Ukyo Shuto

Ukyo Shuto (周東 佑京, Shūtō Ukyō, born February 10, 1996 in Ōta, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Ukyo Shuto
Shuto with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 23
Infielder
Born: (1996-02-10) February 10, 1996
Ōta, Gunma, Japan
Bats: Left Throws: Right
NPB debut
April 7, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.252
Home runs2
RBI33
Hits103
Stolen base75
Sacrifice bunt21
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
WBSC Premier12
2019 Tokyo Team
U-23 Baseball World Cup
2018 Barranquilla Team

He is the World record holder with a record of 13 games consecutive stolen bases.[1]

Early baseball career

Shuto participated three times in the Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship and once in the Meiji Shrine Baseball Championship while studying at the Tokyo University of Agriculture Hokkaido Okhotsk.

In 2017, he was selected most valuable player in the Hokkaido Universities Baseball League.[2]

Professional career

On October 26, 2017, Shuto was drafted as a developmental squad player (ja:育成選手制度 (日本プロ野球)) by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[3][4]

In 2018 season, he played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues. On October 3, despite being a developmental squad player, he was selected as the Japan national baseball team for the 2018 U-23 Baseball World Cup because of his speed and defense.[5]

On March 26, 2019, Shuto signed a 6 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under management. (ja:支配下選手登録)[6] In the 2019 season, he played mainly as a defensive player and a pinch runner and recorded 25 stolen bases while being caught five times while batting .196/.212/.294 in 102 at bats.[7] On October 1, unusual case, Shuto was evaluated for base-running technique as a pinch runner and was selected as the Japan national baseball top team for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament.[8][9] He led the tournament with four stolen bases.[10]

On October 30, 2020, Shuto achieved 13 games consecutive stolen bases, breaking the NPB record for Yutaka Fukumoto's 11 games consecutive stolen bases in 1974 and the MLB record for 12 games consecutive stolen bases for Bert Campaneris in 1969.[1] In 2020 season, Shuto won the Pacific League stolen bases leader award with a record of 50 stolen bases,[11] and hitting .270/.325/.352 in 307 at bats, with a one home run , a 27 RBIs. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, Shuto contributed to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series championship with one hit, one stolen base and good defense.[11][12] December 17, Shuto was honored for the Pacific League Stolen bases Leader Award and NPB Commissioner's Special Award at the NPB AWARD 2020.[13][14]

References
  1. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク周東ついに「世界一」13試合連続盗塁". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 30, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  2. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 東農大北海道・周東指名待つ　走力抜群イチロー超え". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  3. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク育成２位、東農大北海道・周東は俊足". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  4. In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under management (active roster of players), each team can have developmental squad players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management within the 3-year contract period (non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  5. "Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Official site news (Japanese) 周東選手が侍ジャパン選出！U-23 W杯に出場". Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  6. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク育成の周東佑京、川原弘之と支配下登録". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 26, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  7. "Ukyo Shuto Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
  8. "TOPTEAM 2019 List of Players Announced on 10/24/2019"". Official website of Japan national baseball team (in Japanese). October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  9. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク周東プレミア12選出へ　異例の代走侍". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 26, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  11. "Sankei Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク・周東がシリーズ初盗塁「まず一つできて、ほっとしている」". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  12. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク周東やっと出た13打席目の初安打　再三の美技も披露". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 24, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  13. "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2020年度 表彰選手 (パシフィック・リーグ)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  14. "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) 2020年度 日本野球機構表彰". NPB.jp (in Japanese). December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.


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