Riku Watanabe

{{Infobox NPB player

| name = Riku Watanabe

| image = Riku_Watanabe_Hawks_20240910.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption =

| position = Catcher

| team = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

| number = 00

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|24}}

| birth_place = Nishihara, Kumamoto, Japan

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = NPB

| debutdate = May 24

| debutyear = 2022

| debutteam = Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

| statyear = 2023 season

| statleague = NPB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .273

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 3

| stat3label = RBI

| stat3value = 9

| stat4label = Hits

| stat4value = 9

| stat5label = Stolen base

| stat5value =

| stat6label = Sacrifice bunt

| stat6value =

| teams =

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ({{npby|2019}}–present)

| awards =

|medaltemplates=

}}

{{Nihongo|Riku Watanabe|渡邉陸|Watanabe Riku|born September 24, 2000}} is a Japanese professional baseball Catcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Professional career

On October 25, 2018, Watanabe was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks as a developmental player in the 2018 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nsp/item/n/465072/|title=Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトB育成ドラ1の渡辺に指名あいさつ|language=ja-JP|work=Nishinippon Shimbun|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=November 3, 2022}}In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under control (roster of players), each team can have developmental players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management within the 3 year contract period (Non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).

In 2019–2021 season, he played in informal matches against the Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's second league.

August 30, 2021, he re-signed a ¥6 million contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control.{{cite web|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2021/08/30/kiji/20210830s00001173403000c.html|title=Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンク・渡辺陸が支配下登録「期限ギリギリでほっとした」|language=ja-JP|work=Sports Nippon|date=August 30, 2021|access-date=November 3, 2022}}

On May 24, 2022, Watanabe made his First League debut in the Interleague play (NPB) against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.{{cite web|url=https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nsp/item/n/928561/|title=Nishinippon Sports baseball news 渡辺、甲斐の代打でプロ初出場「いろんなことを吸収」|language=ja-JP|work=Nishinippon Shimbun|date=May 24, 2022|accessdate=November 3, 2022}} On May 28, he played as a starting member in the match against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and recorded his first Home run.{{cite web|url=https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nsp/item/n/930904/|title=Nishinippon Sports baseball news 育成出身バッテリー大活躍渡辺陸プロ初弾から2打席連発5打点大関4勝目|language=ja-JP|work=Nishinippon Shimbun|date=May 28, 2022|accessdate=November 3, 2022}} In 2022 season, he finished the regular season in 20 games with a batting average of .273, a 3 home runs and a RBI of 9.

In 2023 season, Watanabe played in 79 games in the Western League, but never had a chance to play in the Pacific League.{{cite news|url=https://nishispo.nishinippon.co.jp/article/800182|title=Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク渡辺陸20万円ダウンの830万円で更改 1軍で昨季3本塁打も今季出場なし「自分自身に期待していた…悔しい」|language=ja-JP|newspaper=Nishinippon Shimbun|date=November 8, 2023|accessdate=December 15, 2023}}

References

External links

[https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/93195138.html Career statistics - NPB.jp]
[https://www.softbankhawks.co.jp/team/player/detail/2024_00001482.html?lang=en 79 Riku Watanabe PLAYERS2024] - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks players

Category:Japanese baseball players

Category:Nippon Professional Baseball catchers

Category:Baseball people from Kumamoto Prefecture