Yuya Fukui

2.1. Childhood and school baseball

Fukui began playing softball in the third grade at Nishiawakura Elementary School, already harboring aspirations of becoming a professional baseball player. During his youth, he balanced baseball in the summer with cross-country skiing in the winter, participating in national competitions for both. Upon entering Nishiawakura Junior High School, he joined the Sa-yo Stars, a hardball baseball team based in Hyōgo Prefecture, and started pitching in his second year.

In 2003, Fukui enrolled at Seibi High School in Ehime Prefecture, drawn by his admiration for coach Masanori Joko, who had recently become the hardball baseball team's manager, just two years after the club's establishment. By the autumn of his first year, Fukui had established himself as the team's ace. In November, he pitched a 7-inning, two-hit shutout (ending by mercy rule) against Tohoku High School in the Meiji Jingu Baseball Tournament.

In the spring of his second year (2004), Seibi High School, under Fukui's strong pitching, made its first appearance in the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (the 76th edition) in only its third year since establishment. He showcased remarkable performance, pitching two consecutive shutouts in the first round against Tsuchiura Kita High School and in the second round against Toho High School, contributing significantly to the team's historic first-time participation and first-time championship victory.

In the summer of his second year, Fukui's team advanced through the Ehime Tournament to participate in the National High School Baseball Championship (the 86th edition), marking consecutive appearances in the Koshien Tournament. He started and pitched complete game victories in all four games from the second round (first game) through the semifinals, helping his team reach the final for the second consecutive time in the spring and summer. Although he started the championship game against Komazawa University Tomakomai High School, he was forced to leave in the fifth inning after giving up six runs, primarily due to fatigue. Despite a temporary comeback by his team, they ultimately lost the game, missing out on consecutive spring-summer championships. Fukui was later selected as a member of the Japan team for the AAA World Baseball Championship in 2004.

In his third year (2005), Fukui was named team captain, and his team again won the Ehime Tournament, earning a third consecutive trip to the National High School Baseball Championship (the 87th edition). In the first round against Asahikawa Technical High School, he delivered a strong performance with eight innings of scoreless pitching, striking out 10 batters. However, in the second round against Seiho High School, a blister on his finger from the previous game affected his control, leading to five runs given up on numerous walks and hit batsmen in the second inning, resulting in a loss and elimination from the tournament. During his time at Koshien, Fukui pitched in 12 national tournament games, accumulating a total of nine wins. His seniors at the school included Atsushi Ugumori and Yusuke Takahashi.

On October 3, 2005, during the high school NPB Draft, Fukui was selected in the fourth round by the Yomiuri Giants. Initially, he expressed an intention to join the team, but on November 5, he announced his decision to decline the offer. This marked the first time in 25 years that a player drafted by the Giants had refused to sign, with the last instance being Mitsutoshi Setoyama, who was a fourth-round pick in 1980.

2.2. University period

Considering his options for university and anticipating a scenario where he might not be drafted by a professional team after his fourth year, leading him to join a corporate baseball team, Fukui explored attending either Waseda University or Keio University. He ultimately decided on Waseda University after its baseball team's then-manager, Atsuyoshi Otake, told him, "If you commit solely to Waseda, I will let you join the team." However, Fukui missed the deadline for the advantageous recommendation-based entrance exam and failed the general examination. Consequently, he spent 2006 as a rōnin (a student preparing for university exams), dedicating his time to studying and training at World Wing, a training facility in Tottori. Fukui later reflected that this year of recuperation was beneficial for his overworked right shoulder from high school, making it a fulfilling period.

In 2007, Fukui successfully passed the top-athlete selection exam for Waseda University's Faculty of Sports Sciences. He joined the baseball team as a recommended student, becoming teammates with Yuki Saito and Tatsuya Oishi, who were also considered Koshien championship pitchers and were expected to become the team's double aces. Fukui later described Saito and Oishi as "rivals who were my targets and never let me feel satisfied," adding, "I was the third." In his first year, during the second game of the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League spring season against the University of Tokyo, Fukui started but was pulled after less than three innings, having given up two runs. He subsequently struggled with his pitching mechanics and suffered a right shoulder injury in the summer, leading to his removal from the team's active roster. During this period, his poor on-mound demeanor negatively affected his pitching. However, after receiving feedback from others, he made efforts to improve his attitude, which allowed him to pitch more calmly.

On May 31, 2008, Fukui earned his first league victory, coming in as the fourth pitcher in the first game of the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League spring season's Sōkeisen (Waseda vs. Keio) and holding Keio to one hit and no runs over two innings. By the spring of 2009, he became a regular starter, with Saito typically pitching the first game on Saturday and Fukui pitching the second game on Sunday in their rotation. In the spring of his fourth year (2010), Fukui inherited Waseda's ace number, 11. On September 12 of the same year, in the second game against Hosei University in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League autumn season, he recorded his first complete game in league play, earning his 10th career victory. His career totals in the league were 11 wins and 3 losses over 35 appearances, with a 2.57 ERA and 144 strikeouts.

During the 2010 NPB Draft, held on October 28, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp selected Fukui as their first-round pick after failing to win the lottery for Tatsuya Oishi. On November 28, Fukui signed a preliminary contract with Hiroshima, reportedly for a signing bonus of 100.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 15.00 M JPY. His uniform number was confirmed as 11. In the same draft, Oishi was nominated by six teams, with the Saitama Seibu Lions winning the lottery, and Saito was nominated by four teams, with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters securing negotiation rights. This marked the first time in NPB draft history that three pitchers from the same university were all selected in the first round, and all three successfully joined their respective teams.
Immediately after the draft, Fukui started the final game of the 41st Meiji Jingu Baseball Tournament against Tokai University. He pitched a strong game, allowing only one unearned run on five hits over six innings, leading his team to the championship.

3.1. Hiroshima Toyo Carp era

Fukui began his professional career with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2011, making an impact as a rookie but also facing challenges. During spring training, he suffered a left hamstring strain, delaying his bullpen sessions until February 10. Despite this setback, he managed to secure a spot in the opening day starting rotation. On April 17, 2011, he made his NPB debut as a starter against the Yomiuri Giants at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. He pitched 7 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs, earning his first professional victory. This was the first time since 2006 that a Carp rookie had achieved a debut win against the Giants. Notably, on the same day, Yuki Saito, who had joined the Nippon-Ham Fighters, also secured his first professional win against the Chiba Lotte Marines, marking the first time in 30 years (since 1981) that two rookies earned their first professional starts and wins on the same day. However, Saito's game finished earlier, making him the first rookie to win that day. On August 25, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium, Fukui pitched a complete game victory, allowing 1 run on 6 hits over 9 innings, for his first professional complete game. This was a feat not achieved by a Carp rookie since Toshikazu Sawazaki and Hiroki Kuroda in 1997. He finished his rookie season with 8 wins and 10 losses over 27 starts, reaching the league's innings pitched qualification for the first time since Sawazaki and Kuroda 14 years prior. Despite this, he recorded the Central League's worst ERA among qualified pitchers at 4.12 and led the Central League with 68 walks and 11 wild pitches, highlighting areas for improvement in his control. In December, he renegotiated his contract, receiving an estimated salary increase to 27.00 M JPY.

In 2012, Fukui again made the opening day starting rotation. However, after five starts, he struggled with a 1-2 record and a 5.40 ERA, leading to his first demotion to the second team on May 5. He returned to the top team in July and made his first career relief appearance on July 13 against the BayStars. He later transitioned back to a starting role, earning his second win of the season on August 4 against the Hanshin Tigers. While he started 10 games, he completed six innings in only two of them, finishing with a 2-3 record. His six relief appearances, however, showed stability with a 2.89 ERA (as of September 24).

For the 2013 season, Fukui fully transitioned to a relief role. He made the opening day roster as a key setup man, but he allowed runs in his first three appearances, resulting in his demotion to the second team on April 6. He continued to shuttle between the first and second teams throughout the season, finishing with a 0-2 record and a high 8.69 ERA in 12 appearances.

In 2014, before spring training, Fukui trained independently with his Waseda University teammates, Saito and Oishi, for the first time since turning professional. He returned to a starting role for the season. On May 7, he made his first start of the year against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium, but after giving up 6 runs in 5 innings, he was immediately sent down to the second team. However, in his second start on July 27 against the Hanshin Tigers at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium, he delivered a strong performance, pitching a 9-inning, 1-run complete game to earn his first win in two years. He subsequently remained in the starting rotation, finishing the season with 4 wins and 5 losses in 11 appearances. In the offseason, his salary increased to an estimated 22.00 M JPY.

The 2015 season saw a strengthened Carp starting rotation with the return of Hiroki Kuroda from MLB and the addition of Kris Johnson, alongside existing aces like Kenta Maeda, Daichi Ohsera, and Yusuke Nomura. Despite the increased competition, Fukui's mental approach improved significantly after receiving advice from Kuroda during spring training. Previously, walks would cause him anxiety, but with his improved composure, his control also saw improvement. As the sixth starter, he made the opening day rotation for the first time in three years. In April, he made only two starts due to scheduling, but he pitched 6 innings for 2 runs in his first outing and 7 scoreless innings in his second, earning his first win of the season. By May, he solidified his spot in the rotation and achieved a personal best of four consecutive wins. On August 16, he earned his eighth win, tying his career high, against the BayStars. On August 22, against the Giants, he pitched 8 innings, allowing only 1 run, securing his career-high ninth win. For the season, he made 21 starts, pitching 131.3 innings and falling short of the league's qualified innings, but finished with 9 wins, 6 losses, and a 3.56 ERA. His salary increased to an estimated 42.00 M JPY.

In 2016, Fukui was named the Carp's pitcher captain, a role reinstated after eight years. With Maeda moving to MLB and Ohsera sidelined with a partial tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, Fukui was expected to be a cornerstone of the starting rotation and again made the opening day roster. However, he struggled early in the season, posting a 1-2 record and a 5.38 ERA through seven appearances by May 8, giving up five or more runs in three consecutive starts. He was removed from the roster on May 9. He returned to the rotation in the second half of the season. On August 23, his start against the Giants at Tokyo Dome resulted in a win, which helped the Carp clinch their first magic number (20) in 25 years. He was scheduled to start again a week later on August 31 against the BayStars, but he experienced sudden neck pain just before the game and was pulled from the start. He was diagnosed with paraspinal muscle fasciitis after an examination on September 1, leading to his second demotion and ending his season. He finished the season with 5 wins and 4 losses and a 4.34 ERA in 13 appearances.

In 2017, Fukui made only 5 appearances, recording 1 win and 3 losses with a 7.16 ERA. On November 11, he married a non-celebrity woman.

In 2018, Fukui made a career-low 3 appearances in the top league, finishing with 0 wins and 3 losses, and an 8.40 ERA, marking his first winless season since 2013. On November 29, it was announced that he would be traded to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in exchange for Yasunori Kikuchi. His new uniform number was 31. At the time, Saito was still with the Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oishi with the Seibu Lions, meaning all three members of the "Waseda Trio" were simultaneously playing for Pacific League teams (though Oishi would retire after the 2019 season). This trade also marked the first time a first-round pitcher drafted out of college by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp was traded.

3.2. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles era

In 2019, Fukui joined the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and became a part of their opening day starting rotation. On April 10, he earned his first victory with his new team against the Seibu Lions at MetLife Dome. This win marked his first in 714 days, dating back to April 26, 2017, with Hiroshima. He contributed to the team's strong start by securing three wins against the Lions by May. However, he was out of the top league from mid-May. On September 21, with the Eagles contending for a Climax Series berth against the Chiba Lotte Marines, Fukui started against the Seibu Lions at Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi. As a "short starter," he pitched 3 scoreless innings, contributing to a crucial win that helped the team secure a spot in the Climax Series. For the regular season, he appeared in 8 games, recording 3 wins and 1 loss with a 5.18 ERA, though his wins were exclusively against the Lions.

In 2020, Fukui started the season with the second team. He was promoted to the top team on August 2. He made 7 starts but was often hampered by a lack of run support, finishing the season with 0 wins and 4 losses and a 5.46 ERA.

In 2021, Fukui was called up to the top team on June 18 and made his season debut as a relief pitcher against the Orix Buffaloes, throwing 2 scoreless innings. He remained with the top team in a relief role for the rest of the season, appearing in 19 games with no wins or losses and a 4.43 ERA.

In 2022, Fukui made 11 relief appearances, recording 0 wins, 0 losses, and 1 hold with a 4.09 ERA. On October 3, he was notified that his contract would not be renewed, marking his release from the team.

3.3. Independent League (Fukushima Red Hopes) era

On November 8, 2022, Fukui participated in the 12-team joint tryout held at Rakuten Seimei Park, stating, "Even if NPB isn't possible, there's still a lot to learn in the independent league. I'm not giving up easily." On December 27, it was announced on the TV program "Pro Baseball Senryokugai Tsūkoku 2022" that he would be joining the Fukushima Red Hopes of the independent Baseball Challenge League. The team confirmed his signing on the same day, assigning him uniform number 11. He was also named a player-coach for the team.

On August 25, 2023, Fukui achieved a no-hitter against the Niigata Albirex Baseball Club at Shirasawa Green Park, becoming the seventh pitcher in league history to do so. He finished the season with a 10-5 record and a 2.28 ERA in 17 starts, earning the league's district Best ERA title. On December 18, he was officially announced as a player-coach for the 2024 season.

On May 12, 2024, during a game against the Gunma Diamond Pegasus at Shirasawa Green Park, Fukui committed a notable blunder. After throwing a wild pitch and failing to cover the base, he allowed a run. While the play was still live with runners on base, he slammed the ball to the ground in frustration. The ball bounced away, resulting in a dead ball and granting the remaining runners an additional safe advance, allowing the opposing team to take the lead. This unusual play garnered media attention.

3.4. Retirement

On August 6, 2024, Yuya Fukui officially announced his retirement from professional baseball, concluding a career that spanned across NPB and the independent Baseball Challenge League. He reflected on his journey, stating that it had been "a good 14 years." At the time of his retirement announcement, his post-playing career plans were not immediately disclosed.

5.1. Family background

Yuya Fukui comes from a baseball-playing family. His elder brother, Kazuma Fukui, was a former underhand pitcher for Maebashi Ikuei High School and currently serves as a coach for the same school. His second elder brother, Ryuichi Fukui, also played baseball, appearing as a pitcher and outfielder for Okinawa Shogaku High School in the 2003 Koshien Tournament, where his team reached the Round of 16. Tragically, Ryuichi died in a car accident on April 20, 2011. Yuya Fukui was informed of his brother's death after his start on April 24 against the Yakult Swallows. On May 3, during a game against the Yokohama BayStars, Fukui started and pitched 6 and two-thirds innings, allowing just one run to earn the win. In his post-game interview, with tears in his eyes, he dedicated the victory, saying, "I want to dedicate this to my brother in heaven."

5.2. Personality and notable incidents

Regarding his controversial refusal to join the Yomiuri Giants after being drafted in 2005, Fukui denied that his low draft position (fourth round) was the reason. Instead, he cited being shocked that Takuma Kadokawaki, another right-handed pitcher from Hokushō High School (which had no history in national Koshien tournaments), was drafted higher (third round). He also mentioned being impacted by the news that Masaki Hiraoka, who was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round in 2003, was released from his professional contract around the time of the 2005 draft and re-signed as a developmental player. These events led him to question whether he could truly succeed in professional baseball. His subsequent decision to spend a year as a rōnin before entering Waseda University was, in his words, a fulfilling period that allowed his overworked right shoulder from high school to rest.

Atsuyoshi Otake, his coach at Waseda University, described Fukui's personality as "appearing bold, but actually delicate and, compared to his peers Saito and Oishi, more suited for professional baseball." Toshihiko Sonoda, a scout for the Hiroshima Carp who handled Fukui's entry negotiations, also noted that he "felt a stronger fighting spirit from Fukui compared to Saito and Oishi." However, after turning professional, Fukui also faced criticism for posts on social media that implicitly complained about umpire calls during games, which some fans deemed "effeminate."

In a notable incident on May 12, 2024, during a game in the independent league, Fukui slammed the ball into the ground in frustration after a wild pitch and a missed base cover allowed a run. While the play was still live, the ball bounced away, resulting in a dead ball and granting the remaining runners an additional safe advance, which allowed the opposing team to take the lead. This unusual play garnered media attention.

5.3. Other relationships and interests

Fukui shares his hometown with Yoshihiro Nitta, a gold medalist at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver. Fukui himself attended the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano to watch Nitta compete. He also maintains a close friendship with Taiga Nagaoka, an announcer for Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, who was his classmate at Waseda University. Fukui married a non-celebrity woman on November 11, 2017. Following the death of his mentor, Atsuyoshi Otake, Fukui expressed his gratitude, stating that Otake's enthusiasm in persuading him to join Waseda had given him the resolve to take a year off for preparation and ultimately enabled his path to professional baseball. Throughout his career, Fukui also appeared in various commercials and promotional posters, including for JA Kyosai Ren Hiroshima (April 2012) and Tōa Jisho (2017), for which he also served as an image character. His at-bat music from 2012 onwards was "Owari Naki Tabi" by Mr. Children.

6.1. Professional league statistics

• Bold indicates league leader. Stats are as of the end of the 2022 season.

• Defensive Statistics**

• Stats are as of the end of the 2022 season.

6.2. Independent league statistics

• Stats are as of the end of the 2024 season.

6.3. Milestones and records

Pitching Records

• First appearance, first start, and first win: April 17, 2011, against the Yomiuri Giants (Game 3) at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Pitched 7 innings, allowing 2 runs.
• First strikeout: April 17, 2011, against Alex Ramirez (swinging strikeout in the 1st inning).
• First complete game win: August 25, 2011, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars (Game 17) at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Pitched 9 innings, allowing 6 hits and 1 run, with 6 strikeouts.
• First hold: April 10, 2022, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Game 3) at Sapporo Dome. Pitched 1 scoreless inning in relief in the 7th inning.

Batting Records

• First hit: June 19, 2011, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Game 4) at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Single to left field off Brian Wolfe in the 5th inning.
• First RBI: July 2, 2015, against the Yomiuri Giants (Game 14) at Tokyo Dome. Groundout to shortstop off Aaron Poreda with one out and runners on first and third in the 5th inning, allowing the runner from third to score.

Other Records

• 3 wild pitches in one inning: June 7, 2015, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Game 3) at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, recorded in the 4th inning. This is the 13th instance in NPB history and a Japanese record.

6.4. Uniform numbers

• 11 (2011-2018, 2023-2024)
• 31 (2019-2022)