Kōta Ishibashi (石橋 康太, Ishibashi Kōta, born December 12, 2000) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays catcher for the Chunichi Dragons.
| Kōta Ishibashi 石橋康太 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chunichi Dragons – No. 58 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: December 7, 2000 Yotsukaidō, Chiba, Japan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| 7 July, 2019, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| Career statistics (through 2020 season) | |
| Batting average | .059 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| RBI | 2 |
| Teams | |
| |
Ishibashi was widely regarded as the top high school aged catcher available at the 2018 NPB Draft.[1]
Early career edit
On 25 October 2018, Ishibashi was selected as the 4th draft pick for the Chunichi Dragons at the 2018 NPB Draft and on 21 November signed a provisional contract with a ¥40,000,000 sign-on bonus and a ¥6,000,000 yearly salary.[2]
Professional career edit
2019 edit
On 7 July, Ishibashi made his professional debut as a pinch-hitter for Yuya Yanagi against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[3] Ishibashi's debut marked the first time since Yasuhiko Kawai 1952 that a Dragons catcher, fresh out of high school had debuted in their first year[4] and the first time since the draft was introduced.[5] Two days later Ishibashi started against the Hiroshima Carp at Nagoya Dome with fellow teenager Tatsuya Shimizu on the mound.[6]
Playing style edit
Ishibashi can long throw up to 115 metres,[7] has a pop-time of 1.9 seconds[8] and can bat for power.[7]
Personal edit
Ishibashi considers Tokyo Yakult Swallows former catcher and manager, Atsuya Furuta along with hall of fame inductee Katsuya Nomura as his inspirations having read many of their books on catching.[9]
References edit
- ^ Matsunaga, Kinya (2018-10-04). "気になる有力選手と隠し玉候補は？ 西尾×小関×福田ドラフト鼎談" [What are the talented and diamond in the rough player of interest? Nishio, Kozono, Fukuda]. Yahoo! Sports Navi (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-01-08.
- ^ "４位・石橋、「勝てる捕手」目標" [#4 Ishibashi Aims to be a "winning catcher"]. Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
- ^ "中日 石橋康太がデビュー" [Chunichi's Kota Ishibashi debuts]. Baseball Online (in Japanese). 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ "【中日】ドラフト４位・石橋が初の１軍昇格へ 開幕マスクの加藤が２軍降格" [[Chunichi] Draft #4 Ishibashi promoted to first team for first time; opening day catcher Kato sent down.]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2019-07-07. Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ "中日"ドラ4"18歳石橋、初昇格即代打で珍デビュー！与田監督「プロ初打席の死球…あまり記憶にない」― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 野球" [Chunichi's #4 draft pick, 18 y/o Ishibashi, pinch-hitting debut directly after promotion! Manager Yoda "Fist BA was a HBP, not much to remember"]. Sponichi (in Japanese). 2019-07-07. Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ "中日「10代バッテリー」で勝負 清水－石橋康太" [Chunichi fights on with a "Teenage battery" Shimizu-Kota Ishibashi]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2019-07-09. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ a b "４位新人・石橋が１軍練習参加へ 正捕手候補を首脳陣徹底チェック" [#4 Rookie Ishibashi participates in 1-gun training. Management checking on full-time catcher options]. Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). 2019-07-07. Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ "中日ドラフト４位の関東第一・石橋に指名あいさつ 球を受けてみたい投手は「松坂さん」" [Chunichi #4 pick, Kanto Daiichi's Ishibashi has selection greeting says he'd like to catch for "Matsuzaka-san"]. Sponichi (in Japanese). 2019-07-07. Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ "４位・石橋、日本一の捕手目指す ノムさん＆古田本でプロの配球術" [#4 Ishibashi, Aims to be Japan series winning catcher; learning techniques of pro catching from Nomu-chan and Furuta's books.]. Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2019-01-08.