions, where he played as the second batter and left fielder. In that game, he recorded his first professional hit and first home run, a three-run homer, and accumulated four RBIs. As the season progressed, he saw more starts, contributing nine stolen bases by the end of Golden Week. However, as his batting performance declined and some injured players returned, his starts became less frequent. He was primarily used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, finishing the season with a team-leading 25 stolen bases. His stolen base success rate was 83.3% (25 successful out of 30 attempts), the highest among Pacific League players with 20 or more stolen base attempts that year. Of his 25 stolen bases, 9 occurred while he was a starter, 1 while entering as a defensive substitute, and 15 while pinch-running. He was caught stealing five times, with one instance being a double-steal attempt from third base, meaning he was caught stealing second base only four times. Following this breakthrough season, his contract was renewed for an estimated 20.00 M JPY.

3.4. 2020 Season

The 2020 season was a breakout year for Shuto, establishing him as a premier baserunner. Early in the season, he was primarily used as a pinch runner or defensive substitute, with his first stolen base not coming until July 24, more than a month into the season. However, he rapidly accumulated stolen bases in the latter half, with 10 in August, 14 in September, and a remarkable 23 in October. From mid-September, his batting improved, solidifying his role as a leadoff hitter. On September 18, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, he started as the leadoff batter and second baseman, collecting four hits for his first career multi-hit game. He also stole two bases, becoming the first player in either league to reach 20 stolen bases that season.

On October 13, in a game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka, he hit a game-winning RBI triple off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the third inning, ending Yamamoto's streak of 31 consecutive scoreless innings. On October 18, he recorded his first career three-stolen-base game against the Rakuten Eagles at Fukuoka PayPay Dome. On October 22, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome, he stole second base in the fifth inning, reaching 42 stolen bases for the season, the most by an NPB developmental player (surpassing Yukifumi Okada's 41 in 2011). On October 25, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, he tied the team record with nine consecutive games with a stolen base and 19 stolen bases in a single month. On October 28, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, he tied Yutaka Fukumoto's Japanese professional baseball record of 11 consecutive games with a stolen base. The following day, against the same team, he set a new NPB record with 12 consecutive stolen bases. He extended this record to 13 games on October 30 against the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome. His streak ended on October 31 against the Seibu Lions when he had no stolen base opportunities.

On November 9, in the final regular season game against the Seibu Lions at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, he stole a base in the third inning, reaching 50 stolen bases for the season. This made him only the second player in Japanese professional baseball history, and the first in the Pacific League, to achieve 50 stolen bases without reaching the league's qualified plate appearances (the other being Goro Tsuchiya in 1951). He ultimately won the Pacific League stolen base title with 50 stolen bases, becoming the first player drafted as a developmental player to win a batting title. He also recorded seven triples, ranking second in the league. In September and October, he had a batting average above .300 for two consecutive months. He gained the nickname "Sunday Ukyo" for his exceptional performance on Sundays, hitting .458 (22 hits in 48 at-bats) and recording multi-hit games for five consecutive Sundays from September 27. However, he also committed a league-high 12 errors (8 at second base, 4 at shortstop), indicating areas for defensive improvement. In the 2020 Pacific League Climax Series against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he hit a game-winning RBI triple in the eighth inning of Game 2, helping his team advance to the Japan Series. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, he played every inning of every game, contributing with one hit, one stolen base, and strong defense, helping the Hawks secure their fourth consecutive Japan Series championship. He was honored with the Pacific League Stolen Base Leader Award and the NPB Commissioner's Special Award at the NPB AWARD 2020. In the offseason, his contract was renewed for an estimated 40.00 M JPY.

3.5. 2021 Season

The 2021 season presented significant challenges for Shuto due to injuries. He started the season as the leadoff batter and second baseman, but a prolonged batting slump led to him being primarily used as a pinch runner from the interleague games onward. However, his baserunning was inconsistent, with two pickoffs, one caught stealing, and one out on base in eight pinch-running opportunities. On June 10, while playing in a minor league game (a "parent-child" appearance on the same day as a first team game), he fractured the distal phalanx of his right index finger and was removed from the first team roster on June 11. He returned to the first team on August 13 for the second half of the season, successfully stealing five bases in eight pinch-running opportunities. However, he then injured his right shoulder and was again removed from the roster on August 29. The shoulder injury was severe, requiring surgery after consultations with three different hospitals. On September 10, he underwent arthroscopic labral repair surgery on his right shoulder, with an estimated recovery period of six months, effectively ending his season. He spent the remainder of the season in rehabilitation, finishing with 70 games played, a .201 batting average, three home runs, five RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. In the offseason, his contract was reduced by 4.00 M JPY to an estimated 36.00 M JPY.

3.6. 2022 Season

In the 2022 season, Shuto made a strong return from his injuries, reaching significant career milestones. On June 7, in an interleague game against the Hanshin Tigers at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, he recorded his 100th career stolen base. On June 18, he hit his first career walk-off home run against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, contributing to his team's return to first place. On August 4, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome, he hit his first career leadoff home run. He followed this with his second walk-off home run of the season on August 13 against the Orix Buffaloes at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, breaking a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning. He played in 80 games, finishing the regular season with a .267 batting average, a career-high five home runs, 15 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases, demonstrating a significant offensive presence. On December 12, his contract was renewed for an estimated 40.00 M JPY, an increase of 4.00 M JPY.

3.7. 2023 Season

The 2023 season saw Ukyo Shuto continue to excel, securing another stolen base title and earning individual honors. On April 11, he recorded three stolen bases in a single game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, contributing to the team's walk-off victory. On July 30, he hit a game-winning RBI in the 11th inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines, securing a walk-off win. On September 8, he hit his first career grand slam off Takahisa Kishi of the Rakuten Eagles. On September 23, against the Orix Buffaloes at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, he recorded his 150th career stolen base, becoming the 133rd player in NPB history to reach this milestone. He played in 114 games, finishing the season with a .241 batting average, two home runs, 17 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases. His 36 stolen bases tied with Hiroto Kobukata of the Rakuten Eagles for the top spot in the Pacific League, earning him his second stolen base title, his first since the 2020 season. In September and October, he played 26 games, accumulating 12 multi-hit games and two three-hit games, leading the league with a .330 batting average, 34 hits, and 12 stolen bases. For this outstanding performance, he received his first career Monthly MVP award, becoming the first position player drafted as a developmental player to earn this honor. On November 26, it was announced that he would serve as the player chairman for the upcoming season. On December 20, his contract was renewed for an estimated 45.00 M JPY, an increase of 5.00 M JPY.

3.8. 2024 Season

The 2024 season was another strong year for Shuto, marked by personal bests and significant contributions to the Hawks' success. From March 31 to April 13, he recorded a streak of 11 consecutive games with a run scored, a notable achievement. On April 13, against the Seibu Lions, he achieved his first career 5-for-5 game, also reaching base six times and stealing two bases. On May 7, he hit a game-winning sacrifice fly against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. On June 23, at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, he hit a game-winning home run off Atsuki Taneichi of the Chiba Lotte Marines. In the league-clinching game on September 23 against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka, he hit a crucial two-run triple in the fourth inning, leading to the team's comeback victory and securing the league championship.


For the first time in his seven-year professional career, Shuto reached the qualified plate appearances. He finished the season with a .269 batting average and 41 stolen bases, earning his third career stolen base title and second consecutive. On November 12, he received his first career Golden Glove Award as an outfielder. On November 25, he was also selected for his first career Best Nine award as an outfielder. On December 27, his contract was renewed for an estimated 110.00 M JPY, an increase of 65.00 M JPY, marking his first time earning over 100.00 M JPY. In the 2024 Pacific League Climax Series against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he recorded a single and his first career Climax Series stolen base in Game 1. In Game 3, he hit a go-ahead RBI single off Sachiya Yamasaki in the fourth inning.

3.9. Injuries and Rehabilitation

Ukyo Shuto has faced significant injury setbacks during his professional career. On June 10, 2021, he suffered a fracture to the distal phalanx of his right index finger, which led to his removal from the first team roster. Later that season, on September 10, 2021, he underwent arthroscopic labral repair surgery on his right shoulder. This surgery required an estimated recovery period of approximately six months, effectively ending his 2021 season. He spent the remainder of that year in rehabilitation to recover from the shoulder injury.

4.1. 2018 U-23 Baseball World Cup

On October 3, 2018, despite being a developmental player, Ukyo Shuto was selected to the Japan national baseball team for the 2018 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup, a testament to his speed and defensive capabilities. In the opening game of the tournament against South Africa, he hit his first career home run in an official international competition.

4.2. 2019 WBSC Premier12

In an unusual move, following the 2019 season, Shuto was selected to the Japan national baseball top team for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament, primarily for his exceptional baserunning technique as a pinch runner. He was the third developmental player from the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, following Kodai Senga and Takuya Kai, to be selected for the national team. In the tournament, he was mainly utilized as a pinch runner and led all players with four stolen bases. A particularly memorable moment occurred in the Super Round opener against Australia on November 11, at ZOZO Marine Stadium. Trailing by one run in the seventh inning, Shuto entered as a pinch runner for Masataka Yoshida. He then successfully stole both second and third base, and scored the tying run on a safety bunt by Sosuke Genda, contributing significantly to Japan's victory.

4.3. 2023 World Baseball Classic

Shuto was called up to the Japan national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He is widely remembered for his crucial role in the semi-final game against Mexico at LoanDepot Park. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game tied, he entered as a pinch runner for Masataka Yoshida, who had drawn a walk. On a walk-off double hit by Munetaka Murakami, Shuto immediately took off from first base, sprinting at full speed towards home plate. He completed the run from first to home in just 10.28 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 21 mph ^{(33.4 km/h)} (30.4 feet per second), securing the dramatic walk-off victory and propelling Japan into the final. His incredible speed in this moment led to the popular online phrase, "Shuto is a scoring threat even from first base" (周東は一塁でも得点圏_{Shūtō wa ichirui demo tokutenken}^Japanese), highlighting his ability to turn any base into a scoring position.

5.1. Speed and Baserunning

Shuto possesses exceptional speed, evidenced by his first base arrival time of 3.8 seconds. This speed is the foundation of his world record of 13 consecutive games with a stolen base. His baserunning strategy is highly refined: he anticipates the pitcher's subtle movements before the actual leg drive, observing not just the pitcher but also the background elements like the crowd to detect any slight motion that signals the start of the pitch. He aims to reach top speed by his third step (left foot) after initiating his sprint. For a stolen base to second, he runs in a straight line between the first and second bases, targeting the right edge of second base. While running, he does not watch the pitcher or the ball, instead relying on the movement of the shortstop to make decisions. He prefers feet-first slides, avoiding headfirst slides to maintain his speed upon reaching the base. His remarkable quickness has led to the popular saying, "Shuto is a scoring threat even from first base" (周東は一塁でも得点圏_{Shūtō wa ichirui demo tokutenken}^Japanese), implying that his speed makes him a scoring threat from any base.

5.2. Hitting and Fielding Abilities

Beyond his speed, Ukyo Shuto's offensive skills include the ability to hit to all fields and surprising punch power. While his primary value lies in his legs, he has demonstrated the capacity to contribute offensively, including hitting home runs and triples.

Defensively, Shuto is a highly versatile utility player, capable of playing any infield or outfield position. He has played second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, and various outfield positions throughout his career. While his defensive versatility is a significant asset, he has faced challenges in the past, such as committing a league-high 12 errors in 2020 (8 at second base and 4 at shortstop). However, he has continuously worked on his defensive game, culminating in his first Golden Glove Award as an outfielder in 2024, recognizing his improved proficiency and reliability in the outfield.

6.1. Name Origin

Ukyo Shuto's given name, Ukyo (佑京), was inspired by Ukyo Katayama, a Japanese Formula One racing driver who was active in the 1990s. This origin reflects a connection to speed and competitive excellence from his earliest days.

6.2. Personal Milestones

Ukyo Shuto is related to Toshihiko Iwasaki, a former Japanese record holder in the 110-meter hurdles and a representative at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Iwasaki is his father's cousin. Shuto married on June 20, 2020. His wife was an older woman who had supported him since his developmental player days, and their relationship endured a long-distance period.

7.1. League Titles

• Stolen Base Leader: 3 times (2020, 2023, 2024)

7.2. Individual Awards

• Best Nine: 1 time (Outfielder: 2024)
• Golden Glove Award: 1 time (Outfielder: 2024)
• NPB Commissioner's Special Award: 1 time (Special Award: 2020) - for setting the new professional baseball record of 13 consecutive games with a stolen base.
• Monthly MVP: 1 time (September/October 2023)
• Fresh All-Star Game Outstanding Player Award: 1 time (2018)
• WBSC Premier12 Stolen Base Leader: 1 time (2019)

8.1. Career Firsts

• First appearance: April 7, 2019, against the Chiba Lotte Marines (Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome), as a third baseman in the 9th inning.
• First stolen base: April 9, 2019, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Nagasaki Big N Stadium), stealing second base in the 8th inning (pitcher: Justin Hancock, catcher: Shinya Tsuruoka).
• First plate appearance: April 20, 2019, against the Saitama Seibu Lions (MetLife Dome), drawing a walk off Kyle Martin in the 8th inning.
• First start: April 21, 2019, against the Saitama Seibu Lions (MetLife Dome), starting as the second batter and left fielder.
• First RBI: April 21, 2019, against the Saitama Seibu Lions (MetLife Dome), a sacrifice bunt off Kona Takahashi in the 4th inning.
• First hit and first home run: April 21, 2019, against the Saitama Seibu Lions (MetLife Dome), a three-run home run to right field off Hayato Takagi in the 5th inning.

8.2. Milestone Achievements

• 100 stolen bases: June 7, 2022, against the Hanshin Tigers (Fukuoka PayPay Dome), stealing second base.
• 150 stolen bases: September 23, 2023, against the Orix Buffaloes (Fukuoka PayPay Dome), stealing second base in the 5th inning (pitcher: Daiki Tajima, catcher: Kenya Wakatsuki) - 133rd player in NPB history.

8.3. Notable Records

• All-Star Game appearances: 1 time (2024)
• 13 consecutive games with a stolen base: October 30, 2020, against the Saitama Seibu Lions (MetLife Dome), stealing second base in the 7th inning (pitcher: Ryuya Ogawa, catcher: Tomoya Mori) - a world record.
• Most stolen bases in a season by a player without reaching qualified plate appearances: 50 (2020 season) - Pacific League record.
• First walk-off home run: June 18, 2022.
• First leadoff home run: August 4, 2022.
• First grand slam: September 8, 2023.

8.4. Uniform Numbers

• 121 (2018 - March 25, 2019)
• 23 (March 26, 2019 - present)
• 9 (2023 World Baseball Classic)

8.5. Walk-up Songs

• "Hope" by Namie Amuro (2019 - 2021)
• "Konya Konomama" (今夜このまま) by Aimyon (2019 - 2021)
• "REVOLUTION" by Crystal Kay feat. Namie Amuro (2020 - present)
• "Hide & Seek" by Namie Amuro (2021)
• "Kimi wa Kimi no Hero" (君はキミのヒーロー) by Sho Shimomatsu (2021)
• "Wake Your Dreams" by Sho Shimomatsu (2021 - present)
• "Fairy Tale" (フェアリーテール) by Novelbright (2021)
• "Narco" by Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet (2022)
• "MONEY & FAME" by Needtobreathe (2022)
• "Trophies" by LeTreez, Lionel Fabert & TOTEN Prod (2023 - present)
• "Silhouette" (シルエット) by KANA-BOON (2023 - present)

8.6. Annual Batting Statistics

• 2024 season statistics
• Bold indicates league leader

8.7. WBSC Premier12 Batting Statistics

• Bold indicates tournament leader

8.8. WBC Batting Statistics

8.9. Annual Fielding Statistics

• 2024 season statistics
• Bold year indicates Golden Glove Award year