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Ryoji Kuribayashi | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Hiroshima Toyo Carp – No. 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born: Aisai, Aichi, Japan | July 9, 1996|||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
NPB debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
March 27, 2021, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics (through 2023 season) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 3–10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 1.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 191 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saves | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Holds | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Ryoji Kuribayashi (栗林 良吏, Kuribayashi Ryōji, born July 9, 1996 in Aisai, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1][2]
Kuribayashi was selected by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp with the team's first selection in the 2020 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. He made his NPB debut on March 27, 2021, pitching a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts against the Chunichi Dragons. After recording a stellar 0.55 ERA in 33 appearances to begin the year, Kuribayashi was named an NPB All-Star for the first time in his career.[3] In 2021, Kuribayashi recorded 37 saves with a 0.86 ERA in 53 games and claimed the Central League's Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2022, Kuribayashi pitched as a closer throughout the season and recorded 31 saves with a 1.49 ERA in 48 games.
On June 6, 2023, Kuribayashi pitched a scoreless seventh inning against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, earning his first win in NPB.[4]
Kuribayashi represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He pitched in five games and recorded 2 wins and 3 saves, contributing to Japan's gold medal in the Olympics.[5]