1. Personal Life
Yohei Kagiya's personal life includes his upbringing in Hokkaido, his educational journey through high school and university where he balanced academics with baseball, and his family life.
1.1. Birthplace and Upbringing
Kagiya was born in Nanae, Kameda District, Hokkaido. He began playing baseball in first grade, transitioning from an infielder to a pitcher in fifth grade. During his time at Nanae Town Municipal Nanae Junior High School, he was a member of the Softball club.
1.2. Education
Kagiya chose to attend Hokkai High School in Sapporo due to a baseball scholarship offer and his desire to pursue baseball independently from his family. He joined the varsity team in his first year and became the ace pitcher in his second year. In his third year, he led his team to victory in the South Hokkaido Qualifiers, earning a spot in the 90th National High School Baseball Championship Memorial Tournament. However, in the first round against Toho High School, he struggled, giving up 14 hits and 12 runs before being pulled in the seventh inning, with his team ultimately losing 10-15.
He then enrolled at Chuo University and joined its baseball team, which is affiliated with the Tohto University Baseball League. He made his official game debut in the spring of his second year. In the autumn, he recorded his fastest pitch at 94 mph (152 km/h) but sustained a right elbow ligament injury that required four months of recovery. After recovering, he began to be utilized as a starter in his fourth year. Throughout his university career, he appeared in 37 league games, achieving 7 wins, 9 losses, and a 1.94 ERA. Kagiya was a law student and successfully balanced his academic studies with his baseball commitments. His university seniors included Takayuki Sawamura and Issei Endo, while Haruya Inoue was a year his junior.
1.3. Family and Marriage
Yohei Kagiya married actress Yui Aoi on January 21, 2020.
1.4. Personal Attributes and Interests
Kagiya is affectionately known by the nicknames "Kagi" or "Kagi-san." He is widely regarded for his serious and kind personality, which has earned him strong respect and popularity among his teammates.
In 2016, Kagiya was selected as a model for "Fighters Style," a unique collaborative project between the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Supporters Association and local barber unions, which showcases the latest hair designs annually. His baseball glove was initially a distinctive lavender color, chosen to reflect the famous lavender fields of Furano and adorned with the star emblem of his alma mater, Hokkai High School. This unique glove became a recognizable symbol for him among fans. However, starting in his second year, he switched to a black glove for lighter weight.
Kagiya shares a close bond with Ice hockey players Takuya Gorai of Red Eagles Hokkaido and Hirokazu Haruta, a former player for Nippon Paper Cranes, both of whom he befriended during his time at Hokkai High School. All three friends chose the jersey number 30 when they turned professional or joined a top league, and Kagiya's strong attachment to this number was evident when he requested to revert to 30 after being traded to the Giants, despite initially being assigned 32. This connection also led to Kagiya's significant efforts in 2019 to help save the Nippon Paper Cranes ice hockey team from disbandment. He rallied support from fellow Fighters players, including Kenshi Sugiya, Yuki Saito, and Toshihiro Sugiura, to organize a signature campaign during an exhibition game at Sapporo Dome. This initiative garnered over 100,000 signatures, playing a crucial role in the team's continuation as a club. Additionally, Kagiya's senior from Nanae Junior High School is Daisuke Noguchi, a player for Nagasaki Velca in the B.League.
2. Professional Career
Yohei Kagiya's professional career in Nippon Professional Baseball spanned over a decade, marked by his impactful stints with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Yomiuri Giants, culminating in his retirement.
2.1. Draft and Professional Entry
On October 25, 2012, Kagiya was selected by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the third round of the 2012 NPB Draft. On November 13, 2012, he formally agreed to terms with the Fighters, signing a contract with an estimated signing bonus of 60.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 9.00 M JPY. Notably, the 2012 draft saw a record five Hokkaido-born players selected, all within the top three rounds and considered immediate impact players, a first in NPB history.
2.2. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (First Stint)
Kagiya's initial period with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters established him as a promising relief pitcher, contributing to team success and achieving personal milestones.
2.2.1. Debut and Early Seasons (2013-2015)
In 2013, Kagiya made the Opening Day roster alongside Shohei Ohtani. He made his professional debut and recorded his first hold on March 29, 2013, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Seibu Dome, pitching 1/3 of an inning without allowing a run. His first professional win came on April 14, 2013, against the Orix Buffaloes at Hotto Motto Field Kobe, making him the first Hokkaido-born pitcher to earn a win for the Fighters in their tenth year since relocating to Hokkaido. He recorded his first strikeout on April 6, 2013, against Kenta Imamiya of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Sapporo Dome. On May 6, 2013, he made his first professional start against the Saitama Seibu Lions, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing one run, though he was tagged with the loss. His first professional at-bat occurred on May 17, 2013, against Shōichi Ino of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, resulting in a strikeout. On July 3, 2013, he earned his first save against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Fukuoka Dome, pitching a scoreless inning in the eleventh. For the 2013 season, he appeared in 38 games, finishing with 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 hold, 5 saves, and a 3.33 ERA. Following the season, his salary was increased by 7.00 M JPY to 16.00 M JPY.
In 2014, Kagiya appeared in 21 regular season games, posting 1 win, 0 losses, 2 holds, and a 2.20 ERA. On October 16, 2014, he became the first Hokkaido-born player to earn a win in a playoff or Climax Series game, pitching two scoreless innings in relief against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage. His salary increased by 1.00 M JPY to an estimated 17.00 M JPY.
In 2015, Kagiya was removed from the first-team roster in late July due to a slump. He was reinstated on September 21 and earned his third win of the season on September 22 against the SoftBank Hawks. The following day, he secured his fourth win against the same team, marking his second consecutive victory. He finished the season with 40 appearances, 5 wins, 3 losses, 15 holds, and a 4.67 ERA. His salary was raised by 5.00 M JPY to an estimated 22.00 M JPY.
2.2.2. Peak Performance and Trade (2016-2019)
In 2016, Kagiya had a career-high 48 appearances, recording 5 wins, 3 losses, 3 saves, 3 holds, and a 4.23 ERA, contributing significantly to the team's league championship and Japan Series title. His salary was increased by 6.00 M JPY to an estimated 28.00 M JPY.
The 2017 season saw Kagiya pitch in a new career-high of 60 games, maintaining stable performance alongside Naoki Miyanishi and Chris Martin, despite the team finishing in fifth place. He recorded 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 save, 17 holds, and an impressive 2.53 ERA. His strong performance led to a substantial salary increase of 22.00 M JPY, bringing his estimated annual salary to 50.00 M JPY.
In 2018, Kagiya was expected to compete for the closer role alongside Naoya Ishikawa following his strong previous season. However, he suffered a right flexor carpi ulnaris muscle strain during spring training on March 16, sidelining him for three weeks. After returning to the first team in late May, his performance was inconsistent. He appeared in 28 games, with 0 wins, 0 losses, 2 holds, and a 4.28 ERA. His salary was reduced by 7.00 M JPY to an estimated 43.00 M JPY.
Kagiya made the Opening Day roster in 2019. Before his trade, he appeared in 18 games, recording 0 wins, 0 losses, 1 hold, and a 5.94 ERA. He was removed from the active roster on June 10.
2.3. Yomiuri Giants
Kagiya's tenure with the Yomiuri Giants saw him continue to be a key bullpen arm, contributing to championship runs and achieving a unique career milestone.
2.3.1. Performance and Contributions (2019-2021)
On June 28, 2019, Kagiya was traded to the Yomiuri Giants along with Takahiro Fujioka in exchange for Shingo Usami and Mitsuo Yoshikawa. This trade marked the first in the Reiwa era of NPB. He was assigned jersey number 32. Following the trade, he appeared in 27 games as a relief pitcher, recording 0 wins, 2 losses, 6 holds, and a 3.00 ERA. In the offseason, his salary was increased by 2.00 M JPY to an estimated 45.00 M JPY, and it was announced that his jersey number would be changed back to 30, the number he wore during his first stint with the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
In 2020, Kagiya appeared in a team-high 46 games, contributing to the Giants' second consecutive league championship with 3 wins, 1 loss, 13 holds, and a 2.89 ERA. However, in Game 2 of the 2020 Japan Series against the SoftBank Hawks, he gave up a grand slam to Alfredo Despaigne, and the Giants ultimately lost the series in four games. In the offseason, his salary was increased by 20.00 M JPY to an estimated 65.00 M JPY.
Kagiya again led the team in appearances in 2021, pitching in 59 games and recording 3 wins, 0 losses, 1 save, and 15 holds. On November 7, in Game 2 of the Climax Series First Stage against the Hanshin Tigers, he entered with a one-run lead and two outs in a bases-loaded situation, retiring Jeffery Marte with a groundout to third base, contributing to the Giants' advancement to the Final Stage. On May 22, 2021, against the Chunichi Dragons at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, Kagiya achieved a rare "1-pitch save," entering the game with two outs in the ninth inning and securing the final out on a single pitch. This was the 61st such instance and 67th overall in NPB history, and the 7th for the Giants, the first since 2014. His salary increased by 10.00 M JPY to an estimated 75.00 M JPY.
2.3.2. Later Seasons and Departure (2022-2023)
In 2022, Kagiya's season started slowly due to lower body conditioning issues, leading to a delay in his promotion to the first team until June 4. He ultimately appeared in 21 games, with 2 wins, 0 losses, 3 holds, and a 3.71 ERA. In the offseason, his salary was reduced by 12.00 M JPY to an estimated 63.00 M JPY.
Kagiya made the Opening Day roster in 2023. He pitched in 13 games, recording 2 wins, 0 losses, 1 save, and a 3.18 ERA. However, on October 13, 2023, he was released by the Giants.
2.4. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Second Stint)
Kagiya's career came full circle with his return to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where he concluded his playing days.
2.4.1. Return and Retirement (2024)
On November 19, 2023, Kagiya signed a developmental player contract with his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, marking his return to the club after five seasons. He was assigned jersey number 130, with an estimated annual salary of 10.00 M JPY.
In 2024, Kagiya pitched in 13 games for the Fighters' minor league team, recording a 1.10 ERA by July 24. On that date, the Fighters announced that he, along with Haruki Miyauchi and Yuki Umebayashi, had been converted to regular player contracts, with Kagiya receiving jersey number 60. Despite this, he did not make any first-team appearances during the season.
On September 5, 2024, Kagiya announced his retirement from professional baseball through the team, stating that the 2024 season would be his last. His retirement game was held on September 25, 2024, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Es Con Field Hokkaido. In a special moment, he started the game for the first time in 11 years since his rookie season. He successfully retired two batters, Yūya Ogo and Hiroto Kobukata, before leaving the mound. A retirement ceremony was held after the game, which included a video message of congratulations from his former teammate and fellow 2012 draft pick, Shohei Ohtani.
3. Player Characteristics
Yohei Kagiya's pitching style is characterized by his arm slot, fastball velocity, and a repertoire of breaking pitches that made him an effective relief pitcher throughout his career.
3.1. Pitching Style and Pitches
Kagiya throws from a three-quarter arm slot. His fastball averages 88 mph (142 km/h) and can reach a top speed of 95 mph (153 km/h). His primary pitches are his fastball and slider. He also throws a forkball and a palmball known for its effective break. While he made two starts in his rookie year in 2013, he was predominantly used as a relief pitcher or closer throughout his professional career, with his final game marking his only other start in 11 years.
4. Statistics and Records
This section provides a comprehensive overview of Yohei Kagiya's career statistics and notable achievements in Nippon Professional Baseball.
4.1. Annual Performance Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | CG | SHO | BB/9 | W | L | SV | HLD | W-L% | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Nippon-Ham | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | .400 | 231 | 54.0 | 41 | 4 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 20 | 3.33 | 1.37 |
| 2014 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 119 | 28.2 | 25 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 2.20 | 1.22 | |
| 2015 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 15 | .625 | 159 | 34.2 | 45 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 18 | 4.67 | 1.64 | |
| 2016 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | .625 | 187 | 44.2 | 37 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 21 | 4.23 | 1.30 | |
| 2017 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 17 | .400 | 218 | 57.0 | 33 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 16 | 2.53 | 0.88 | |
| 2018 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ---- | 128 | 27.1 | 33 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 4.28 | 1.65 | |
| 2019 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ---- | 77 | 16.2 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 5.94 | 1.68 | |
| Giants | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | .000 | 117 | 27.0 | 21 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 3.00 | 1.44 | |
| '19 Total | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | .000 | 194 | 43.2 | 37 | 4 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 20 | 4.12 | 1.53 | |
| 2020 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | .750 | 148 | 37.1 | 25 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 2.89 | 1.02 | |
| 2021 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 1.000 | 182 | 42.1 | 39 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 15 | 3.19 | 1.35 | |
| 2022 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1.000 | 74 | 17.0 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 3.71 | 1.53 | |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1.000 | 48 | 11.1 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3.18 | 1.32 | |
| 2024 | Nippon-Ham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| NPB: 12 years | 420 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 15 | 7 | 84 | .625 | 1690 | 398.2 | 346 | 38 | 176 | 5 | 6 | 324 | 8 | 0 | 178 | 153 | 3.45 | 1.31 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
| Year | Team | Pitcher | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PO | A | E | DP | FP% | ||
| 2013 | Nippon-Ham | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2014 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2015 | 40 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2016 | 48 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2017 | 60 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2018 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2019 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| Giants | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| '19 Total | 45 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2020 | 46 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2021 | 59 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2022 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2024 | Nippon-Ham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- |
| Career | 420 | 20 | 45 | 0 | 4 | 1.000 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
4.2. Career Milestones and Records
- Pitching Records
- First appearance, first hold: March 29, 2013, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions (Seibu Dome), 6th inning, 3rd pitcher in relief, 1/3 inning, no runs allowed.
- First strikeout: April 6, 2013, vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Sapporo Dome), 9th inning, against Kenta Imamiya.
- First win: April 14, 2013, vs. Orix Buffaloes (Hotto Motto Field Kobe), 6th inning, 3rd pitcher in relief, 2 innings, no runs allowed.
- First start: May 6, 2013, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions (Seibu Dome), 5 1/3 innings, 1 run allowed (loss).
- First save: July 3, 2013, vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome), 11th inning, 7th pitcher in relief, 1 inning, no runs allowed.
- Batting Records
- First at-bat: May 17, 2013, vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars (Yokohama Stadium), 2nd inning, strikeout against Shōichi Ino.
- Other Records
- 1-pitch save: May 22, 2021, vs. Chunichi Dragons (Vantelin Dome Nagoya), 9th inning, 6th pitcher in relief, 1/3 inning, no runs allowed. This was the 61st such instance and 67th overall in NPB history. It was also the 7th for the Yomiuri Giants, and the first since 2014.
4.3. Uniform Numbers
- 30 (2013 - June 27, 2019; 2020 - 2023)
- 32 (June 28, 2019 - end of 2019 season)
- 130 (2024 - July 23, 2024)
- 60 (July 24, 2024 - end of 2024 season)
4.4. Entrance Music
- "Hero (When You Become a Hero, It's Now)" by Kai Band (2013-2014)
- "Koyoi no Tsuki no Yō ni" by Elephant Kashimashi (2015)
- "Key Man" by Rune (2016-)
- "Key Man-Hyakusetsu Futō-" by Rune (2019-2021)
- "Key Man-Seijō Kanryō-" by Rune (2022-)
5. Awards and Honors
On December 13, 2024, Yohei Kagiya was awarded the Nanae Town Citizen Honor Award.