Kyuji Fujikawa

Nihongo|Kyuji Fujikawa|藤川 球児|Fujikawa Kyūji|extra=born July 21, 1980 in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan is a closer for the Hanshin Tigers. He was the member of team Japan in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. According to [http://www.daily.co.jp/baseball/2006/01/18/201747.shtml Daily Sports website] , his first name, Kyuji, originates from that he was born on the day after his father threw a no-hitter in sandlot baseball game. His fastball, which rarely reaches 97 mph (usually stay in the 92-95 mph range), is called "Hi-no-tama" ball" (fireball). His fastball doesn't go straight but rises (compare with other pitchers) because it has more (faster) spinning than usual fastballs by other pitchers. His repertoire also includes curveball and forkball.

When he was drafted in 1999 out of high school, he became wildly known because he was a classmate of Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue. In 2006, he posted an ERA of 0.68, while having 47 scoreless innings in a row.

When he appears at Hanshin Koshien Stadium (incliding Interleague) and Kyocera Dome Osaka (in the games hosted by the Tigers), "every little thing every precious thing," a song by a Japanese rock band named "Lindberg," is played.

External links

*japanesebaseball|id=1095
* [http://www.kyuji22.jp/ Kyuji Fujikawa Official Web Site] (Japanese)
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/F/kyuji-fujikawa.shtml Fujikawa's stats]