Shu Masuda

Shu Masuda
Tokyo Yakult Swallows – No. 63
Infielder
Born: (1999-05-21) May 21, 1999 (age 25)
Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
September 28, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through October 9, 2024)
Batting average.204
Home runs4
Runs batted in15
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Thunder Bay Team

Shu Masuda (増田 珠, Masuda Shū, born May 21, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball Infielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. He previously played in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Early baseball career

Masuda participated in the 2rd grade summer the 98th Japanese High School Baseball Championship and 3rd grade summer the 99th Japanese High School Baseball Championship as a Center fielder of the Yokohama High School.[1]

Professional career

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On October 26, 2017, Masuda was drafted by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

In the 2018 season, Masuda played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues.

On September 28, 2019, Masuda debuted in the Pacific League against the Orix Buffaloes.[2] In 2019, he played 2 games in the Pacific League. On November 27, Masuda underwent surgery on his right wrist.[3]

In 2020, Masuda spent the season rehabilitating his right wrist and was unable to play in the Pacific League.[4]

In 2021 season, Masuda never got a chance to play in the first league.

In 2022 season, Masuda was registered in the first team registration on July 17.[5] He recorded his first hit that day, a home run, against the Chiba Lotte Marines.[6] While his main players tested positive for COVID-19 and were out for rehabilitation, he was active, hitting the first two runs hit of the game on August 26 against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, And He was a member of the "Chikugo Hawks" and supported the team until the main players returned. (a nickname given to the younger reserve players. Chikugo is the name of the place where the Hawks farm team is located.)[7] He finished the regular season with a .256 batting average, one home run, and 6 RBI in 15 games.

In 2023 season, Masuda finished the regular season in 35 games with a batting average of .182, a one home runs, a RBI of 3, and a one sacrifice bunts. On October 22, the Hawks announced release him.[8]

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

On November 28, 2023, Masuda signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[9]

International career

Masuda was selected for the Japan national baseball team at the 2014 15U Baseball World Cup[10] and the Japan national baseball team at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク・ドラ3増田「チームの顔に」入団合意". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 26, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク増田はホロ苦デビュー". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). September 29, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク増田が右手の骨移植術 復帰6カ月". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 28, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  4. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク退団の内川の自主トレに増田が参加 契約更改は現状維持でサイン". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 甲斐拓也、増田珠、野村勇を出場登録". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 17, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 5年目の増田珠プロ初安打が初本塁打 「熱男」まねた「増男」披露". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 17, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 「打てなかったら落とされる」増田珠が初お立ち台で語った「ちびっ子トリオ」のハングリー精神". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). August 26, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2023/10/22 (日) 来季契約について". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 22, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "Tokyo Yakult Swallows press release 2023 11/28 嘉弥真新也投手、西川遥輝選手、増田珠選手が入団会見を行いました!". Tokyo Yakult Swallows Official site (in Japanese). November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Japan national baseball team overview (Japanese) 2014年 第2回 IBAF 15Uワールドカップ". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  11. ^ "Japan national baseball team overview (Japanese) 2017年 第28回 WBSC U-18ベースボールワールドカップ". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2020.


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