Koichi Sekikawa

Summary

Koichi Sekikawa (関川 浩一, Sekikawa Kōichi, born April 1, 1969) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball Catcher, Outfielder, and current the field player coordinator for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1]

Koichi Sekikawa
Sekikawa with the Hanshin Tigers.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 019
Outfielder / Catcher / Coach
Born: (1969-04-01) April 1, 1969 (age 54)
Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
NPB debut
July 31, 1991, for the Hanshin Tigers
Last NPB appearance
October 4, 2007, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
NPB statistics
(through 2007)
Batting average.286
Home runs24
Hits1129
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards
Last updated on: 10 December 2023

He previously played for the Hanshin Tigers, the Chunichi Dragons, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[2]

Early baseball career edit

Sekikawa went on to Toin Gakuen High School and participated in 66rd Japanese High School Baseball Championship in the summer of his first year.[2]

He also entered Komazawa University, and twice won the Best Nine Award of the Tohto University Baseball League.[3]

Professional career edit

Active player era edit

Hanshin Tigers edit

On November 24, 1990, Sekikawa was drafted second round pick by the Hanshin Tigers in the 1990 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]

In the 1993 season, Sekikawa appeared in 89 games and became a regular catcher, and was the team's most played catcher until the 1995 season.[2][4] And he participated the All-Star Game for the first time in SANYO All-Star Game 1995.[4]

Sekikawa played eight seasons with the Tigers, but in the off-season of the 1997 season, he and Teruyoshi Kuji were traded to the Chunichi Dragons exchange to Yasuaki Taiho and Akihiro Yano.[5]

Chunichi Dragons edit

In 1998 season, Sekigawa finished the regular season in 125 games with a batting average of .285, a one home runs, and a RBI of 36.[2]

In 1999 season, He played in all 135 games of the season, setting career highs with a batting average of .330, a four home runs, a 20 stolen bases, and 60 RBIs, contributing to the team's Central League championship.[4] And he participated the All-Star Game for the second time in SANYO All-Star Game 1999.[6] He also won the Central League Best Nine Award.[2]

Sekikawa played seven seasons with the Dragons, but in the off-season of the 2004 season, he and Shinichiro Koyama were traded to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[7]

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles edit

In 2005 season, Sekikawa finished the regular season in 101 games with a batting average of .287, a 7 stolen bases, and a RBI of 12.[2]

He played three seasons with the Eagles before announcing his retirement during the 2007 off-season.[2]

Sekikawa played 17seasons, appearing in 1,408 games and a batting average of .286, a 1,129 hits, a 24 home runs, a RBI of 324, a 91 stolen bases, and a 101 sacrifice bunts.[2]

After retirement edit

After his retirement, Sekikawa was appointed as the first squad assistant hitting coach of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles since 2007 season.[8]

He served as the SK Wyverns's hitting coach during the 2010 season.[8]

Sekikawa again served as the outfield defense and base running coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the 2011 season.[8]

Sekikawa became the first squad outfield defense and base running coach for the Hanshin Tigers in the 2012 season, and served as their the first squad hitting coach from the 2013 season.[8][9]

On November 9, 2015, Sekikawa was appointed as the first squad field player general itinerant coach of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[8]

He served as the third squad manager in the 2018 season, the first squad hitting coach in the 2019 season, the third squad hitting and outfield defense base running coach in the 2020-2021 season, and the second squad hitting coach in the 2022 season.[10][11][12][13]

Sekikawa was transferred to the field player coordinator since the 2023 season.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2022/10/21 (金) プレスリリース 2023年コーチングスタッフについて". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 21, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Weekly Baseball online player data 関川浩一(せきかわこういち) 捕手 右投左打". Weekly Baseball online (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Komazawa University Baseball Club OB professional baseball player introduction OBプロ野球選手紹介". Komazawa University Baseball Club Official site (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Weekly Baseball online News & Columns 逆転野球人生 「自分は阪神をクビになった」と思った関川浩一がトレード先の中日で大活躍できた理由【逆転野球人生】". Weekly Baseball online (in Japanese). November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Chunichi Shimbun baseball news その時ファンは何を思ったか? 1997年・大豊、矢野トレード放出の衝撃". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  6. ^ "Asahi Shimbun baseball news オールスター第1戦 松坂、3回 5K 2失点!". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). July 24, 1999. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  7. ^ "Weekly Baseball online News & Columns 「分配ドラフト」で始まった楽天。エースの岩隈久志はトレードを経て"移籍"【プロ野球はみだし録】". Weekly Baseball online (in Japanese). December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2015/11/09 (月) プレスリリース 新入団コーチのお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 9, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  9. ^ "Chiba Lotte Marines team news 関川浩一氏のコーチ就任について 2011年10月31日更新". Hanshin Tigers Official site (in Japanese). October 31, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2017/11/09 (木) プレスリリース 2018年 コーチングスタッフについて". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 9, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2018/11/08 (木) プレスリリース コーチングスタッフ担当変更のお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 8, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2019/11/09 (土) プレスリリース 2020年 コーチングスタッフについて". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 9, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2021/11/01 (月) プレスリリース 2022年 コーチングスタッフについて". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 1, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2023.

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Career statistics - NPB.jp (in Japanese)
  • 019 Koichi Sekikawa PLAYERS2024 - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site