Yusei Kikuchi

1.1. Childhood and Youth Baseball

Born on June 17, 1991, in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, Yusei Kikuchi began his baseball journey at the age of eight. He started playing as a first baseman for the Maemine Tigers during his third year of elementary school. Upon entering Morioka Municipal Maemine Junior High School, he joined the Morioka Higashi Senior team, where he made a significant transition, focusing on pitching. During his third year of junior high, his team achieved runner-up status in the Tohoku tournament. Kikuchi was selected as a member of the Tohoku All-Star team, contributing to their victory in a national tournament. As a child, he engaged in a wide array of activities beyond baseball, including volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, calligraphy, piano, abacus, shogi, and painting.

1.2. High School Career and Draft Controversy

Kikuchi attended Hanamaki Higashi High School, the same high school that would later be attended by two-way player Shohei Ohtani. In his first year, he participated in the 89th National High School Baseball Championship, where he pitched in relief during the first round against Niigata Meikun High School, allowing only one run in five innings, though that run proved to be the deciding factor in a 0-1 loss. During this game, his fastball was clocked at 90 mph ^{(145 km/h)}. His insistence on throwing fastballs despite control issues led to an early exit in the fall prefectural tournament.

In his second year, Kikuchi's fastball velocity increased to 93 mph ^{(149 km/h)}. He made his first official start in the Tohoku tournament quarterfinals against Sendai Ikuei, pitching a complete game for a 6-2 victory despite ongoing concerns about lower back pain. His team was eliminated in the summer prefectural quarterfinals. In the fall Iwate Prefectural Tournament, they won the championship by defeating Ichinoseki Gakuin 7-1, but were knocked out in the semifinals of the Tohoku tournament by Kosei Gakuin.

During his third year in high school, Kikuchi's performance in the fall tournaments earned his team a spot in the 81st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament. In the first round against Mukawa High School, he recorded a maximum velocity of 94 mph ^{(152 km/h)} and pitched a two-hit shutout, coming within one out of a no-hitter in the ninth inning. He followed this with a second consecutive shutout in the second round against Meihō High, despite allowing nine hits, demonstrating strong clutch pitching. In the quarterfinals against Nanyo Kogyo, he came on in relief in a deficit situation, pitching four scoreless innings to secure a comeback victory. In the semifinal against Rifu High, he conceded his first runs of the tournament, including a two-run home run, but still pitched a five-hit, two-run complete game, leading Hanamaki Higashi to the finals for the first time in Iwate Prefecture's spring or summer tournament history. They ultimately lost 0-1 to Seibo High, led by pitcher Takefu Imamura, denying Iwate its first championship.

In the summer of his third year, Kikuchi again competed in the 91st National High School Baseball Championship (often called Koshien in Japan). In the first round, Hanamaki Higashi faced Nagasaki Nichidai High School, who had defeated Seibo High in the Nagasaki prefectural tournament. Kikuchi gave up three home runs but still secured an 8-5 victory. He continued to pitch despite concealing a back injury, helping his team reach the Best 8 for the first time in 41 years for an Iwate Prefecture representative in the summer Koshien. During the game against Tohoku High School, he recorded a personal best of 96 mph ^{(154 km/h)} (with one scout clocking 96 mph ^{(155 km/h)}). In the quarterfinals against Meihō High, featuring Kenta Imamiya, Kikuchi pitched four perfect innings, contributing to a 7-6 win before exiting in the fifth inning due to lower back pain. In the semifinal against Chukyo University Senior High, he did not start due to a back muscle strain, entering in the fourth inning with the bases loaded but was pulled after just 11 pitches, as his team suffered an 11-1 loss. A subsequent medical examination revealed that Kikuchi had fractured his fifth rib.

Leading up to the 2009 NPB Draft, Kikuchi garnered significant attention from both MLB and NPB teams. He initially considered bypassing the NPB draft to sign with an MLB club, which would have made him the first Japanese high school player to do so, a move that could have made him a free agent under MLB rules at the time. All 12 NPB teams expressed interest, as did at least eight MLB teams, including the Texas Rangers (with Derek Holland present at their meeting), Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees. The NPB requested that MLB clubs refrain from making offers before their draft to ensure a level playing field. Kikuchi had reportedly expressed a preference for playing in the United States and even visited in October. However, after meeting with all interested teams, Kikuchi decided to remain in Japan and enter the NPB draft, stating his desire to first be recognized in Japan before playing internationally.

On October 29, 2009, six NPB teams - the Saitama Seibu Lions, Hanshin Tigers, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Chunichi Dragons, and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters - selected Kikuchi in the first round. The Saitama Seibu Lions won the negotiation rights. On November 21, Kikuchi signed a provisional contract with the Lions for a 100.00 M JPY signing bonus, a 15.00 M JPY first-year salary, and 50.00 M JPY in performance bonuses. His jersey number was set as 17.

2.1. Saitama Seibu Lions (NPB)

Kikuchi's professional career with the Saitama Seibu Lions began in 2010. On January 19, 2010, the club announced his registration name would be "Yusei" (雄星_Yūsei^Japanese), resulting in his uniform back-name changing from "KIKUCHI" to "YUSEI" for spring training. On February 16, he passed the entrance exam for the distance learning program in the Department of Social Welfare at Tohoku Fukushi University, aiming to secure career options beyond baseball. As a highly anticipated rookie with a substantial signing bonus, Kikuchi bought and installed a 4.20 M JPY oxygen capsule in his dorm room for his teammates to use; however, it malfunctioned after he improperly operated it, creating an overheated, tropical environment in his room.

His rookie season in 2010 was marred by a left shoulder injury, preventing any appearances in the top league (Pacific League). He spent the season rehabilitating, and during this time, he experimented with his pitching mechanics, briefly changing from his natural three-quarters arm angle to a higher release point. In the offseason, he signed a management contract with Horipro, and on December 24, his registration name was reverted to his full name, "Yusei Kikuchi," at his request.

In 2011, Kikuchi returned to his three-quarters pitching form and made the Opening Day roster. Although he was initially in the bullpen, he did not get any appearances and was de-registered on April 22. After further adjustments in the minor league, he made his first top-league start on June 12 against the Hanshin Tigers, though he was pulled after only 2 1/3 innings and four earned runs. Despite the tough outing, he shed tears of joy in a post-game interview, happy to have made his debut. On June 30, against the Orix Buffaloes, he earned his first professional win, pitching five innings and allowing two runs. On August 18, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, he pitched eight scoreless innings and recorded his first complete game victory, despite allowing a 400th career home run to Takeshi Yamasaki in the ninth. He followed this with a second complete game on August 31 in his hometown of Iwate Prefecture, though he took his first professional loss in a 0-2 contest. He finished the season with four wins in nine starts. After the season, from November 8 to December 22, he was dispatched to the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League (ABL), where he posted a 1-2 record with a 4.38 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in five appearances, also playing in the ABL All-Star Game.

In 2012, Kikuchi started the season in the minor league. He was promoted to the top league on July 1 to start against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, a game commemorating the retired number 24 of Kazuhisa Inao. Kikuchi pitched eight innings, allowing six hits and three runs, and recorded a then-personal best fastball velocity of 93 mph ^{(150 km/h)}. On July 15, he earned his first professional save in relief against the Orix Buffaloes, pitching four scoreless innings. From August to September, he performed well in eight starts, with a 3-2 record, a 2.20 ERA, and a 1.05 WHIP. He renewed his contract on December 4 with a 3.00 M JPY increase, reaching 23.00 M JPY.

The 2013 season saw Kikuchi make the Opening Day roster again. On March 30, he faced his high school junior, Shohei Ohtani, striking him out twice. On April 13, against the Rakuten Eagles, he recorded his first career shutout, allowing only three hits and no walks in nine innings, while also reaching a new personal best of 95 mph ^{(153 km/h)}. On June 12, against the Chunichi Dragons, he flirted with a no-hitter until one out in the ninth inning. By July 5, he had secured his ninth win, leading to his first selection to the All-Star Game. However, he experienced a decline in the second half, giving up four runs in consecutive games due to left shoulder inflammation, leading to his de-registration on August 7. This injury ended his season and cost him his first double-digit win season. After the season, he inherited jersey number 16 from the recently retired Kazuhiro Ishii.

In 2014, Kikuchi remained in the Opening Day roster and a starting rotation spot but struggled with inconsistency. Despite a decent 3.54 ERA, he issued a league-leading 78 walks without reaching the qualified innings, finishing with a 5-11 record. In 2015, on September 13, he broke his personal fastball velocity record, hitting 96 mph ^{(155 km/h)}, and then 98 mph ^{(157 km/h)} in the following inning, which was the fastest recorded by a left-handed pitcher in NPB at the time.

The 2016 season marked a significant milestone as Kikuchi served as the Opening Day starter for the first time. On August 26, he achieved his first double-digit win season. By September 28, he reached the qualifying innings for the first time, finishing with the second-best ERA in the league. Off the field, he married Rumi Fukatsu, a former freelance announcer, on June 24.

In 2017, Kikuchi was again the Opening Day starter, securing a victory with seven innings and one earned run. On April 21, he threw a one-hit shutout, his first in four years. He achieved his second shutout of the season on July 7 against the Rakuten Eagles, striking out 14 batters over 140 pitches. On August 3, he set a new personal record and the fastest by a left-handed pitcher in NPB history at 98 mph ^{(158 km/h)}, winning the game by pitching eight innings with one earned run. He finished the season with the best ERA in the league (1.97) and tied for the most wins (16), the only pitcher with a WHIP under 1.0. In the postseason, he pitched a shutout in Game 1 of the Climax Series First Stage but his team was eliminated.

Kikuchi started his third consecutive Opening Day in 2018, earning his first win of the season and extending his winning streak to five games, a franchise record for an Opening Day starter. On May 6, he was de-registered due to left shoulder stiffness but returned on June 1, securing his sixth win with six scoreless innings against the Hanshin Tigers. On September 21, he achieved his 1,000th career inning pitched, becoming the 352nd player in NPB history to do so. On September 28, he finally earned his first victory against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in his 19th career start against them, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs, which helped his team clinch the league title. However, he was defeated in Game 1 of the Climax Series Final Stage against the Hawks, allowing six runs in five innings, and his team was eliminated. He finished the season second in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. After the season, Kikuchi announced his intention to move to Major League Baseball via the posting system, with Scott Boras as his agent. He was reported to have agreed to a contract with the Seattle Mariners on December 31, and NPB officially listed him as a free agent on January 8, 2019.

2.2. Seattle Mariners (MLB)

On January 2, 2019, Kikuchi officially signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. The contract included options that could extend it or allow Kikuchi to opt-out for free agency after three years. On January 4, he held his introductory press conference, where his jersey number was announced as 18.

Kikuchi made his MLB debut on March 21, 2019, in the MLB Japan Opening Series against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome, becoming the first Japanese-born player to make his MLB debut in Japan. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out three. Following the game, he shared an emotional embrace with Ichiro Suzuki, who announced his retirement. Kikuchi earned his first MLB win on April 20 against the Los Angeles Angels, his sixth start, pitching five innings and allowing ten hits and four runs. This was the latest first victory for a Japanese pitcher since Hideo Nomo in 1995 (who achieved his in his seventh start). On August 18, against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Kikuchi pitched his first MLB complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and one walk over nine innings with 96 pitches, marking his first career "Maddux" (a complete game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches). He finished his first MLB season with a 6-11 record and a 5.46 ERA in 32 starts, striking out 116 batters in 161 2/3 innings. He also set an unfortunate Japanese pitcher record for most home runs allowed in a single season with 36.

In the shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kikuchi appeared in nine games, posting a 2-4 record with a 5.17 ERA and 47 strikeouts. Despite the numbers, manager Scott Servais praised the improved quality of his pitches.

Kikuchi began the 2021 season struggling, with a 5.70 ERA in his first four starts. However, his performance improved significantly after a strong outing on April 30 against the Houston Astros, where he pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. He recorded six consecutive quality starts. On July 4, he was selected to the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his first MLB All-Star selection. Although he was later placed on the COVID-related injured list on July 12 and couldn't participate in the game itself, he attended the pre-game ceremony with his family and enjoyed the atmosphere from the dugout, chatting with Shohei Ohtani. His performance declined in the second half of the season due to health issues and changes in the pitching rotation. On September 7 against the Astros, he had his shortest outing since his MLB debut (excluding short-starter appearances in 2019), allowing six runs in 1 2/3 innings. Following the season, on November 3, he declined his contract extension option and became a free agent.

2.3. Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)

On March 14, 2022, Kikuchi signed a three-year, 36.00 M USD contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal's breakdown included 16.00 M USD for 2022 and 10.00 M USD for both 2023 and 2024.

Kikuchi joined the Blue Jays as the fifth starter in their rotation for the 2022 season. He made his Blue Jays debut on April 12 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, suffering a loss after pitching 3 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs. He went winless in April, with a 0-1 record and a 5.52 ERA over four starts. On May 4, he earned his first win as a Blue Jay against the Yankees at Rogers Centre, delivering a strong performance of six innings, one run, and seven strikeouts. He secured his second win of the season and 90th career win (NPB and MLB combined) on May 16 against his former team, the Seattle Mariners. However, his performance subsequently declined, leading to a neck injury that placed him on the injured list on July 7. After rehabilitation starts in the minors, on August 15, after a loss against the Baltimore Orioles, interim manager John Schneider announced Kikuchi would be moved to the bullpen. At that point, his record was 4-7 with a 5.25 ERA. He made his first MLB relief appearance on August 18 against the Yankees, pitching scoreless baseball at 98 mph ^{(157 km/h)}. On September 30, against the Boston Red Sox, he earned his first MLB save, pitching three scoreless innings in relief. He finished the 2022 season with a 6-7 record and one save in 32 games (20 starts), with a 5.19 ERA over 100 2/3 innings pitched.

In 2023, Kikuchi had an impressive spring training, showcasing strong control and velocity with a 0.87 ERA over 20 2/3 innings in seven games, the best among American League pitchers with at least 20 innings. This performance allowed him to reclaim a spot in the starting rotation. In his first regular season start on April 4 against the Kansas City Royals, he earned the win by pitching five innings, allowing three hits and one run. On May 30, against the Milwaukee Brewers, he achieved his 500th MLB strikeout and his 100th career professional win (73 in NPB, 27 in MLB). Towards the end of the season, he reached double-digit wins in MLB for the first time (11 wins) and qualified for the innings pitched. He finished the 2023 season with an 11-6 record, a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts, and 181 strikeouts over 167 2/3 innings. He consistently maintained a sub-4.00 ERA, sub-1.30 WHIP, fewer than 50 walks, and over 180 strikeouts against 700 batters faced, indicating a significantly stable performance.

Kikuchi continued to pitch for the Blue Jays in 2024, making 22 starts and recording a 4-9 record with a 4.75 ERA and 130 strikeouts.

2.4. Houston Astros (MLB)

On July 29, 2024, Kikuchi was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for prospects Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner. This trade marked a significant moment as Kikuchi became the first Japanese-born starting pitcher in Astros franchise history.

In his Astros debut on August 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays, Kikuchi showcased an impressive performance, tying a franchise record with eight consecutive strikeouts, a streak that ended on a full count walk to Yandy Díaz. This achievement placed him alongside Astros legends Don Wilson (1968), Jim Deshaies (1986), and Justin Verlander (2022), and it was the first time such a streak occurred in an MLB debut. He recorded 11 strikeouts in total, the most by an Astros pitcher in a debut since Gerrit Cole in 2018. Kikuchi pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and two walks, contributing to the Astros' 3-2 victory. On September 13, Kikuchi was the winning pitcher as the Astros achieved their 5,000th franchise victory, defeating the Los Angeles Angels, 5-3. The Astros won Kikuchi's first nine starts with the team, setting a new franchise record for consecutive team wins to start a pitcher's Astros career, surpassing Roy Oswalt (2001) and teammate Justin Verlander (2018). This was also the longest such streak in Major League Baseball since John Burkett with the 2002 Boston Red Sox.

During his tenure with the Astros, Kikuchi made 10 starts, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.70 ERA over 60 innings pitched. He allowed 42 hits, 8 home runs, and 14 walks, while striking out 76 batters, achieving a 0.933 WHIP, 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), and a 5.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB). His cumulative season totals between Toronto and Houston for 2024 included a 9-10 win-loss record and a 4.05 ERA over 32 starts. He registered career-highs of 175 1/3 innings pitched and 206 strikeouts, which ranked fifth in the American League. He was also seventh in earned runs (79) and tenth in both hits (167) and home runs (25) allowed. Additionally, he ranked third in the AL with 10.554 K/9, sixth with 4.682 K/BB, and eighth with a 3.46 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). Following the season, he elected free agency.

2.5. Los Angeles Angels (MLB)

On November 27, 2024, Yusei Kikuchi signed a three-year, 63.00 M USD contract with the Los Angeles Angels, taking jersey number 16. This move positions him as a key figure in the Angels' pitching rotation.

4.1. Personal Interests and Family

Despite being a left-handed pitcher and writing with his left hand, Kikuchi uses his right hand for chopsticks. This ambidextrous habit reportedly began in kindergarten when teachers mistakenly treated him as left-handed, and he continued using his left hand for activities other than eating.

Kikuchi's hobbies include trying out different ramen restaurants and reading. Upon entering the Lions' dormitory, he brought over 50 books, which he stated was only about a tenth of his collection. He has a keen interest in historical and non-fiction works, having serialized a reading diary in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. In it, he mentioned beloved books such as Ryōtarō Shiba's Moeyo Ken, Jirō Asada's Mibu Gishi-den, Fuyuji Domon's Uesugi Yozan, Kiyoshi Shimizu's Satsujinhan wa Soko ni Iru, and Kōtarō Sawaki's Yaburezaru Monotachi. Since 2020, the "Yusei Kikuchi Special Award" has been established in the Iwate Reading Impression Contest held in his hometown, where he participates as a judge.

He cites Clayton Kershaw and Gio González as pitchers he admires, with Randy Johnson as his ideal pitcher. He also aspires to achieve the world-record fastball velocity of 105 mph (approximately 105 mph ^{(169 km/h)}) thrown by Aroldis Chapman. Kikuchi is known for his strict sleep regimen, often requiring 13 to 14 hours of sleep before each start. He once developed neck pain attributed to "sleep deprivation" after only sleeping 11 hours.

Kikuchi married Rumi Fukatsu, a former freelance announcer, in 2016. His agent is Scott Boras. In MLB, he is affectionately known as "U Say" by teammates and fans, a nickname he has used on his jersey during events such as Players' Weekend. He initially disliked being referred to by his initials, "YK," by coaches and managers, preferring to be called "Yusei."

4.2. Community Involvement and Youth Baseball Development

Kikuchi has demonstrated a significant commitment to community development and youth baseball in his hometown. He self-funded the construction of an indoor baseball practice facility named "King of the Hill" next to the Hanamaki City General Gymnasium in Iwate Prefecture. The facility, which opened in November 2024, is a steel-framed, single-story building covering approximately 15 K ft^{2 (1.40 K m2)}. It includes two pitching lanes, two batting cages, a training room, and advanced equipment such as TrackMan for data analysis, providing aspiring young athletes with state-of-the-art training resources.

5.1. NPB Awards and Honors

• 'Most Wins': 1 time (2017)
• 'Best ERA': 1 time (2017)
• Best Nine (Pitcher): 2 times (2017, 2018)
• Golden Glove Award (Pitcher): 1 time (2017)
• Monthly MVP (Pitcher): 1 time (September 2017)
• Best Battery Award: 1 time (2017, with catcher Ginjiro Sumitani)
• "Georgia Tamashii" Award: 1 time (2013, 4th round)
• Japan Life Interleague Play Award: 1 time (2015)
• Japan Sports Academy Award (2021, shared with Shohei Ohtani and Hanamaki Higashi manager Hiroshi Sasaki)

5.2. MLB Awards and Honors

• MLB All-Star: 1 time (2021)

5.3. Notable Records and Milestones

• 'NPB Firsts:'
  • First appearance & start: June 12, 2011, vs. Hanshin Tigers (Seibu Dome), 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER
  • First strikeout: June 12, 2011, vs. Craig Brazell
  • First win: June 30, 2011, vs. Orix Buffaloes (Kyocera Dome Osaka), 5 IP, 2 ER
  • First complete game win: August 18, 2011, vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Seibu Dome), 9 IP, 1 ER
  • First save: July 15, 2012, vs. Orix Buffaloes (Hotto Motto Field Kobe), 4 IP, 0 ER in relief
  • First complete game shutout: April 13, 2013, vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Kobo Park Miyagi), 9 IP, 3 H, 0 BB/HBP
  • First at-bat & hit: May 28, 2013, vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars (Yokohama Stadium), hit off Daisuke Miura
• 'NPB Milestones:'
  • 1,000 career innings pitched: September 21, 2018, vs. Chiba Lotte Marines (ZOZO Marine Stadium), becoming the 352nd player in NPB history
  • Opened the season as starting pitcher: 3 times (2016-2018)
  • All-Star Game appearances: 3 times (2013, 2017, 2018)
• 'MLB Firsts:'
  • First appearance & start: March 21, 2019, vs. Oakland Athletics (Tokyo Dome), 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER
  • First strikeout: March 21, 2019, vs. Matt Chapman
  • First win & first start win: April 20, 2019, vs. Los Angeles Angels (Angel Stadium of Anaheim), 5 IP, 4 ER
  • First complete game shutout: August 18, 2019, vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers Centre), 9 IP, 2 H, 1 BB
  • First save: September 30, 2022, vs. Boston Red Sox (Rogers Centre), 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER in relief
• 'MLB Records:'
  • 8 consecutive strikeouts: August 2, 2024, vs. Tampa Bay Rays - tied Houston Astros franchise record, and a first in MLB history for a debut
  • Most strikeouts in an Astros debut (11): August 2, 2024, most since Gerrit Cole in 2018
  • First Japanese-born starting pitcher in Houston Astros franchise history (August 2, 2024)
  • Team won first 9 starts of his Astros career (franchise record, longest such streak in MLB since 2002)
• 'NPB/MLB Career Milestones:'
  • 100 career wins: May 30, 2023, vs. Milwaukee Brewers (Rogers Centre) (73 NPB wins, 27 MLB wins)
  • 500 MLB strikeouts: May 30, 2023
  • 40 MLB wins: September 8, 2024, surpassing Hisashi Iwakuma for most MLB wins by a Japanese left-handed pitcher

6.1. NPB Regular Season Statistics

• 2018 season statistics in NPB. The bolded values indicate the league leader for that season.

6.2. MLB Regular Season Statistics

• 2024 season statistics in MLB. The bolded values indicate the league leader for that season.

6.3. MLB Postseason Statistics

• 2024 season statistics in MLB postseason.

6.4. League Rankings and Fielding Statistics

• '-' means ranking below 10th. Background colors indicate league leaders (gold), second (silver), or third (bronze) place.

• '2024 season statistics in MLB. The bolded values indicate the league leader for that season. The bolded year indicates Golden Glove Award winner.'