Koki Yamaguchi
{{short description|Japanese baseball player}}
{{Infobox NPB player
|name=Koki Yamaguchi
|position=Outfielder, First Baseman
|team=Chiba Lotte Marines
|image=Yamaguchi.2022.jpg
|image_size=250px
|number=51
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|2000|8|18}}
|birth_place=Hirano-ku, Osaka, Japan
|statyear=2022 season
| stat1label = Batting average
| stat1value = .225
| stat2label = Hits
| stat2value = 118
| stat3label = Home runs
| stat3value = 25
| stat4label = Runs batted in
| stat4value = 77
| stat5label = Stolen base
| stat5value = 1
|teams=
- Chiba Lotte Marines ({{npby|2019}}–present)
}}
{{nihongo|Koki Yamaguchi|山口 航輝|Yamaguchi Kōki|extra=born August 8, 2000}} is a professional Japanese baseball player. Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NPB Draft from Meioh High School in Akita Prefecture, he plays outfield and first base for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Early career
Yamaguchi started for Meioh High School from his second year as a two-way player, batting cleanup as well as pitching. In 2017, Meioh advanced to the Summer Koshien tournament, losing in their first game. However, Yamaguchi was unable to pitch due to injury.{{Cite web|title=明桜27年ぶり勝利逃す 負傷の山口航輝登板できず - 高校野球 : 日刊スポーツ|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/highschool/news/1871619.html|access-date=2022-02-19|website=nikkansports.com|language=ja}} Yamaguchi served as Meioh's captain in his 3rd year, but Meioh was unable to return to Koshien after losing to Kosei Yoshida's Kanaashi Nogyo High School in the Akita final.{{Cite web|title=ロッテ4位、山口航輝が乗り越えた苦境 ライバル・輝星との再戦を楽しみに待つ|url=https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201811010002-spnavi|access-date=2022-02-19|website=スポーツナビ|language=ja}}
On October 25, 2018, Yamaguchi was drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 NPB draft by the Chiba Lotte Marines, signing for an annual salary of 5.6 million Japanese yen with a 40 million yen bonus. At the time he was drafted, Yamaguchi expressed interest in remaining a two-way player as a professional.{{Cite web|title=ロッテ４位山口、憧れ大谷目標に将来は二刀流目指す - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/201811150000322.html|access-date=2022-02-19|website=nikkansports.com|language=ja}}
After two years spent exclusively on the second squad, Yamaguchi made his career first squad debut on opening day, March 26, 2021, vs the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He started as the designated hitter for the game and batted 5th, recording his first career hit in the 5th inning vs Hawks starter Shuta Ishikawa.{{Cite web|title=2021年3月26日（金）千葉ロッテ vs 福岡ソフトバンク 一球速報｜千葉ロッテマリーンズ|url=https://www.marines.co.jp/gamelive/live/2021032601/index.html|access-date=2022-02-19|website=千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト|language=ja}} Yamaguchi appeared in 78 games in total his rookie season, posting a slash line of .207/.365/.294 with 9 home runs.{{Cite web|title=山口航輝 {{!}} 千葉ロッテマリーンズ {{!}} 選手|url=https://sp.baseball.findfriends.jp/player/山口航輝/|access-date=2022-02-19|website=週刊ベースボールONLINE|language=ja}}
Pacific League Record
In the 6th inning of Game 2 of the 2021 Pacific League Climax Series First Stage, Yamaguchi hit a solo homer off Rakuten Golden Eagles's Tomohiro Anraku, becoming the youngest player to hit a home run in a Pacific League Climax Series game at the age of 21 years and 2 months. The previous record holder was his teammate Hisanori Yasuda, who homered in the previous season's Pacific League Climax Series at the age of 21 years and 6 months.{{Cite web|title=ロッテ山口航輝パＣＳ最年少本塁打「とにかくみんなで大阪に行きたい！」 - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202111070000681.html|access-date=2022-02-19|website=nikkansports.com|language=ja}}
Personal life
Yamaguchi is married to former HKT48 member and entertainer Aika Ota on November 20, 2023.[https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202311200000280.html 山口航輝が結婚発表、元AKB48・HKT48多田愛佳と] Nikkan Sports 20 November 2023 On October 5, 2024, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby girl.{{Cite web |title=元AKB48・多田愛佳さんが第1子出産「尊い命に感謝し、家族で支え合いながら」 夫はロッテ山口航輝 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能 |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2024/10/05/kiji/20241005s00041000209000c.html |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=スポニチ Sponichi Annex |language=ja}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Chiba Lotte Marines roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaguchi, Koki}}
Category:Chiba Lotte Marines players
Category:Nippon Professional Baseball outfielders
Category:Japanese baseball players