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Yusei Kikuchi (菊池雄星)
Yusei Kikuchi (菊池 雄星) was born on June 17, 1991 in Morioka, Japan. He is a well-known Japanese professional baseball pitcher and currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, he has also played for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros, while also showing his skills for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan.
Yusei Kikuchi began his career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he played as a left-handed pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions. Thanks to his excellent performance, he was given the opportunity to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2019. Yusei Kikuchi had his early success in MLB with the Seattle Mariners, and later played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros. His playing style and pitching technique have become his trademark in MLB.
Yusei Kikuchi is married to former freelance announcer Rumi Fukatsu. They have a strong and supportive relationship, and both are well-known figures in Japan. Some of Yusei Kikuchi’s most famous nicknames include “U Say” and others, which are popular among his fans and the media. Yusei Kikuchi’s skill and hard work have made him a prominent baseball player not only in Japan but also internationally.
Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| Yusei Kikuchi | |
| Urdu Name | یوسی کیکوچی |
| Date of Birth | June 17, 1991 (age 33) |
| Birthplace | Morioka, Iwate, Japan |
| Bats | Left |
| Throws | Left |
| Current Team | Los Angeles Angels (#16 / Pitcher) |
| Salary | 10 million USD (2024) |
| Spouse | Rumi Fukatsu (m. 2016) |
| Dates Joined | 2024 (Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros) |
| Height | 1.84 m |
| Strikeouts | 903 |
Yusei Kikuchi's amateur career
Yusei Kikuchi received his early education at Hanamaki Higashi High School, located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The school would later be attended by famous two-way player Shohei Ohtani. During high school, Kikuchi’s pitching skills were notable and he had a powerful fastball that was clocked at 154 km/h (96 mph) in 2009. In October 2009, Kikuchi caused controversy when it was reported that he was considering signing with an American Major League Baseball club by skipping the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) amateur draft.
Under Major League Baseball rules at the time, Kikuchi was not considered subject to the MLB draft and could sign with any American team as a free agent. Following the news, several American teams, such as the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and New York Yankees, expressed interest in Kikuchi. In addition, all 12 NPB teams in Japan also expressed their desire to hire him.
Entry into the Japanese draft
Kikuchi’s manager, Hiroshi Sasaki, submitted paperwork to the High School Baseball Federation in Iwati Prefecture, which allowed Kikuchi to be named in the Japanese Baseball Draft. The draft took place on October 29, 2009, and Kikuchi was expected to be the No. 1 draft pick by some Japanese clubs at the time. The NPB had stipulated that no major league club would make an offer to Kikuchi before the Japanese draft, so that Japanese teams would also have a chance to talk to him.
America or Japan?
Kikuchi had expressed his desire to play in the United States and visited the United States in October. But in the end, he decided to stay in Japan and enter the draft. He became the first Japanese high school player to bypass Japan’s amateur draft.
It was this career stage that catapulted Kikuchi to international fame and paved the way for his future success.
Professional career
On November 20, 2009, Yusei Kikuchi signed a professional contract with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Pacific League. The contract included a signing bonus of 100 million yen (approximately $1 million), a first-year salary of 15 million yen ($150,000), and a performance bonus of 50 million yen ($500,000).Following the 2011 season, the Seibu Lions announced that Kikuchi would join the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League (ABL). In 2018, Kikuchi was selected to play in the NPB All-Star Game.
On December 3, 2018, the Seibu Lions announced that they were allowing Kikuchi to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB), for a one-month period.
Seattle Mariners
On January 2, 2019, Kikuchi signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. He made his MLB debut on March 21, 2019, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out three in 4+2⁄3 innings. Yusei Kikuchi became the first player from Japan to make his MLB debut.
In his first season, Kikuchi went 6–11 with a 5.46 ERA in 32 starts and struck out 116 batters in 161+2⁄3 innings. In 2020, he improved his performance and had a 24% strikeout percentage with a 5.17 ERA.
Kikuchi was selected to the American League (AL) roster for the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, reflecting his skill set.
Toronto Blue Jays
On March 14, 2022, Yusei Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. In the 2022 season, he started 20 of 32 games and posted a 6–7 record and a 5.19 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 100+2⁄3 innings. On September 30, one day after clinching a postseason berth, Kikuchi earned his first MLB save.
In the 2023 season, Kikuchi started 32 times and posted an 11–6 record and a 3.86 ERA with 181 strikeouts in 167+2⁄3 innings. In 2024, he started 22 times for the Blue Jays and posted a 4–9 record and a 4.75 ERA with 130 strikeouts.
Houston Astros
On July 29, 2024, Kikuchi was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Jake Blass, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner. On August 2, in his debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, Kikuchi became the first Japanese-born starting pitcher in Astros franchise history. He also set a franchise record with eight consecutive strikeouts, which ended with a full-count walk off Yandere Diaz. On September 13, Kikuchi contributed to the Astros’ 5,000th win as a winning pitcher.
During his time in Houston, Kikuchi made 10 starts in over 60 innings, had a 2.70 ERA, and a 5–1 record. His performance included 42 hits, 8 home runs, and 76 strikeouts, and he excelled in the AL with 11.4 K/9 and 5.43 K/BB. On November 27, 2024, Kikuchi signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, representing another important stage in his professional career.
Characteristics as a player
Yusei Kikuchi is known for his left-handed pitching and three-quarter arm angle throwing style. His fastball has a top speed of 99 mph (about 159 km/h), while the average has reached 95.5 mph (about 153.7 km/h), especially in the 2024 season. In addition, Kikuchi also has a slider with an average speed of about 136 km/h. These two pitches make up more than 80% of his total pitches. He also throws a vertical curveball with an average speed of about 117 km/h and occasionally uses a changeup or fork pitch.
Kikuchi’s pitching form involves a wide range of shoulder blade movement, which gives him the ability to pitch in a variety of ways. He once said that he works best with an outside rotation, but he thinks of himself more as a sidearm angler than a three-quarter style. His pitching skills have played a big role in his success.
Professional career struggles and successes
During his time with the Seabos, Kikuchi struggled against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, especially when they suffered consecutive losses to the same opponent after his debut. In 2017, a year in which he recorded 16 wins, he also suffered four losses against SoftBank. In 2018, he earned his first win in his 19th game, but suffered a setback in the final stages of the Climax Series.
After his first season with the Mariners, Kikuchi focused on further improving his pitching form. He increased the velocity of his pitches and converted his slider to a cut ball and his curveball to a slider. Then, with the help of special coach Hisashi Iwakuma, his changeup accuracy improved dramatically, further solidifying his performance.
Kikuchi’s constant improvement in technique and his hard work made him a successful and distinguished pitching player.
Playing style
Yoshi Kikuchi is a 6-foot (1.83 m) and 210-pound (95 kg) left-handed pitcher who throws from a three-quarter arm angle. He has a fastball that has been thrown at 99 mph (159 km/h). In addition, he throws an above-average slider, as well as a curveball and changeup, making him a complete and effective pitcher.
Personal life
Kikuchi is known for his strict sleep schedule. He reportedly sleeps for 13 to 14 hours before the start of each game, which helps him maintain his physical condition and performance. Kikuchi married Romi Fukatsu in 2016, and their personal life is also considered a key component of his success in the game.
Summary
Yoshi Kikuchi faced various challenges in his career, but with his hard work and technical skills, he emerged as a successful pitching player. His three-quarter arm angle throwing style, fast fastball and effective slider made him difficult for batters. Although he sometimes faced difficulties such as consecutive losses against the Softbank Hawks or problems with change-up accuracy, he did not give up and improved by making changes to his pitching form.
Kikuchi’s hard work and constant struggle not only improved his technical skills but also significantly improved his performance. His career proves that hard work, willingness to learn, and professional guidance are important for a player’s success. His example is an inspiration to other players that success can be achieved even in the face of difficulties.
Career Statistics
Professional debut
| NPB Debut | June 12, 2011, for the Saitama Seibu Lions |
| MLB Debut | March 21, 2019, for the Seattle Mariners |
NPB statistics 2018
| Strikeouts | 903 |
| Win–Loss Record | 73–46 |
| Earned Run Average | 2.77 |
MLB Statistics 2024
| Strikeouts | 903 |
| Win–Loss Record | 73–46 |
| Earned Run Average | 2.77 |
Teams
| Saitama Seibu Lions (2011–2018) |
| Seattle Mariners (2019–2021) |
| Toronto Blue Jays (2022–2024) |
| Houston Astros (2024) |
MLB Statistics 2024
| League | Achievements |
| NPB |
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| MLB |
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