1. Overview
Yūya Yokoyama is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher who played for the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2015 to 2020. A left-handed pitcher, he was known for his fastball, which reached speeds of up to 94 mph (151 km/h), along with a repertoire of breaking and off-speed pitches, including sliders, curves, and forkballs. His career was marked by significant injuries, leading to multiple rehabilitation periods. After retiring from professional baseball, Yokoyama transitioned into a coaching role with the Hanshin Tigers Academy before venturing into the apparel industry, where he co-founded his own brand, "GAUCHER" through entrepreneurship.
2. Early Life and Baseball Career
Yūya Yokoyama's baseball journey began in his childhood, progressing through amateur leagues before he was drafted into professional baseball.
2.1. Childhood and High School
Born on February 21, 1994, in Nakayama Town, Higashimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture, Yokoyama started playing baseball in the second grade of Nakayama Town Nagasaki Elementary School. Upon entering junior high school, he joined the Nakayama Municipal Junior High's baseball club, known as the "Nakayama Baseball Club".
He later attended Yamagata Prefectural Yamagata Chuo High School. During his sophomore year, he served as the team's ace pitcher, leading them to both the spring (82nd National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament) and summer Koshien tournaments. However, his team was eliminated in the first round of both competitions. In the spring tournament, they faced Nihon University Third High School, conceding 13 runs on 18 hits. During his time in high school, Yokoyama was often compared to Yūsei Kikuchi, a highly regarded pitching prodigy who emerged from high school in 2009. Despite this comparison and submitting his professional draft application in the fall of his third year, he did not receive any nominations from the 12 NPB teams in the 2011 draft. One year his junior at Yamagata Chuo High School was Saitō Yukiya, who would later also join the Hanshin Tigers.
2.2. Industrial League and International Play
After graduating from high school, Yokoyama joined Shin Nittetsu Sumikin Kashima to play in the industrial leagues, which are amateur corporate baseball teams. Through rigorous training, his fastball velocity significantly increased by over 6.2 mph (10 km/h) from his high school days. By his second year, in 2013, he became a key pitcher for the team, showcasing a fastball that reached 91 mph (147 km/h) and sharp cutting sliders. He was often likened to Hanshin Tigers' pitcher Atsushi Nomi, another left-handed pitcher who also began his career in the industrial leagues with Osaka Gas.
In 2014, his third year with Shin Nittetsu Sumikin Kashima, Yokoyama made his debut in the Intercity Baseball Tournament as a reinforcement player for the All Ashikaga Club. In a game against Matsuyama Phoenix, he entered in the eighth inning with one out and impressively struck out five consecutive batters, though his team ultimately lost. Later that year, he represented Japan in the inaugural 2014 21U Baseball World Cup held in Taiwan. He pitched a total of 10 innings across 3 games, recording 20 strikeouts and contributing to Japan's second-place finish in the tournament.
3. Professional Career
Yūya Yokoyama's professional career with the Hanshin Tigers spanned from 2015 to 2020, marked by a promising start, struggles with injuries, and a determined effort to return to the top league.
3.1. Draft and Signing
Yokoyama was the Hanshin Tigers' first-round pick in the 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. The Tigers had initially targeted Kōhei Arihara and Yasuaki Yamasaki, but after losing the exclusive negotiation rights for both players in the lottery, they selected Yokoyama as their third choice. On November 26, he officially signed a provisional contract with the Tigers, which included a signing bonus of 50.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 15.00 M JPY. The total contract value, including performance incentives, was 100.00 M JPY. He was assigned jersey number 15.
With his signing, Yokoyama became only the second player from Yamagata Prefecture to join the Hanshin Tigers, the first since Shigeichi Aoki in 1978, and the first pitcher from the prefecture to play for the team. In the same draft, the Tigers also selected Yokoyama's Shin Nittetsu Sumikin Kashima teammate, Tsuyoshi Ishizaki, in the second round. This marked the first time in Hanshin Tigers' history that two players from the same team were drafted as the first and second picks. It was also the first instance in NPB draft history where a single team selected two pitchers from the same amateur team as their first and second picks. More broadly, it was the fourth such instance in NPB history where a team selected two players from the same amateur team as their first and second picks, following examples such as Takashi Ogino and Tomohisa Ohtani from Toyota Motor Corporation drafted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2009. Notably, in the 2015 draft, the Tigers also selected Shun Takayama (1st pick) and Seishiro Sakamoto (2nd pick) from Meiji University, both of whom had played as outfielders for Nihon University Third High School and faced Yokoyama's Yamagata Prefectural Yamagata Chuo High School in the 82nd National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament. Both Takayama and Sakamoto also joined the team. Ishizaki also joined the Tigers, and Yokoyama's high school junior, Saitō Yukiya, later joined the team in 2019 after playing for Toin University of Yokohama and Honda.
3.2. Playing Style and Pitching Arsenal
Standing at 72 in (183 cm), Yokoyama is a left-handed pitcher who utilizes an overhand delivery. His fastball was clocked at a maximum speed of 94 mph (151 km/h). In addition to his powerful fastball, he commanded a variety of breaking and off-speed pitches, including sharp cutting sliders, loose curves, and forkballs, which he also used as a changeup. A key characteristic of his pitching style was his high leg kick, followed by a quick arm swing, which allowed him to induce swings and misses from batters, particularly with high fastballs.
3.3. Season-by-Season Performance
Yokoyama's professional career saw him navigate through injuries and rehabilitation, with periods in both the major and minor leagues.
3.3.1. 2015 Season
Yokoyama's professional debut was delayed by an injury sustained shortly after the 2014 21U Baseball World Cup. He experienced tightness in his left arm and was diagnosed with inflammation in his left sternoclavicular joint in January. He resumed pitching in early February and began the season with the minor league team. On April 28, he was selected for the NPB Select team to face the Samurai Japan University Japan National Team, a game scheduled for June 29.
He made his highly anticipated major league debut on May 21 against the Yomiuri Giants at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, his home turf. He pitched 7 solid innings, allowing only one run on six hits while striking out six batters, with his fastball topping out at 93 mph (149 km/h). The Giants' only run came from Leslie Anderson's two-base hit in the sixth inning. The Tigers ultimately won the game with Takashi Toritani batting in the winning run in the eighth inning. While he pitched well, he did not achieve the rare feat of a rookie pitcher's first win against the Giants in his debut. This appearance also marked the first time a player from Yamagata Prefecture played in an official first-team game for the Hanshin Tigers.
On June 14, in a game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka, Yokoyama faced a difficult situation in the fourth inning. After hitting Hiroyuki Nakajima with a pitch, he walked two consecutive batters without throwing a single strike, leading to two walk-in runs. He was removed from the game and subsequently demoted from the active roster. On June 25, he announced his withdrawal from the "Samurai Japan University Japan National Team vs. NPB Select" game. He was also scheduled to start for the Western League selection in the Fresh All-Star Game, but the game was canceled due to severe weather. In his rookie season, he appeared in 4 major league games (1 in relief), recording 0 wins and 2 losses with an earned run average (ERA) of 6.75. After the season, during the autumn camp, he fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot and underwent surgery on November 26.
3.3.2. 2016 Season
Yokoyama's 2016 season was delayed by the recovery from his right foot surgery. He made his first major league appearance of the season on May 4, starting against the Chunichi Dragons at Nagoya Dome. Supported by strong offensive backing from his team, he pitched 7 shutout innings, earning his first professional win. In his next start on May 18, also against the Chunichi Dragons at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he secured his first career win at Koshien, despite needing relief help in the sixth inning. However, his season was cut short in late May when he complained of left shoulder pain during a road trip to Sendai for interleague play. He was demoted from the active roster on May 31.
3.3.3. 2017 Season
In 2017, Yokoyama showed promising form during spring training as a candidate for the starting rotation but began the regular season in the minor leagues. He made his first major league appearance of the season on April 23, starting against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome. He pitched 5 innings, allowing only one run, and earned his first win of the season. This start was an emergency call-up as Shintaro Fujinami was sidelined with influenza. However, he was demoted the very next day, on April 24. While adjusting in the minor leagues for another major league start, he suffered a sudden lower back injury (lumbago). Following his recovery, he injured his left shoulder during a pitching practice, preventing him from returning to the major league for the remainder of the season. Ultimately, he played only one major league game and five games in the Western League.
3.3.4. 2018-2019 Seasons
Yokoyama's left shoulder issues persisted into 2018. On August 19, he underwent cleaning surgery on his left shoulder. He spent the entire season rehabilitating and did not appear in any official games for either the major or minor league teams. On November 15, his contract was converted to a developmental player contract, and his jersey number was changed to 115.
In 2019, Yokoyama made his return to official games on July 4, pitching in a Western League game against the Orix Buffaloes, marking his first official game appearance in two years. This coincided with his former teammate Tsuyoshi Ishizaki being traded to the Chiba Lotte Marines. He continued to pitch in the Western League, appearing in 7 games, where he recorded 1 win and 1 loss with an ERA of 2.86. Despite his efforts, he was not reinstated to the active roster by the end of the season.
3.3.5. 2020 Season
Although still under a developmental contract in 2020, Yokoyama began spring training with the major league team, a first for a developmental player in the Hanshin Tigers' history. He also pitched in one open game. However, he was not reinstated to the active roster before the start of the regular season. By late September, he had appeared in 13 Western League games, with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses and an ERA of 3.26. On September 30, the final day for new active roster registrations, he was re-signed to an active player contract, and his jersey number was changed to 91.
On October 4, Yokoyama made his first major league appearance in 1260 days, pitching in the ninth inning of a game against the Yomiuri Giants at Koshien Stadium. He pitched 1 inning, allowing 2 earned runs, resulting in an ERA of 18.00. This was his only major league appearance of the season. In the Western League, he appeared in 16 games and was the only pitcher on the team to reach the league's regulation innings. He achieved a winning percentage of .667 (4 wins, 2 losses), tying for the league's best winning percentage with Kōtarō Ōtake of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. His ERA of 2.54 was also the second-best in the league, just behind Ōtake's 2.53. Despite having a season free from injuries for the first time since joining the Tigers, he received a release notification on November 4, towards the end of the regular season. Yokoyama stated that he had "no regrets whatsoever in the process of pursuing baseball" and announced his retirement from professional baseball on November 27. He was officially designated as a free agent by NPB on December 2.
3.4. Injuries and Rehabilitation
Throughout his professional career, Yūya Yokoyama faced several significant injuries that impacted his playing time and performance. His injury history includes:
- Left Sternoclavicular Joint Inflammation (2015):** Diagnosed in January 2015, this inflammation in his left chest area delayed his professional debut.
- Right Fifth Metatarsal Fracture (2015):** Sustained during the autumn camp in 2015, requiring surgery in November.
- Left Shoulder Pain (2016):** Experienced in late May 2016, leading to his demotion from the active roster.
- Lower Back Injury (lumbago) (2017):** Suffered from acute lower back pain during the 2017 season.
- Left Shoulder Injury (2017):** Following his lower back issue, he injured his left shoulder during pitching practice, which ended his season prematurely.
- Left Shoulder Cleaning Surgery (2018):** Due to persistent left shoulder problems, he underwent surgery on August 19, 2018, which caused him to miss the entire 2018 season.
These injuries necessitated extensive rehabilitation periods, often delaying his return to the mound and limiting his opportunities in the major league.
3.5. Retirement
On November 27, 2020, Yūya Yokoyama officially announced his retirement from professional baseball at the conclusion of the 2020 season. His decision followed his release from the Hanshin Tigers on November 4, 2020. He expressed that he had no regrets about his baseball career, having given his full effort.
4. Career Statistics and Records
Yūya Yokoyama's professional career statistics reflect his time as a pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers.
4.1. Pitching and Fielding Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | HLD | W | L | WPct | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | BK | WP | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Hanshin | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 66 | 13.1 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 6.75 | 1.95 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 63 | 15.1 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2.93 | 1.24 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 22 | 5.0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.80 | 1.60 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 6 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18.00 | 3.00 | |
| NPB: 4 years | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 157 | 34.2 | 34 | 5 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 18 | 4.67 | 1.62 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2020 season.
| Year | Team | Pitcher | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PO | A | E | DP | FPct | ||
| 2015 | Hanshin | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | |
| Career Total | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2020 season.
4.2. Major Career Milestones
- First Appearance and First Start:** May 21, 2015, against the Yomiuri Giants (Game 11) at Hanshin Koshien Stadium. Pitched 7 innings, allowing 1 run, with no decision.
- First Strikeout:** May 21, 2015, against the Yomiuri Giants (Game 11) at Hanshin Koshien Stadium. Struck out Yoshiyuki Kamei swinging in the first inning.
- First Win and First Start Win:** May 4, 2016, against the Chunichi Dragons (Game 8) at Nagoya Dome. Pitched 7 shutout innings.
- First Hit:** May 25, 2016, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Game 10) at Meiji Jingu Stadium. Hit a double to center field off Kyle Davies in the third inning.
4.3. Jersey Numbers
- 15 (2015-2018)
- 115 (2019 - September 29, 2020)
- 91 (September 30, 2020 - end of 2020 season)
4.4. Entrance Music
- "NUMBER1" by BIGBANG (2015-2017)
- "Kirikirimai" by Orange Range (2018-2019)
- "Kinnikuman Go Fight!" by Akira Kushida (2020)
5. Post-Retirement Career
After retiring from professional baseball, Yūya Yokoyama embarked on new career paths, initially in coaching and later in the apparel industry.
5.1. Coaching and Staff Role
Effective January 1, 2021, Yokoyama transitioned into a staff role within the Hanshin Tigers organization. He became a dedicated coach for the "Tigers Academy Baseball School," operated by the team's Promotion Department. In this capacity, he worked to develop young baseball talent. Concurrently, he continued to play baseball as a pitcher and outfielder for an amateur baseball team named 'RAT'S' in Osaka Prefecture. However, his tenure with the Tigers as an academy coach was brief, as he resigned from the organization on December 31, 2021, after just one year.
5.2. Apparel Industry and Entrepreneurship
Following his departure from the Hanshin Tigers, Yokoyama leveraged connections he made through his amateur baseball team, which included several members involved in the apparel industry. In January 2022, he joined SIR Co., Ltd., a T-shirt manufacturing company based in Nara Prefecture. In May of the same year, he co-launched his own apparel brand, "GAUCHER," within the company, alongside former teammate Shoya Yamamoto. Yokoyama is actively involved in both the operations of SIR Co., Ltd. and the development of his own brand. The brand's concept is to bring the enjoyment of baseball into everyday life.