Kyuji Fujikawa

Kyuji Fujikawa
Kyuji Fujikawa
	Fujikawa pitching for the Hanshin Tigers, at Hanshin Koshien Stadium
Hanshin Tigers – No. 22
	Pitcher/Manager
	Born: July 21, 1980 (age 44); Kōchi, Kōchi, Japan
	Batted: Left Threw: Right
Professional debut
	NPB: March 31, 2000, for the Hanshin Tigers
	MLB: April 1, 2013, for the Chicago Cubs
Last appearance
	MLB: May 14, 2015, for the Texas Rangers
	NPB: November 10, 2020, for the Hanshin Tigers
NPB statistics
Win–loss record	60–38
Earned run average	2.08
Strikeouts	1,220
Saves	243
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1–1
Earned run average	5.74
Strikeouts	32
Saves	2
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Hanshin Tigers (1999–2012); Chicago Cubs (2013–2014); Texas Rangers (2015); Hanshin Tigers (2016–2020); As manager Hanshin Tigers (2025–);
Career highlights and awards
	Central League Most Valuable Closer (2007); 2× Central League Most Valuable Setup Pitcher (2005–2006); Most Valuable Battery (2005); Most Valuable Battery Special Award (2008); 5× NPB All-Star (2005–2008, 2019);
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing Japan
World Baseball Classic
Asian Baseball Championship

Kyuji Fujikawa (藤川球児, Fujikawa Kyūji, born July 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.^[1] He pitched for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Fujikawa pitched in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics. A prototypical power pitcher, Fujikawa is said to have one of the most explosive fastballs in all of Japanese professional baseball and is one of Japan's premier relievers.^[2]