Harutomo Tsuji

Tsuji was born on August 11, 1994, in Komono, Mie Prefecture. He played baseball for the Komono High School. On October 25, 2012, he was selected by the Yomiuri Giants in the 2012 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.{{cite web|title=読売ジャイアンツ 選択選手一覧 | 2012年 プロ野球ドラフト会議 supported by TOSHIBA|url=https://draft.npb.jp/draft/2012/draftlist_g.html|website=npb.jp|access-date=15 October 2024|language=ja}}

In 2014 he was part of the Japanese team that won the silver medal at the 2014 U-21 Baseball World Cup.{{cite web|title=Japan - U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2014-u21-baseball-world-cup/teams/284|website=wbsc.org|access-date=15 October 2024}}{{cite web|title=Chinese Taipei defeat new world No. 1 Japan to capture 21U Baseball World Cup crown|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2014-u21-baseball-world-cup/news/chinese-taipei-defeat-new-world-no-1-japan-to-capture-21u-baseball-world-cup-crown|website=wbsc.org|date=16 November 2014|access-date=15 October 2024}}

Tsuji made his professional debut with the Giants on June 12, 2015, as a pinch runner. The next day, June 13, he played as a starter as third baseman and seven batter in the Giants lineup. In 2016 he played in 15 games, achieving his first professional hit on May 4 against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In 2017 he played 18 games.{{cite web|title=【巨人】辻、現役引退を決断　来季はアカデミー講師として「巨人に貢献したい」|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20181208-OHT1T50103.html?page=1|website=hochi.news|date=8 December 2018|access-date=15 October 2024|language=ja}}

In 2018, he suffered a right thigh strain. He played 66 game with the Giants minor league team and eight games with the major league team. On October 30, he was notified that he was no longer part of the team. He announced his retirement on December 8, citing his desire to remain with the Yomiuri Giants as a staff member.{{cite web|title=「来季に弾み」となる年が予期せぬ戦力外に　元巨人"由伸2世"の第2の人生と感謝|url=https://full-count.jp/2020/07/08/post824730/|website=Full-Count|date=8 July 2020|access-date=15 October 2024|language=ja}}

After retiring, he became a coach in the Giants Academy.

Tsuji transitioned from baseball to Baseball5, a simplified street version of baseball played with five players, using only a rubber ball and no bats or gloves. At first, he struggled with the difference in rules between baseball and Baseball 5. However, his teammate in the Japanese Baseball5 team Miu Tanaka stated: "As expected of a former professional, his defense is top-notch. He's extremely skilled at moving around."{{cite web|title=【ベースボール５】巨人が日本選手権で準優勝　辻東倫らが参加|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20240204-OHT1T51278.html?page=1|website=hochi.news|date=4 February 2024|access-date=15 October 2024|language=ja}}

Tsuji is a member of the Japan national Baseball5 team since March 2024, when he was selected as part of the Samurai Japan.{{cite web|title=TSUJI Harutomo | Baseball5|url=https://www.japan-baseball.jp/en/profile/202491005.html|website=japan-baseball.jp|access-date=15 October 2024}} He made his first appearance with the team at the 2024 Baseball5 Asia Cup held in Seoul, South Korea, where Japan won the gold medal. He was also part of the Japanese team that won the silver medal at the 2024 Baseball5 World Cup in Hong Kong. Tsuji was honored as part of the All Star Team of the tournament.{{cite web|title= Baseball5 World Cup 2024 Final Report - 8|url=https://static.wbsc.org/uploads/federations/0/documents/1ffdb8f8-6433-3f7a-915a-39de0700a5f1.pdf|publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation|date=12 October 2024|access-date=15 October 2024}}

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{{Yomiuri Giants 2012 Draft Picks}}

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Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball people from Mie Prefecture

Category:Japanese baseball players

Category:Nippon Professional Baseball infielders

Category:People from Komono

Category:Yomiuri Giants players