1. Overview
Yūshi Shimizu is a professional Japanese baseball player who currently plays as a catcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He is a right-handed batter and right-handed thrower. This article details his early life and education, his professional career with the Fighters, his distinctive playing style and skills, personal life, and comprehensive career statistics.
2. Early Life and Education
Yūshi Shimizu was born on May 22, 1996, in 東和町Towa TownJapanese (now Suō-Ōshima) in Ōshima District, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. He began playing softball in the second grade of Shiroyama Elementary School with the "Towa Sports Youth Team," where he immediately took on the role of catcher. During his time at Towa Junior High School, he played for the "Iwakuni Boys" team.
Shimizu attended Kyushu International University High School, where he became a regular player from the spring of his first year. In the autumn of his second year, he was appointed team captain. In his third year, he participated in the 96th National High School Baseball Championship, commonly known as the Summer Koshien. Playing as the cleanup hitter (4th batter) and catcher, he recorded two hits in four at-bats and one RBI. However, his team was defeated 1-6 in the first round by Tokai University Fourth High School (now Tokai University Sapporo High School). Throughout his high school career, Shimizu hit a total of 35 home runs. His teammates during high school included Shogo Furusawa and Dai Adouwa.
3. Professional Career
Yūshi Shimizu's professional baseball journey began with his selection in the NPB draft, leading to a long tenure with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, marked by notable performances, injuries, and achievements.
3.1. Draft and Signing
On October 23, 2014, Yūshi Shimizu was selected as the second-round pick by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 2014 NPB draft. He signed his initial professional contract with an estimated signing bonus of 60.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 6.00 M JPY. He was assigned jersey number 10. His high school teammate, Shogo Furusawa, was also drafted in the same year by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as their third-round pick.
3.2. Career with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Shimizu's career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters began in 2015 and has seen him develop into a significant player for the team.
In 2015, on April 28, Shimizu was announced as a selected player for the "Samurai Japan University National Team vs. NPB Selection" game, alongside his teammates Naoya Ishikawa and Daiki Asama. In the game held on June 29, he started as the ninth batter and catcher but struck out in all three of his at-bats. On October 1, he was registered for the first team and made his professional debut and first start on the same day against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Sapporo Dome, batting eighth as the catcher. His first professional at-bat resulted in a groundout to third base. In the minor league (Ni-gun), he played the most games among the team's catchers, appearing in 77 contests.
In 2016, Shimizu was selected for the Eastern League's All-Star team in the Fresh All-Star Game held on July 14. He started as the ninth batter and catcher, recording two hits and one RBI in three at-bats. On September 30, in a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he recorded his first professional hit, a single to left field off Chen Kuan-Yu, and also achieved two consecutive hits. He was included in the roster for the 2016 Pacific League Climax Series and the 2016 Japan Series, making his first appearance in the Japan Series. Following the season, on November 16, he signed a contract renewal with an estimated salary increase of 300.00 K JPY, bringing his annual salary to 6.40 M JPY.
In 2017, on April 13, Shimizu recorded his first professional RBI with a single to left field off Rick van den Hurk in a game against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Sapporo Dome. Later that year, on October 3, he hit his first professional home run, a solo shot to left field off Takahiro Matsuba in a game against the Orix Buffaloes at Sapporo Dome.
In 2019, on January 23, Shimizu underwent surgery (PED method) for a lumbar disc herniation and cyst, with an expected recovery period of three months.
In 2021, on October 13, Shimizu hit his second career grand slam off Ken Togame in a game against the Saitama Seibu Lions.
In 2022, on August 11, Shimizu hit a walk-off single off Wataru Matsumoto in a game against the Seibu Lions, securing a victory for his team.
In 2023, Shimizu made the opening day roster but saw limited playing time, appearing in only 32 games. On October 2, in a game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka, he recorded his first professional stolen base, stealing second in the second inning off pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and catcher Kenya Wakatsuki. Following the season, on November 30, his salary was reduced by 2.00 M JPY to 27.00 M JPY.
In 2024, Shimizu showed strong performance in the Eastern League (Ni-gun) by May, playing in 37 games with a batting average of .321, 2 home runs, and 13 RBIs. He led the league in batting average, on-base percentage (.424), slugging percentage (.464), and OPS (.889). On May 31, he was promoted to the first team for the first time that season. His promotion resulted in an unusual situation where the first team roster included five catchers: Shimizu, Hiroaki Tamiya, Torai Fushimi, Ariel Martínez (who primarily plays first base), and Yuya Gunji (who primarily plays third base).
4. Playing Style and Skills
Yūshi Shimizu is known for his strong defensive skills as a catcher, particularly his exceptional throwing ability and powerful hitting. During his high school career, his pop time from home plate to second base was recorded as fast as 1.78 seconds, and his long-toss distance reached 377 ft (115 m). He also possesses significant punch power as a hitter.
In addition to his primary role as a catcher, Shimizu has demonstrated versatility by playing as a first baseman and third baseman in the minor league (Ni-gun). He is also recognized for his leadership qualities and willingness to mentor younger players. In late 2018, he notably advised then-rookie Kotaro Kiyomiya, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper conduct and behavior, especially for young players who receive opportunities to play in professional games, to avoid misunderstandings.
5. Personal Life
Yūshi Shimizu often reflects on his upbringing in Suō-Ōshima, where he lived until junior high school. He recalls that the island had only two or three traffic lights at the time, and the closest convenience store was 3.1 mile (5 km) from his family home. He describes the island's many elderly residents as kind and believes that growing up in such an environment prevented him from straying off course and enabled him to become a professional baseball player.
After the conclusion of the 2024 season, Shimizu announced his marriage. His wife is the older sister of professional golfer Hikaru Yoshimoto. Shimizu has expressed that his wife's positive words and her "chicken meatball hamburg steak" have been a source of support, motivating him in his pursuit of becoming the team's primary catcher.
6. Career Statistics
This section provides comprehensive statistical data for Yūshi Shimizu's professional baseball career, covering both his batting and fielding performances, along with his career highlights and records.
6.1. Batting Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Plate Appearances | At-Bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Triples | Home Runs | Total Bases | RBIs | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | Sacrifice Bunts | Sacrifice Flies | Walks | Intentional Walks | Hit by Pitch | Strikeouts | Double Plays | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Nippon-Ham | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 2016 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | |
| 2017 | 61 | 120 | 111 | 7 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 4 | .198 | .231 | .261 | .492 | |
| 2018 | 86 | 242 | 200 | 25 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 71 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 51 | 4 | .215 | .288 | .355 | .643 | |
| 2019 | 98 | 246 | 216 | 17 | 56 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 79 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 51 | 6 | .259 | .321 | .366 | .686 | |
| 2020 | 69 | 157 | 135 | 13 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 5 | .193 | .234 | .311 | .546 | |
| 2021 | 100 | 256 | 214 | 19 | 44 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 62 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 | .206 | .294 | .290 | .584 | |
| 2022 | 30 | 67 | 62 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 1 | .194 | .219 | .210 | .428 | |
| 2023 | 32 | 60 | 50 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | .260 | .315 | .280 | .595 | |
| 2024 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | .143 | .143 | .214 | .357 | |
| Career Total: 10 Years | 494 | 1173 | 1012 | 87 | 220 | 35 | 0 | 20 | 315 | 98 | 1 | 3 | 65 | 8 | 82 | 0 | 6 | 270 | 24 | .217 | .278 | .311 | .589 | |
- Statistics current as of the end of the 2024 season.
6.2. Fielding Statistics
| Year | Team | Catcher | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Putouts | Assists | Errors | Double Plays | Fielding Percentage | Passed Balls | Stolen Base Attempts | Stolen Bases Allowed | Caught Stealing | Caught Stealing Percentage | ||
| 2015 | Nippon-Ham | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- |
| 2016 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | |
| 2017 | 61 | 254 | 26 | 5 | 0 | .982 | 0 | 35 | 32 | 3 | .086 | |
| 2018 | 83 | 460 | 56 | 3 | 5 | .994 | 0 | 58 | 44 | 14 | .241 | |
| 2019 | 95 | 491 | 56 | 7 | 2 | .987 | 3 | 55 | 36 | 19 | .345 | |
| 2020 | 69 | 386 | 41 | 8 | 3 | .994 | 7 | 70 | 56 | 14 | .200 | |
| 2021 | 98 | 566 | 69 | 2 | 6 | .997 | 4 | 79 | 63 | 16 | .203 | |
| 2022 | 26 | 147 | 12 | 2 | 2 | .988 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 4 | .250 | |
| 2023 | 31 | 131 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .979 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 2 | .111 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | |
| Career Total | 475 | 2470 | 277 | 30 | 21 | .989 | 16 | 335 | 261 | 74 | .221 | |
- Statistics current as of the end of the 2024 season.
- Bold indicates league leader for that season.
6.3. Career Highlights and Records
Shimizu has achieved several notable milestones throughout his professional career:
; Firsts
- First appearance and first start: October 1, 2015, against the Chiba Lotte Marines (23rd game of the season) at Sapporo Dome, starting as the 8th batter and catcher.
- First at-bat: Same game, in the 3rd inning, a groundout to third base off Hideaki Wakui.
- First hit: September 30, 2016, against the Chiba Lotte Marines (25th game of the season) at Sapporo Dome, a single to left field off Chen Kuan-Yu.
- First RBI: April 13, 2017, against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (3rd game of the season) at Sapporo Dome, a single to left field off Rick van den Hurk.
- First home run: October 3, 2017, against the Orix Buffaloes (24th game of the season) at Sapporo Dome, a solo home run to left field off Takahiro Matsuba.
- First stolen base: October 2, 2023, against the Orix Buffaloes (25th game of the season) at Kyocera Dome Osaka, stealing second base in the 2nd inning (pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, catcher: Kenya Wakatsuki).
; Jersey Number
- 10 (2015 - present)