1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Yukiya Saitoh's baseball journey began in his hometown of Higashine, Yamagata, laying the foundation for his professional career.
1.1. Childhood and Youth Baseball
Born in Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, Saitoh started playing baseball in the third grade of Higashine Municipal Odajima Elementary School, joining the "Inaho Sports Youth Team," a soft baseball club. During his time at Higashine Municipal Daini Junior High School, he simultaneously played for his school's soft baseball club and the "Higashine Heroes" hardball club team.
1.2. High School and College Years
Saitoh attended Yamagata Prefectural Yamagata Chuo High School, where he made the varsity roster in his first year for the summer National High School Baseball Championship Yamagata Tournament. Although his team won the tournament, he was not part of the roster for the main tournament. With talented pitchers on the team, including one year his senior Yuya Yokoyama, Saitoh did not achieve significant individual recognition during his high school years.
After graduating high school, Saitoh enrolled at Toin University of Yokohama. Initially, he struggled with control issues. However, under the guidance of assistant coach Kon Yasushi Hagiwara, he refined his pitching form and engaged in serious weight training. He made his debut in the Kanagawa University Baseball League in his third year. In his fourth year's spring league season, he achieved an impressive record of 4 wins and 1 loss with a 1.01 ERA, contributing to his team's championship victory and earning the MVP award.
1.3. Amateur Baseball Career and Professional Draft
In the autumn of 2016, during his senior year of college, Saitoh submitted his application for professional baseball to the Baseball Federation of Japan. However, he was not selected by any team in the NPB Draft that year. After graduation, he joined the Honda industrial league baseball team. In his first year with Honda, he became a key pitcher, winning the Rookie of the Year award at the JABA Tokyo Spopichi Tournament. He also recorded a personal best fastball speed of 94 mph (152 km/h) in his debut at the Intercity Baseball Tournament. In his second year (2018), he played a pivotal role in Honda's victory at the Tokyo Spopichi Tournament. In the Intercity Baseball Tournament preliminaries, he pitched 14 innings across 3 games without allowing any earned runs. He started the first game of the main tournament against JR Shikoku Baseball Club but was unable to lead his team to victory.
In the 2018 NPB Draft, Saitoh was selected in the fourth round by the Hanshin Tigers. He signed a contract with an estimated value of 60.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 10.00 M JPY. This move reunited him with Yuya Yokoyama, who had been with Hanshin since 2015 after playing for Nippon Steel Sumikin Kashima. Saitoh was assigned uniform number 48. His Honda teammates, Seiya Kinami and Susumu Matsuda, were also drafted by Hanshin (3rd round) and Chiba Lotte Marines (7th round) respectively, making Kinami his teammate again at Hanshin. After the draft, Saitoh participated in the 44th Japan National Baseball Championship as a pitcher for Honda, but did not have an opportunity to pitch. His team lost in the first round against JR Tokai Baseball Club in an extra-inning tie-break.
2. Professional Career
Saitoh's professional career has seen him evolve as a pitcher, navigating challenges and achieving significant milestones across two NPB teams.
2.1. Hanshin Tigers (2019-2022)
In 2019, Saitoh started spring training with the first team and pitched in an exhibition game on February 24. However, he was demoted to the second team after spring training. In the Western League, he maintained a 0.00 ERA over 6 appearances, leading to his call-up to the first team on April 17. He made his professional debut on April 19 against the Yomiuri Giants, entering in the 6th inning with a 6-run deficit. He pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and 3 walks while striking out 2. Despite this strong debut, he was removed from the roster on April 26. He was re-registered on June 2 but was again removed on June 5 without making any further appearances. In the second team, he was selected for the Fresh All-Star Game on July 11, where he pitched as the seventh reliever for the Western League selection. He finished his rookie year with only one first-team appearance. In the second team (Western League), he pitched in 33 games, recording 1 win, 2 losses, a 3.82 ERA, and a team-high 8 saves. In the offseason, his estimated annual salary was reduced by 500.00 K JPY to 9.50 M JPY.
In 2020, the season was shortened to 120 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with opening day postponed to June 19. Saitoh pitched in pre-season practice games but began the season in the second team. He struggled in 10 relief appearances in the Western League, posting a 6.28 ERA. However, he performed well in his first official game start in the second team on August 22, pitching 5 scoreless innings. Including this game, he threw 13 scoreless innings across 3 starts with 17 strikeouts, earning him his first call-up of the season and his first professional start on September 10 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. In the 3rd inning, he recorded his first professional hit with an infield single to the pitcher and later scored the opening run. This marked the first time a Hanshin pitcher had an initial at-bat hit and scored a run since Akihiro Shimada in 1985 (35 years prior). However, he allowed runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning and was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the 4th, finishing with 3 innings pitched, 3 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs, with no decision. He was removed from the roster the next day and continued to adjust as a starter in the second team. Due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the team, he was re-registered on September 25 as a reliever under "Special Rule 2020." He made 4 appearances before being removed from the roster on October 8, finishing the season in the second team. He ended the year with 5 first-team appearances (1 start), 0 wins, 0 losses, and a 7.71 ERA. In the offseason, his estimated annual salary was reduced by 1.00 M JPY to 8.50 M JPY.
In 2021, Saitoh aimed for a spot in the starting rotation. He started an exhibition game on March 10 but allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks/hit-by-pitches over 5 innings, leading to his return to the second team. He did not make the opening day rotation. In the second team, he pitched as a starter until early May, recording a 3.34 ERA in 7 appearances (6 starts). On May 14, he pitched in relief in a second-team game. On May 19, he was registered as a reliever for the first team and made his season debut on May 28 against the Saitama Seibu Lions, entering in the 8th inning with a 2-run deficit. He retired the side in order, and his team rallied to win in the 9th inning, earning Saitoh his first professional win. He then became a key part of the first-team bullpen, recording his first professional hold on July 4 against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He remained with the first team after the regular season resumed following the Tokyo Olympics break. However, after allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks over 1 inning in an August 25 game against DeNA, he was removed from the roster on August 26. He was re-registered on September 10 and made 2 scoreless appearances but was removed again on September 24. He finished the season with 19 first-team relief appearances, 1 win, 1 loss, 1 hold, and a 4.63 ERA. He was registered for the postseason on November 6 and made his first postseason appearance in Game 1 of the CS First Stage against the Giants, pitching 1 scoreless inning. In the offseason, his estimated annual salary increased by 3.50 M JPY to 12.00 M JPY.
In 2022, Saitoh was slated to start spring training with the first team but tested positive for COVID-19 on January 21, despite being asymptomatic. After a period of isolation, he joined the second team on February 1. He joined the first team on March 11 and impressed in exhibition games, recording 2 saves and a 0.00 ERA in 3 appearances, earning a spot on the opening day roster for the first time in his career. Before the interleague play began, he had pitched in 15 games (1 start). Due to team circumstances, including starting pitchers Masashi Itoh and Shintaro Fujinami testing positive for COVID-19, Saitoh was appointed to start on April 21 against DeNA. Although he only allowed runs in 3 of his appearances, each instance resulted in 3 runs, indicating inconsistency. He finished this period with 0 wins, 1 loss, and a 4.67 ERA. After allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 hit-by-pitches in 1 inning against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on May 25, he was removed from the roster on May 30. He was re-registered on June 24 and made 2 scoreless appearances but was removed again on July 14. He was temporarily re-registered on July 16 under "Special Rule 2022" but was removed on August 1 without making an appearance. He was re-registered on September 7 but allowed runs in two consecutive appearances before being removed on September 11, finishing the season in the second team. He ended the year with 20 first-team appearances (1 start), 0 wins, 1 loss, and a 5.01 ERA.
2.2. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2022-present)
On October 18, 2022, Saitoh was traded to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters along with Taiga Egoshi in a two-for-two deal that sent Ryo Watanabe and Yuto Takahama to the Hanshin Tigers. He retained his uniform number 48 with the Fighters. On November 28, he renewed his contract with an estimated annual salary of 17.00 M JPY, an increase of 5.00 M JPY.
2.2.1. Injury and Rehabilitation (2023)
In 2023, Saitoh started spring training with the first team. However, on the very first day of camp, he experienced discomfort in his right knee after throwing just one pitch in a scrimmage game and had to leave the field. He was diagnosed with a torn right ACL and underwent reconstructive surgery on March 2. His rehabilitation process continued throughout the year, preventing him from making any official game appearances even in the second team. In the offseason, his estimated annual salary was reduced by 2.00 M JPY to 15.00 M JPY.
2.2.2. Breakthrough Season (2024)
In 2024, Saitoh made his return to active play on March 13 in a spring educational league game. He showed stable pitching in the Eastern League, appearing in 8 games with a 2.00 ERA, leading to his registration for the first team on April 30. However, after 5 appearances, recording 1 win, 1 loss, 1 hold, and a 5.79 ERA, he was removed from the roster on May 19. He was re-registered on June 25 and, despite a 10-day stint in the second team in August, became a reliable member of the bullpen. From July 20 until the end of the regular season, he pitched 13 consecutive scoreless appearances. In the late stages of the season, he was increasingly used in high-leverage situations. On October 5, against the Rakuten Golden Eagles, he entered in the 9th inning with a one-run lead, pitched a scoreless inning, and recorded his first professional save. He finished the season with 25 appearances, 1 win, 1 loss, 5 holds, 1 save, and a 1.71 ERA. He also made two appearances in the 2024 Pacific League Climax Series, demonstrating his presence. On November 30, during the team's fan festival, manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo named Saitoh, along with Masayoshi Tanaka, as one of the two closers for the upcoming season. On December 3, he renewed his contract for an estimated annual salary of 25.00 M JPY, an increase of 10.00 M JPY.
3. Player Profile
Yukiya Saitoh's pitching style is characterized by a dynamic delivery that leverages the flexibility of his shoulders, elbows, and hip joints. He throws a heavy straight fastball that can reach up to 99 mph (160 km/h), which exhibits subtle movement as it approaches the batter. His pitch repertoire also includes a slider, a splitter, a curveball, and a two-seam fastball.
Historically, Saitoh has acknowledged struggling with mental aspects on the mound, confessing that tension and overexertion would often lead him to "self-destruct by failing to throw strikes with his fastball." Upon his trade to the Fighters, then-manager Shinjo also pointed out that his "biggest challenge is his mentality." However, in the 2024 season, Saitoh experienced a significant mental improvement. Encouraged by pitching coach Hisashi Takeda's words, "You just have to go for it," Saitoh adopted a more aggressive mindset. He noted, "I realized I'm not the type to attack with control," and consciously focused on being "forward-looking" and "not losing emotionally," despite still feeling nervous. This shift in mental approach was a key factor in his breakthrough season, contributing to his achievement of his first professional save.
4. Personal Life and Anecdotes
Yukiya Saitoh is married and became a father to his first child (a son) in 2018 while playing for Honda. Although the Hanshin Tigers typically exempt married rookie players from residing in the team dormitory, "Kofuso," Saitoh opted to live there alone during his first year (2019) to "concentrate on baseball." When he moved into Kofuso on January 7, 2019, he brought a colored paper signed with the handprints of his entire family to display in his room. From December 2019, he moved out of the dormitory and resumed living with his wife and child.
According to Katsutoshi Okano, his former manager at the Honda baseball team, Saitoh possesses a unique personality. Okano described him as someone who "occasionally says unexpected things that make everyone laugh," indicating a "natural" and "pure" character. This endearing and sometimes humorous personality has earned him the affectionate nickname "space alien" among some fans.
A notable anecdote illustrating his distinctive character occurred during an August 27, 2024 game against Rakuten. After allowing a lead-off single and then creating a bases-loaded, no-out situation due to a misplayed bunt and a slightly delayed base cover, Saitoh managed to escape the jam by striking out the next batter, inducing a groundout to second, and getting a groundout to the pitcher, all without allowing a run. Following this intense sequence, he celebrated with an overly dramatic, victorious pose, raising both hands as if he had just won a championship. This exaggerated reaction caused the Fighters' dugout to burst into laughter and playfully "tsukkomi" (a comedic retort or jab) him, with Manager Shinjo commenting, "That's not a 'Banzai!' Everyone burst out laughing. Both hands are raised! It was like a Yoshimoto Shinkigeki comedy show; we should have all fallen over in the dugout."
Another humorous incident unfolded after he recorded his first professional save on October 5, 2024, against Rakuten. During his post-game hero interview, Saitoh repeatedly exclaimed, "Just go for it!!" (行くだけ!!Ikudake!!Japanese) in response to almost every question. This phrase quickly became the team's rallying cry during the postseason. The team even rushed to produce "Ikudake!!" merchandise, which became available for pre-order from October 16. Tatsuki Mizuno, who hit a game-winning RBI in Game 3 of the CS First Stage, praised Saitoh, stating, "It's truly his charm that he can make such a phrase流行 (popular)."
On social media, fans have adopted the nickname "さい〇う ○○やSaito XX-yaJapanese" for him. This trend began after the Rakuten game (mentioned above) when Manager Shinjo posted on his Instagram, "Starting tomorrow, I'll change his registered name to 'さいこう ゆきやSaikō YukiyaJapanese' (meaning 'Saito, the greatest Yukiya')." Subsequently, after he threw a 99 mph (160 km/h) pitch in a game against Seibu on September 23, 2024, the nickname evolved to 'さいきょう ゆきやSaikyō YukiyaJapanese' (meaning 'Saito, the strongest Yukiya'). Following his first professional save and hero interview against Rakuten, it further transformed to 'さいきょう いくやSaikyō IkuyaJapanese' (meaning 'Saito, the strongest to go').
5. Detailed Information
This section provides comprehensive statistical data and specific career milestones for Yukiya Saitoh.
5.1. Career Pitching Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | W | L | SV | HLD | WP | PCT | TBF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | R | ER | ERA | WHIP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Hanshin Tigers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 10 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2.00 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 35 | 7.0 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7.71 | 2.00 | |
| 2021 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 103 | 23.1 | 23 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 4.63 | 1.50 | |
| 2022 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 107 | 23.1 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 5.01 | 1.41 | |
| 2024 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .500 | 115 | 26.1 | 23 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1.71 | 1.34 |
| Career Total (5 years) | 70 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | .400 | 370 | 81.3 | 79 | 6 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 91 | 9 | 0 | 40 | 36 | 4.43 | 1.48 | |
- As of the end of the 2024 season.
5.2. Career Fielding Statistics
| Year | Team | Pitcher | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | PO | A | E | DP | FPCT | ||
| 2019 | Hanshin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2021 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2022 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2024 | Nippon-Ham | 25 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .889 |
| Career Total | 70 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 1 | .944 | |
- As of the end of the 2024 season.
5.3. Major Records and Milestones
Firsts as a pitcher
- First appearance: April 19, 2019, vs. Yomiuri Giants at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, as the 3rd reliever in the 6th inning; pitched 2 innings, 1 hit, 0 earned runs.
- First strikeout: April 19, 2019, vs. Yomiuri Giants (Yoshiyuki Kamei)
- First start: September 10, 2020, vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium; pitched 3 innings, 2 earned runs, no decision.
- First win: May 28, 2021, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions at MetLife Dome; as the 5th reliever in the 8th inning; pitched 1 inning, 0 earned runs.
- First hold: July 4, 2021, vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima; as the 2nd reliever in the 4th inning; pitched 1 inning, 0 earned runs.
- First save: October 5, 2024, vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi; as the 5th reliever in the 9th inning; pitched 1 inning, 0 earned runs.
Firsts as a batter
- First at-bat and first hit: September 10, 2020, vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, in the 3rd inning off Michael Peoples, an infield single to the pitcher.
5.4. Uniform Number
- 48 (2019-present)
5.5. Walk-up Songs
- "I Was Born to Love You" by Queen (2019, 2021-present)
- "End of the day" by Mr. Children (2020)
- "ANTENNA" by Mrs. Green Apple (2024)
6. Appearances
Yukiya Saitoh has made appearances in various media beyond his on-field career.
He participated in "Professional Baseball x Shogi Special: Professional Baseball's Strongest Shogi King Deciding Match" (December 20, 2020, Nico Nico Live Broadcasting), which was later distributed in two parts on YouTube in February 2021.