Yoshio Itoi

2.1.1. Pitcher Career and Draft Entry

In the fall of 2003, Itoi was drafted by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters as a pitcher under the then-existing free acquisition frame system. He signed a contract for 100.00 M JPY with an annual salary of 15.00 M JPY, and was assigned uniform number 26. Standing at 74 in ^{(187 cm)}, he possessed a powerful fastball that could reach speeds of up to 94 mph ^{(151 km/h)}. However, he struggled with control and developing effective breaking balls, leading to inconsistent performance. For his first two years, from 2004 to 2005, he did not make any appearances in the Ichigun (major league equivalent) and spent his time in the Ni-gun (minor league equivalent). In the ni-gun, he recorded 8 wins, 9 losses, and 3 saves over 36 games, with an earned run average of 4.86.

2.1.2. Transition to Outfielder

Despite his struggles as a pitcher, Itoi's exceptional athletic abilities were evident. He possessed a keen batting sense, remarkable running speed (reportedly 5 s for 164 ft ^{(50 m)}), and a strong throwing arm. Recognizing this untapped potential, Fighters General Manager Shigeru Takada made the pivotal decision to convert Itoi to an outfielder. This conversion was officially announced on April 25, 2006. Former teammate Tsuyoshi Shinjo also advised him to make the switch. Just five months after his conversion, Itoi demonstrated his natural talent in his new role, winning the Eastern League's Monthly MVP award in September 2006 with a batting average of .397. Although he did not play in the Ichigun during the 2006 regular season, he made his first Ichigun appearance as a substitute in the 2006 Asia Series on November 11 against the China Stars.

2.2.1. Early Years and Minor Leagues

After his conversion to an outfielder, Itoi spent his initial years adapting to his new position. In 2007, he made the Opening Day roster for the Ichigun but was quickly sent back to the ni-gun due to a lack of results. He later suffered an injury, but was recalled to the Ichigun in September, where he recorded his first professional hit and stolen base on September 10. However, he re-injured his leg during the stolen base play and was immediately removed from the roster. Despite this setback, he performed well in the ni-gun, hitting .319 with 12 home runs (second in the Eastern League) and 14 stolen bases.

In 2008, Itoi earned his first Opening Day start as a left fielder. However, he aggravated a muscle strain on March 30 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles by continuing to play through the injury, leading to another stint in the ni-gun. Upon his return to the Ichigun, he hit his first five professional home runs. He was notably selected as the lead-off hitter for the Fighters in that year's 2008 Pacific League Climax Series and displayed outstanding defensive prowess.

2.2.2. Breakthrough and Regular Status

The 2009 season marked Itoi's breakthrough as an everyday starting center fielder, taking over from Hichori Morimoto. He primarily batted 7th or 2nd, but also served as the 3rd batter in 12 games when Atsunori Inaba was absent. His strong performance in June earned him his first Monthly MVP award, with a batting average and hit count both ranking second in the league. He contributed significantly to the team's first-place standing with four clutch hits (one tying, three go-ahead). He also achieved an 11-game hitting streak from June 11 to 30, led the league with nine doubles, and tied for the lead with six stolen bases. In July, he was selected for his first NPB All-Star Game via manager's recommendation. He played 131 games, reaching the plate appearance qualification for the first time, and helped the team win the league championship.

2.2.3. Key Achievements and Awards

Itoi's performance continued to improve, solidifying his status as a key player for the Fighters.
In 2009, he finished with a .306 batting average (7th in the league), 15 home runs, 24 stolen bases (7th), a .381 on-base percentage (OBP, 6th), a .520 slugging percentage (SLG, 4th), and a .901 on-base plus slugging (OPS, 3rd). He received his first Best Nine Award (outfielder, 2nd in voting) and his first Golden Glove Award (outfielder, 1st in voting). His salary more than tripled to an estimated 60.00 M JPY.

In 2010, he primarily batted 5th as part of the clean-up crew after Termel Sledge's departure. On June 15, he recorded four doubles in a single game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, a feat achieved by only nine other players in NPB history, including Ichiro Suzuki and Tadahito Iguchi. He was selected for his second consecutive All-Star Game via player vote. He concluded the season with a .309 batting average, 15 home runs, 26 stolen bases, and a career-high 76 walks, leading to his first .400+ OBP (.407). He also earned his second consecutive Golden Glove Award. Following the season, his salary reached 100.00 M JPY, and he switched his uniform number to 7, previously worn by Tomochika Tsuboi.

The 2011 season saw Itoi batting 3rd and playing center field. Despite the introduction of a new, pitcher-friendly official ball that caused a league-wide drop in batting statistics, Itoi thrived. He was hit by pitches a league-high 19 times and even played through a fractured right pinky finger in August. He maintained a batting average above .300 for most of the season, finishing with a career-high .319 (2nd in the league), 11 home runs, and a team-high 31 stolen bases. He was the only player in all of NPB to achieve an OBP over .400, leading the league with a .411 OBP and earning his first Best OBP title. He also won his third consecutive Golden Glove Award and his second Best Nine Award (outfielder, 1st in voting). His salary increased to an estimated 190.00 M JPY.

In 2012, Itoi was converted to right field to utilize his strong arm, with Dai-Kang Yang moving to center field. He had a slow first half, hitting only two home runs, but rebounded strongly in the second half, batting .380 with three home runs in September, earning his second Monthly MVP award. He finished the season with a .304 batting average (3rd in the league), 9 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and a .404 OBP, securing his second consecutive Best OBP title. He also won his fourth consecutive Golden Glove Award and his third Best Nine Award (outfielder, 1st in voting). Itoi maintained his excellent form in the postseason, hitting home runs in the first two games of the Climax Series Final Stage and earning the Climax Series MVP award, contributing to the Fighters' first Japan Series appearance in three years. He was selected for the 2012 Samurai Japan Match against Cuba, wearing uniform number 1, and batted cleanup in the second game, going 2-for-4. At the end of the season, Itoi expressed interest in being posted to Major League Baseball (MLB), but his contract negotiations with the Fighters stalled, and he was instead traded.

2.3.1. Trade and Arrival

On January 23, 2013, Itoi was involved in a surprising five-player trade, moving to the Pacific League rivals Orix Buffaloes along with pitcher Tomoya Yagi in exchange for Hiroshi Kisanuki, Keiji Obiki, and Shogo Akada. This unexpected trade sent shockwaves through the baseball world. His former teammates, like Masaru Takeda, expressed dismay, and even Yu Darvish, then with the Texas Rangers, tweeted his disbelief. Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama stated, "There is nothing sadder than this." Itoi held a press conference at Hotto Motto Field Kobe on January 26, expressing his goal to win the championship with Orix, a team he had watched since childhood, being from the Kansai region. He retained his uniform number 7.

On May 11, 2013, Itoi hit a home run against his former club, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, becoming the 26th player in NPB history to hit a home home run against all 12 NPB teams.

2.3.2. Peak Performance and Titles

Itoi maintained consistent form throughout the 2013 season, achieving his fifth consecutive season with a .300 batting average and winning his fifth consecutive Golden Glove Award. He also recorded career highs with 157 hits, 17 home runs, and 33 stolen bases (3rd in the league). In the 2013 All-Star Game, he received the most fan votes across both leagues, with over 430,000 votes, marking his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance. Following the season, he signed a contract for an estimated 250.00 M JPY plus incentives, jokingly stating that his MLB aspirations were "hidden deep in his pectorals."

The 2014 season was one of Itoi's most successful. He started strong, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run and his first career back-to-back home runs against the Fighters on May 10. On June 8, he batted cleanup for the first time in his professional career against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, hitting a game-winning two-run home run. He continued to bat cleanup for many games, though he returned to the 3rd spot in August. He was watched closely to see if he could become the first player in Pacific League history to win a stolen base title while batting cleanup for over 50 games. He received the most fan votes for the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year, with 487,246 votes, and also received the most player votes, making it his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance. He finished the season with a career-high .331 batting average, earning his first Batting Champion title. He also secured his third Best OBP title with a .424 OBP. He was selected for his fourth Best Nine Award and sixth consecutive Golden Glove Award, becoming the first player in NPB history to achieve six consecutive seasons with a .300 batting average, 20 stolen bases, and a Golden Glove. He also played for the Japan national team in the 2014 MLB Japan Series, batting 3rd. His salary increased to an estimated 350.00 M JPY plus incentives.

2.3.3. Fan Recognition and FA

In 2015, Itoi was appointed captain of the Orix Buffaloes, his first time serving as a team captain. He reached several career milestones, including 1,000 hits on May 20, 100 home runs on July 30, and 1,000 games played on September 2. However, he struggled with injuries throughout the season, including a right elbow ligament and right ankle tendon injury in July, which led to him missing games. Despite being selected for the All-Star Game as a designated hitter, his batting average dropped below .300 for the first time since 2008. He underwent PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy for his left knee in the offseason. His salary was reduced to an estimated 280.00 M JPY.

The 2016 season saw Itoi's resurgence. He recorded hits in his first 10 games and hit his first home run of the season on April 13, ending the team's 13-game home run drought. He was selected for his eighth consecutive All-Star Game, the longest streak among active players that year. On August 13, he reached 4,000 career at-bats, with a career batting average of .300. On September 15, he hit three home runs in a single game, including a lead-off, first-pitch home run in the first inning, a first in NPB history for a player to hit three home runs in a game including a first-pitch lead-off home run in the first inning. He also hit home runs in the next two games, achieving his first career three-game home run streak. On May 8, he recorded his 200th career stolen base. On July 31, his 35th birthday, he recorded a season-high 34 stolen bases. On September 6, he reached 50 stolen bases for the season, becoming only the second player aged 35 or older to do so in NPB history, after Yutaka Fukumoto in 1983. He ultimately finished with 53 stolen bases, sharing the Stolen Base King title with Yuji Kaneko. At 35 years and 2 months old, he became the oldest player to win the stolen base title at the time (a record later broken by Takashi Ogino in 2021). He also won his seventh Golden Glove Award, the most among active players in both leagues.

During his time with Orix, fans began a unique tradition: they would wave rainbow-themed flags with Itoi's name and number during his at-bats, a reference to his uniform number 7 and the seven colors of the rainbow. This ritual continued with Hanshin Tigers fans after his transfer.

At the end of the 2016 season, Itoi announced his decision to test the free agent market. He officially declared his free agency on November 7. While Orix made a strong effort to retain him, reportedly offering a four-year contract worth an estimated 1.80 B JPY, other teams like the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers showed significant interest.

2.4.1. Joining the Tigers

On November 21, 2016, the Hanshin Tigers officially announced that they had reached an agreement with Itoi. He signed a four-year contract reportedly worth over 1.80 B JPY. He inherited uniform number 7 from Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who voluntarily switched to number 5. Nishioka, who had worn number 7 for 12 years since joining the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2003, expressed his willingness to give up the number, stating that Itoi had "more achievements" than him. Itoi expressed his gratitude to Orix fans for their support, even attending a fan appreciation event after his departure was announced, where he signed bats with "Thank You" for the fans. At his Hanshin entrance press conference, attended by around 200 reporters, Itoi noted that the Tigers had "passionate fans and a lot of media." He stated his desire to contribute to the team's success and help manager Akinobu Kanemoto win a championship. He also publicly set a goal of making seven hero interviews in 2017.

2.4.2. Performance and Injuries

In 2017, Itoi was initially promised the starting center field position by manager Kanemoto. However, he experienced a recurrence of right knee arthritis during January training camp. Although he participated in the Ichigun spring training, he focused on rehabilitation. He returned to play in a game against Orix on March 15. On March 31, he made his official debut as the 3rd batter and center fielder for the Tigers in the season opener against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, hitting a two-run double, a go-ahead RBI single, and another single, earning a hero interview in his first game. On April 5, he hit his first home run as a Tiger, later stating it was motivated by manager Kanemoto's intense expression after a brawl the previous day. On July 17, he suffered a right oblique muscle strain during a game against the Carp and was removed from the roster. He returned to the Ichigun on August 17. On August 30, he hit his first career walk-off solo home home run against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He finished the season with a .290 batting average, 17 home runs (second-highest in his career), 62 RBI (fifth-highest), and 21 stolen bases (tied for fourth in the league). His salary increased to an estimated 400.00 M JPY.

In 2018, Itoi started the season as the 3rd batter and right fielder. On May 25, he hit his 150th career home run off Tomoyuki Sugano of the Yomiuri Giants. He also batted cleanup for the Tigers for the first time. On June 2, he hit a go-ahead grand slam against the Saitama Seibu Lions. However, on June 30, he suffered a right fibula fracture after being hit by a pitch from Ren Kazahari of the Yakult Swallows. Despite the injury, he participated in the All-Star Game. He returned to play on July 21. On September 21, he recorded his 1,500th career hit off Yusuke Nomura of the Carp. However, in the same game, he injured his left shoulder's rotator cuff while attempting a diving catch, ending his season. Despite playing only 119 games, he finished with a .308 batting average (his eighth career .300+ season), a .420 OBP (second-highest career), and a .900 OPS (third-highest career), marking the first time a Hanshin player achieved an OPS over .900 since Craig Brazell in 2010.

2.4.3. Final Seasons and Retirement

In 2019, Itoi started the season as the 3rd batter and right fielder. However, on August 9, he injured his left ankle while sliding during a stolen base attempt against the Carp and was diagnosed with arthritis, leading to his removal from the roster. He played in 103 games, his fewest since becoming a regular, and recorded career lows in home runs and RBI for a full season after reaching plate appearance qualification. Nevertheless, he maintained a .314 batting average (3rd in the league) and a .403 OBP (2nd in the league). He also achieved his 300th career double and 100th career hit-by-pitch, and played his 1,500th career game.

The 2020 season saw Itoi battling a persistent right knee injury, which affected his batting performance. While he showed signs of recovery in September (.352 batting average) and October (.290), he played in a career-low 86 games since becoming a regular. His salary was reduced by 215.00 M JPY to an estimated 185.00 M JPY.

In 2021, Itoi did not make the Opening Day starting lineup for the first time since 2008, ending a 13-year streak across three teams. On September 11, he recorded his 300th career stolen base against the Carp, becoming the 31st player in NPB history to do so. However, he was primarily used as a pinch-hitter and finished the season with a .208 batting average, 3 home runs, and 18 RBI in 77 games. His salary was further reduced by 100.00 M JPY to an estimated 85.00 M JPY.

In 2022, Itoi performed well in spring training and earned an Opening Day start as the 6th batter and left fielder, hitting the team's first home run of the season on March 25. In May, he revealed he had suffered a lower back injury. He later contracted COVID-19 in August, leading to his removal from the roster. On September 12, he announced his retirement from professional baseball. On September 15, he launched his YouTube channel, "Yoshio Itoi Chojin Channel." His final game was on September 21 against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hanshin Koshien Stadium. He appeared as a pinch-hitter in the 5th inning and recorded a single off Masato Morishita in his final at-bat, concluding his 19-year career with 1,755 hits.