Hideaki Wakui
Encyclopedia
is a starting pitcher
for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
The Lions' current staff ace
, Wakui pitched for the Japanese national team
in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
and 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
, a large city
in Chiba Prefecture
. He played softball
in elementary school
and began playing baseball
in junior high
for Matsudo Senior.
Senior High School, the alma mater
of current Boston Red Sox
pitcher
Daisuke Matsuzaka
and a baseball powerhouse that had sent more players to the pros
than any other high school
in Japan except PL Gakuen Senior High. There, he played in the 75th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament
in alongside then-ace and current Chiba Lotte Marines
left-hander Yoshihisa Naruse
(who was a year
older than Wakui) in the spring of his second year (the equivalent of eleventh grade
in the United States). Wakui was chosen to start in the tournament
finals
despite having pitched only in relief
up until then, but gave up six runs
in just 3 2/3 innings to Koryo High School, who, led by current Yomiuri Giants
pitcher Kentaro Nishimura
, won in a 15-3 rout.
in his senior year
, this time the 86th National High School Baseball Championship
held in the summer at Koshien Stadium
. He pitched a 10-strikeout
complete game
win
in Yokohama Senior High's first-round match against Hotoku Gakuen High School; an 11-inning, 14-strikeout complete game shutout in a thrilling 1-0 win in extra innings
over Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School (an affiliate school of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
) in the second round; and a 12-strikeout complete game win over Meitoku Gijuku Senior High School in the third round, clocking speeds as high as 147 km/h (91 mph) with his fastball
. However, he was no match for Komazawa University Tomakomai High School in the quarter-finals, giving up 14 hits
and six runs (five earned
) and allowing second baseman
Yuya Hayashi to hit for the cycle
en rout to a 6-1 loss.
held that fall
, the last national tournament of his high school career, Wakui avenged his earlier loss against Tomakomai High by pitching a 14-strikeout complete game win in the first round. Yokohama Senior High went on to become the tournament champions.
Wakui was picked in the first round of the NPB amateur draft
by the Seibu Lions and later given the uniform number
16. His repertoire at the time included a 148 km/h (92 mph) fastball and a hard slider
.
") roster for their season
opener in his rookie
season , earning the first win of his professional career on June 18 in the last interleague game of the season against the Yakult Swallows
. However, he finished the year with just a 1-6 record
and a 7.32 ERA
, giving up 11 home runs in 55 1/3 innings
.
On March 26 , his first start of the season, Wakui earned a win against the Orix Buffaloes
with Ginjiro Sumitani
behind the plate (an 18-year-old rookie catcher
straight out of high school), marking the first time a pitcher and catcher both in their teens
had won a game in Japanese professional baseball since Tadanori Ishii
(now Takuro Ishii) and Motonobu Tanishige
accomplished the feat for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales in . The two combined for another win on April 23 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
, the first complete game win as well as the first shutout of Wakui's career.
Wakui finished his sophomore season with a respectable 12-8 record, 3.24 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 178 innings pitched. He went 3-1 in June, earning Pacific League
Most Valuable Player
honors for that month
, and made his first All-Star Game
appearance via manager
selection.
, Wakui became just the 12th pitcher in NPB history to accomplish the unusual feat of striking out four batters in one inning.
He finished the season with a 17-10 record, leading the league in wins for the first time. He also led both Pacific and Central
leagues in innings pitched (213) and hits allowed (199) and came second to only Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
ace Yu Darvish
in complete games (11).
That year, Wakui was named to the Japanese national team to play in the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship
(which also functioned as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
). He and fellow 21-year-old Darvish, who had both been chosen to the national team for the first time, were the youngest members of the team. Wakui started in the Japan's first game against the Philippines
and held them to just one hit over six shutout innings (Japan won the game 10-0 in seven innings as per the mercy rule
).
Wakui was selected to the national team to play in the Olympics, starting in the game against Chinese Taipei in the group stage on August 14 and holding them to one run over six innings in earning the win. He followed up the effort with a two-hit, complete game (seven innings due to mercy rule) shutout against China
on August 19. However, he had a down year overall, going just 10-11 in the regular season and posting an ERA (3.90) and WHIP
(1.29) that were both worse than that of his 2007 season.
Nevertheless, Wakui took the hill in Game 1 and Game 5 of the Pacific League Climax Series (playoffs) against the Fighters, winning both starts and giving up just one run over 15 combined innings. In particular, he did not allow a single baserunner until two outs in the seventh inning in the latter game, finishing with a three-hit, complete game shutout and clinching a berth in the Japan Series
for the Lions. He was named the Pacific League Climax Series MVP. He pitched in three games in the Japan Series
, starting Game 1 and Game 5 and even coming on in relief in Game 7 on two day
s' rest to a key role in the Lions' championship (though he gave up six runs in 16 1/3 innings).
Wakui accepted the team's offer to change his uniform number from 16 to 18 during the off-season, a number that denotes the team's ace pitcher in Japan. The last player to wear the number for the Lions was Matsuzaka, who pitched for the team between and 2006. The number change also allowed teammate Kazuhisa Ishii
to change from #61(which he wore in 2008) to the #16 he wore for his entire career with the Yakult Swallows.
. He pitched in three games as a middle reliever
, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and contributing to Japan's second consecutive tournament title. He carried over his performance into the regular season, going 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA in the month of April. In particular, he held the Marines to one run while going the distance in a 12-strikeout, complete game win on April 24, striking out every batter in the Marines' lineup at least once and recording at least one strikeout in every inning (the first time in league history that a pitcher had accomplished the two feats in the same game). He allowed just four hits en route to his first complete game shutout in two years on May 15 against the Marines.
Wakui throws an only average fastball, a mostly flat four-seamer
that usually sits at 140 to 146 km/h (87 to 90.7 mph) and tops out at 151 km/h (93.8 mph) (though it does have some late life due to its excellent backspin). However, he complements it with an extremely wide assortment of secondary pitches, including a slider
, cutter
, curveball
, forkball
, changeup
and a good shuuto
(two-seamer) with late movement. He also has excellent command, posting a walks per nine innings rate of 2.11 in 2007 and 2.65 in 2008.
Bold indicates league leader; statistics current as of May 16, 2011
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
The Lions' current staff ace
Ace (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
, Wakui pitched for the Japanese national team
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
and 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
Early life
Wakui was born in MatsudoMatsudo, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 484,578 and a population density of 7900 persons per km²...
, a large city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
. He played softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
in elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
and began playing baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in junior high
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
for Matsudo Senior.
2002 to 2003
Wakui went on to YokohamaYokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
Senior High School, the alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of current Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
and a baseball powerhouse that had sent more players to the pros
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
than any other high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Japan except PL Gakuen Senior High. There, he played in the 75th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament
National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament
The National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament of Japan, commonly known as "Spring Kōshien" or "Senbatsu" , is an annual high school baseball tournament....
in alongside then-ace and current Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
left-hander Yoshihisa Naruse
Yoshihisa Naruse
Yoshihisa Naruse is a Japanese baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball. He made his debut in the 2006 season.. In 2007, Naruse had his best season as a professional in his short career...
(who was a year
Calendar year
Generally speaking, a calendar year begins on the New Year's Day of the given calendar system and ends on the day before the following New Year's Day. By convention, a calendar year consists of a natural number of days. To reconcile the calendar year with an astronomical cycle , certain years...
older than Wakui) in the spring of his second year (the equivalent of eleventh grade
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...
in the United States). Wakui was chosen to start in the tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
finals
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
despite having pitched only in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
up until then, but gave up six runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in just 3 2/3 innings to Koryo High School, who, led by current Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
pitcher Kentaro Nishimura
Kentaro Nishimura
is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League.-External links:...
, won in a 15-3 rout.
Summer 2004
In , Wakui led his team to another berth in a national tournamentHigh school baseball in Japan
In Japan, high school baseball generally refers to the two annual baseball tournaments played by high schools nationwide culminating at a final showdown at Hanshin Kōshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan...
in his senior year
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, this time the 86th National High School Baseball Championship
National High School Baseball Championship
The National High School Baseball Championship of Japan, commonly known as "Summer Kōshien" , is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament...
held in the summer at Koshien Stadium
Koshien Stadium
is a baseball park located near Kobe in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The stadium was built to host the national high school baseball tournaments, and opened on April 1, 1924. It was the largest stadium in Asia at the time it was completed, with a capacity of 55,000.The name Kōshien comes...
. He pitched a 10-strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
in Yokohama Senior High's first-round match against Hotoku Gakuen High School; an 11-inning, 14-strikeout complete game shutout in a thrilling 1-0 win in extra innings
Extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
over Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School (an affiliate school of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
, also known as KUFS, is a foreign language university in Kyoto, Japan. KUFS specializes in 8 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Italian and Japanese.- Academic Departments :...
) in the second round; and a 12-strikeout complete game win over Meitoku Gijuku Senior High School in the third round, clocking speeds as high as 147 km/h (91 mph) with his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
. However, he was no match for Komazawa University Tomakomai High School in the quarter-finals, giving up 14 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and six runs (five earned
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
) and allowing second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Yuya Hayashi to hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
en rout to a 6-1 loss.
Fall 2004
In the Sainokuni Magokoro National Sports FestivalNational Sports Festival of Japan
is the national premier sports event of Japan. The abbreviated name is Kokutai . The 65th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in October 2010 in Chiba Prefecture.- Emperor's Cup and Empress Cup Champions :...
held that fall
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
, the last national tournament of his high school career, Wakui avenged his earlier loss against Tomakomai High by pitching a 14-strikeout complete game win in the first round. Yokohama Senior High went on to become the tournament champions.
Wakui was picked in the first round of the NPB amateur draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
by the Seibu Lions and later given the uniform number
Squad number
In team sports, the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, uniform number or simply a number is the number worn on a player's uniform, to identify and distinguish each player from others wearing the same or similar uniforms...
16. His repertoire at the time included a 148 km/h (92 mph) fastball and a hard slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
.
2005 to 2006
Wakui was named to the Lions' ichigun (Japanese equivalent of "major leagueSports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
") roster for their season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
opener in his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season , earning the first win of his professional career on June 18 in the last interleague game of the season against the Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
. However, he finished the year with just a 1-6 record
Pitchers of record
Pitcher of record is a baseball term that refers to a pitcher who is credited with the win or charged with the loss in a particular game. These pitchers are known respectively as the winning and losing pitchers and collectively as the pitchers of record; thus, there are always two pitchers of...
and a 7.32 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, giving up 11 home runs in 55 1/3 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
On March 26 , his first start of the season, Wakui earned a win against the Orix Buffaloes
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
with Ginjiro Sumitani
Ginjiro Sumitani
is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.-External links:...
behind the plate (an 18-year-old rookie catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
straight out of high school), marking the first time a pitcher and catcher both in their teens
Teen (disambiguation)
A teen or teenager is a person aged from puberty to maturity.Teen or teens may also refer to:* Teen , an American lifestyle magazine targeted at teens...
had won a game in Japanese professional baseball since Tadanori Ishii
Takuro Ishii
Takuro Ishii is a Japanese professional baseball player. He currently plays for Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
(now Takuro Ishii) and Motonobu Tanishige
Motonobu Tanishige
Motonobu Tanishige is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.-External links:...
accomplished the feat for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales in . The two combined for another win on April 23 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
The is a baseball team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten . The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties,...
, the first complete game win as well as the first shutout of Wakui's career.
Wakui finished his sophomore season with a respectable 12-8 record, 3.24 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 178 innings pitched. He went 3-1 in June, earning Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
honors for that month
Month
A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, which was first used and invented in Mesopotamia, as a natural period related to the motion of the Moon; month and Moon are cognates. The traditional concept arose with the cycle of moon phases; such months are synodic months and last approximately...
, and made his first All-Star Game
Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game
The Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game is an annual baseball game between players from the Central League and the Pacific League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
appearance via manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
selection.
2007
On April 3 , in the fifth inning of a regular season game against the Fukuoka SoftBank HawksFukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
, Wakui became just the 12th pitcher in NPB history to accomplish the unusual feat of striking out four batters in one inning.
He finished the season with a 17-10 record, leading the league in wins for the first time. He also led both Pacific and Central
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
leagues in innings pitched (213) and hits allowed (199) and came second to only Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
ace Yu Darvish
Yu Darvish
Yu Darvish is a Japanese starting pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.Darvish pitched in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a member of the Japanese national team...
in complete games (11).
That year, Wakui was named to the Japanese national team to play in the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship
2007 Asian Baseball Championship
The 24th Asian Baseball Championship was contested in Taichung, Taiwan in November and December 2007. The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Baseball Federation. The winner of the tournament will gain automatic entry into the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing...
(which also functioned as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
). He and fellow 21-year-old Darvish, who had both been chosen to the national team for the first time, were the youngest members of the team. Wakui started in the Japan's first game against the Philippines
Philippines national baseball team
The national baseball team of the Philippines represents the country and competes in international matches and tournaments. It is organized by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association....
and held them to just one hit over six shutout innings (Japan won the game 10-0 in seven innings as per the mercy rule
Mercy rule
A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule , brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team...
).
2008
In , Wakui was named the starter for the Lions' season opener for the first time in his career. He took the mound in their season opener against the Buffaloes on March 20, but incurred the loss despite throwing 140 pitches and holding the Buffaloes to two runs over eight innings.Wakui was selected to the national team to play in the Olympics, starting in the game against Chinese Taipei in the group stage on August 14 and holding them to one run over six innings in earning the win. He followed up the effort with a two-hit, complete game (seven innings due to mercy rule) shutout against China
China national baseball team
The China national baseball team is the national representative team of the People's Republic of China.-Olympic Games:China secured qualification to the 2008 Summer Olympics automatically as host nation, giving the country its first Olympics berth....
on August 19. However, he had a down year overall, going just 10-11 in the regular season and posting an ERA (3.90) and WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
(1.29) that were both worse than that of his 2007 season.
Nevertheless, Wakui took the hill in Game 1 and Game 5 of the Pacific League Climax Series (playoffs) against the Fighters, winning both starts and giving up just one run over 15 combined innings. In particular, he did not allow a single baserunner until two outs in the seventh inning in the latter game, finishing with a three-hit, complete game shutout and clinching a berth in the Japan Series
2008 Japan Series
The 2008 Japan Series was the 59th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff between the respective champions of the Central League's and the Pacific League's Climax Series . The Series began on Saturday, November 1, 2008, and went the full seven games...
for the Lions. He was named the Pacific League Climax Series MVP. He pitched in three games in the Japan Series
Japan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
, starting Game 1 and Game 5 and even coming on in relief in Game 7 on two day
Day
A day is a unit of time, commonly defined as an interval equal to 24 hours. It also can mean that portion of the full day during which a location is illuminated by the light of the sun...
s' rest to a key role in the Lions' championship (though he gave up six runs in 16 1/3 innings).
Wakui accepted the team's offer to change his uniform number from 16 to 18 during the off-season, a number that denotes the team's ace pitcher in Japan. The last player to wear the number for the Lions was Matsuzaka, who pitched for the team between and 2006. The number change also allowed teammate Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii is a Japanese former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions....
to change from #61(which he wore in 2008) to the #16 he wore for his entire career with the Yakult Swallows.
2009
Wakui was named to the national team to play in the 2009 World Baseball ClassicWorld Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
. He pitched in three games as a middle reliever
Middle relief pitcher
In baseball, middle relief pitchers are relief pitchers who commonly pitch in the 6th or 7th innings or in situations where several innings worth of work is required . In the National League, a middle reliever often comes in after the starting pitcher has been pulled for a pinch hitter...
, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and contributing to Japan's second consecutive tournament title. He carried over his performance into the regular season, going 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA in the month of April. In particular, he held the Marines to one run while going the distance in a 12-strikeout, complete game win on April 24, striking out every batter in the Marines' lineup at least once and recording at least one strikeout in every inning (the first time in league history that a pitcher had accomplished the two feats in the same game). He allowed just four hits en route to his first complete game shutout in two years on May 15 against the Marines.
Pitching style
Wakui is a 185 cm (6 ft 1 in), 85 kg (187.4 lb) right-handed pitcher with an overhand delivery. While his mechanics are well-balanced and mostly conventional, one unique trait in his delivery is how he completely straightens his left leg in a diagonal direction after raising it (and before dropping and driving towards the plate).Wakui throws an only average fastball, a mostly flat four-seamer
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
that usually sits at 140 to 146 km/h (87 to 90.7 mph) and tops out at 151 km/h (93.8 mph) (though it does have some late life due to its excellent backspin). However, he complements it with an extremely wide assortment of secondary pitches, including a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
, curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
, changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
and a good shuuto
Shuuto
The or shootball is a pitch commonly thrown by such right-handed Japanese pitchers such as Noboru Akiyama, Kenjiro Kawasaki, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Masumi Kuwata...
(two-seamer) with late movement. He also has excellent command, posting a walks per nine innings rate of 2.11 in 2007 and 2.65 in 2008.
Career statistics
| Nippon Professional Baseball | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Team | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | W% Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... |
GS Games started In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter... |
CG Complete game In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were... |
SHO | IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
R Run (baseball) In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured... |
ER Earned run In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run... |
HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
K Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
ERA Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
WHIP Walks plus hits per inning pitched In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base... |
LgERA |
| 18 | Seibu | 1 | 6 | .143 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 55.1 | 62 | 45 | 45 | 11 | 23 | 57 | 7.32 | 1.54 | 4.06 | |
| 19 | 12 | 8 | .600 | 26 | 8 | 1 | 178.0 | 161 | 79 | 64 | 16 | 53 | 136 | 3.24 | 1.20 | 3.62 | ||
| 20 | 17 | 10 | .630 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 213.0 | 199 | 71 | 66 | 14 | 50 | 141 | 2.79 | 1.17 | 3.57 | ||
| 21 | 10 | 11 | .476 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 173.0 | 173 | 80 | 75 | 16 | 51 | 122 | 3.90 | 1.29 | 3.90 | ||
| 22 | 16 | 6 | .727 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 211.2 | 162 | 57 | 54 | 12 | 76 | 199 | 2.30 | 1.12 | 4.03 | ||
| 23 | 14 | 8 | .636 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 196.1 | 191 | 85 | 80 | 21 | 54 | 154 | 3.67 | 1.25 | 3.94 | ||
| Career | 70 | 49 | .588 | 146 | 41 | 8 | 1027.1 | 948 | 417 | 384 | 90 | 307 | 809 | 3.36 | 1.22 | |||
Bold indicates league leader; statistics current as of May 16, 2011