Suguru Iwazaki

File:Kokushi Iwasaki.JPG

Suguru is a native of Shimizu, Shizuoka.{{Cite news|title=父の教えで小学校では水泳部 阪神ドラ６岩崎は遅咲き強心臓左腕 |work=Sports Nippon |date=2014-01-11|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2014/01/11/kiji/K20140111007362470.html|accessdate=2014-05-12}} During his younger years, his mother who was an active member of the local softball team, assigned him to assist in picking up balls during her teams' practices. This eventually led to his interest in baseball.

He joined the school's softball team when he entered Shimizu Municipal Junior High School. Even though he entered Shimizu Higashi High School which is a school known for producing notable football players, he still declared his wish to join its baseball team.

He entered Kokushi University and participated in the Tohto University Baseball League,{{cite news|title=ドラ６岩崎、母校を"野球の清水東"に|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/tigers/2013/11/02/0006466129.shtml| publisher=Daily Sports|date=2013-11-02|accessdate=2013-11-02}} mostly as a relief pitcher up to his second year.[http://www.k2.dion.ne.jp/~k-bbc/history.html 国士舘大学野球部 – 戦歴] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095445/http://www.k2.dion.ne.jp/~k-bbc/history.html |date=2014-10-06 }}{{cite news|title=〔プロ野球ドラフト〕岩崎、阪神６位指名 |url=http://www.at-s.com/sports/detail/828833053.html |work=Shizuoka Shimbun |publisher=The Shizuoka Shimbun and Shizuoka Broadcasting System|date=2013-10-25 |accessdate=2014-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103100336/http://www.at-s.com/sports/detail/828833053.html|archive-date=2013-11-03}} He recorded an overall ERA of 0.94 during his 3rd year, the League's second best. For his senior's thesis, he broke down the advantages and disadvantages of left and right-handed pitchers.{{cite news|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/tigers/2014/01/15/0006637413.shtml|title=ドラ６岩崎は秀才左腕！卒論で投手分析 |publisher=Daily Sports|date=2014-01-15}}

Despite his coach's recommendations for him to play in the industrial leagues after graduation, he still opted to join the 2013 NPB draft.{{Cite news|title=「いわさき」じゃないぞ！岩崎、新人一番乗りお立ち台宣言|newspaper=Sports Nippon |date=2013-12-24 |url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2013/12/24/kiji/K20131224007260690.html|accessdate=2014-05-12}}。

Iwazaki was the Hanshin Tigers' sixth pick during the 2013 autumn draft.{{Cite news |title=虎・中尾スカウト独占激白!「他選手見るつもりが岩崎に驚いた」(1/3ページ) |newspaper=Sankei Sports |date=2014-07-06 |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140706/tig14070605000004-n1.html |accessdate=2014-07-06}} The Tigers originally intended to pick only five players during the draft, but upon the advice of Takayoshi Nakao, a scout for the Tigers who has been following Iwazaki since his junior year in Kokushi, they added him to their roster.{{Cite news |title=虎・中尾スカウト独占激白!「他選手見るつもりが岩崎に驚いた」(2/3ページ) |newspaper=Sankei Sports |date=2014-07-06 |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140706/tig14070605000004-n2.html |access-date=2014-07-06}}

2014

He started the March 9 exhibition game with the Yomiuri Giants at Koshien. He pitched in ni-gun (farm) games afterwards. During the March 23 Western League game with the Orix Buffaloes, he pitched 6 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, and earned his first victory.{{cite news|title=阪神・岩崎、公式戦初登板で初勝利も「全体的にボール高かった」| url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140324/tig14032403210002-n1.html| publisher=Sankei Sports| date=2014-03-24| access-date=2014-03-30}}

He debuted as the starting pitcher on the April 2 Dragons match, where he pitched 5 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk, while striking out three batters. The Tigers scored 15-0 that day, giving him his first win on his first official match as a starter,{{Cite news|title=阪神、連敗ストッパーは初登板の岩崎|newspaper=Daily Sports|date=2014-04-02|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/tigers/2014/04/02/0006831353.shtml|accessdate=2014-04-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402150822/http://daily.co.jp/newsflash/tigers/2014/04/02/0006831353.shtml|archive-date=2014-04-02}} the 8th rookie to do so in franchise history. He joined Masahide Higasa (Chunichi, 7th-round draft pick in 1995) as the only pitchers drafted in the sixth round or later to record a victory in their first outing on their first year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/p-bb-tp0-20140403-1279554.html|title=岩崎、初登板１勝ドラ６新人ダメ虎変えた|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=2014-04-03}} Hanshin commemorated this feat by producing 99 serialized photo panels of Iwazaki that went on sale from April 8 for 16,200 yen (Hanshin rookie goods normally sell below 10,000 yen).{{cite news|title=阪神岩崎異例の新人高額グッズ発売に恐縮|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/p-bb-tp0-20140408-1282254.html|work=Nikkan Sports |date=2014-04-08|accessdate=2014-04-08}} He was given the 100th panel with serial number 67 – his jersey number.

He won another game against the Dragons on April 24.{{cite news|title=阪神岩崎ドラ斬り2勝、内角攻め7回0封|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/p-bb-tp0-20140425-1290356.html|work=Nikkan Sports|date=2014-04-25|accessdate=2014-07-05}} He formed a battery with fellow rookie Ryutaro Umeno on May 7, the first time since both rookies Yuya Ando and Ryo Asai started an official game in 2002.{{cite news|title=阪神12年ぶり岩崎－梅野の新人バッテリー|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/f-bb-tp0-20140507-1297448.html|work=Nikkan Sports|date=2014-05-07|accessdate=2014-05-07}} But he earned his first loss that day when he gave up 6 runs, and the Tigers lost 0–7 to the Dragons.{{cite news|title=阪神岩崎5回途中6失点…2戦連続KO|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/f-bb-tp0-20140507-1297407.html|work=Nikkan Sports|date=2014-05-07|accessdate=2014-05-07}} He went for five more starts without securing a win until July 5, where he pitched 131 throws with Umeno in 7 shutout innings against the Baystars.{{cite news|title=岩崎プロ最多131球熱投!「ホームだけは踏ませないと」|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2014/07/05/kiji/K20140705008509870.html|publisher=Sports Nippon|date=2014-07-05|accessdate=2014-07-05}} This was the first time in 31 years that a Hanshin rookie battery won an official game since rookies Susumu Mikoshiba and Katsuhiko Kido did so in 1983.{{cite news|title=和田監督「俺入る前」新人バッテリー勝利|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/f-bb-tp0-20140705-1329434.html|work=Nikkan Sports|date=2014-07-05|accessdate=2014-07-05}}

After a bad outing with Hiroshima, he was removed from the register on July 26 and spent about a month in the farms.{{Cite news |title=阪神D6・岩崎、先発へ意気込み「低めを意識してがんばります」 |newspaper=Sankei Sports |date=2014-09-04 |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140904/tig14090405000004-n1.html |accessdate=2014-10-08}} He returned on September 4, and recorded his first home victory at Koshien against the Baystars.{{Cite news |title=甲子園初星や!阪神・岩崎、8奪Kで61日ぶり4勝!! |newspaper=Sankei Sports |date=2014-09-05 |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140905/tig14090505030003-n1.html |access-date=2014-10-08}} He again won on his next outing against the Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium.{{Cite news |title=岩崎、鬼門で踏ん張った!虎史上初のD6位男が5勝目!! |newspaper=Sankei Sports |date=2014-09-16 |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140916/tig14091605020010-n1.html |access-date=2014-10-08}}

He finished the season with 5 wins and 4 losses, with an ERA of 3.50. With this, he became the first Hanshin rookie drafted as 6th pick to record 5 wins in his first year and season.

On November 21, he was given a raise of 8.4 million yen for an annual salary of 15 million yen for the 2015 season.{{cite news |title=岩崎"下克上"今季虎新人最高アップ率|newspaper=Daily Sports|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/tigers/2014/11/22/0007523593.shtml|date=2014-11-21|access-date=2014-11-22}}

2015

He started the season as part of the starting rotation, but after a few rocky starts and failing to record a win in 7 games, he was sent back to the farm to improve his pitch control. He continued to appear in the Western League games, and on July 12, he earned a complete victory against Orix when only gave up 1 run in 9 innings.{{cite news |title=阪神岩崎「スタミナをつけないと」2軍でプロ初完投|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1506077.html|date=2015-07-12|accessdate=2015-10-10}} He was called back to the main squad and took the mound on August 9 against the Baystars to record his first win of the season. He won his next two starts, and had more quality starts in September but failed to record the win due to lack of early run support.{{cite news |title=阪神、好投岩崎を見殺し…初回の満塁機生かせず零敗|newspaper=Sports Nipponン|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2015/09/06/kiji/K20150906011080600.html|date=2015-09-06|accessdate=2015-10-10}} He finished the season at 3-10 with a 3.51 ERA in 15 outings. He also pitched in relief during the 1st stage of the post-season playoffs. Despite his loss record, he earned a 5 million yen annual pay raise, bringing his total salary for the next year to 20 million yen .{{cite news |title=阪神・岩崎、500万円増で更改 3勝10敗も「内容を評価」|newspaper=Sports Nippon|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2015/09/06/kiji/K20150906011080600.html|date=2015-11-18|accessdate=2015-11-18}}

2016

He spent the first few months in the farm as he suffered from back problems.{{cite news |title=阪神岩崎ブルペンも背中に張り、開幕ローテ争い脱落|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1614851.html|date=2016-03-10|accessdate=2016-11-14}} He took the mound on May 21 against the Carps, and made it to August with 18 starts (3-5). But as the bullpen started to lose left-handed relievers due to injuries, Iwazaki was tasked to pitch in relief from September until the season ended.{{cite news |title=阪神岩崎、V方程式入りへ度胸満点投球「すごい球」|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1716669.html|date=2016-09-28|accessdate=2016-11-14}} As he seemed to have adjusted to the role with ease, management decided post-season to permanently switch him as a middle reliever.{{cite news |title=阪神岩崎、来季中継ぎ起用決定的 金本監督進化求む|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1729868.html|date=2016-10-27|accessdate=2016-11-14}}

2017

He started the season as a mainstay reliever, and together with Kentaro Kuwahara, Akifumi Takahashi and Marcos Mateo, they served as the setup men for the team's main closer Rafael Dolis.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20170821/tig17082105010016-n1.html|title=阪神・岩崎、クセ者を三者三振!「3人で終われて良かったです」|newspaper=Sankei Sports|date=2017-08-21}} Except for one pitching blip on September 18 where he left the mound after walking 2 consecutive batters without getting a single out which ultimately cost the game, he pitched in 66 solid outings (2nd most in the team) and finished the season with 4 wins, 1 loss, 15 holds and a 2.39 ERA. Together with Kuwahara, Takahashi, Mateo and Dolis, they made the Tigers become the first team in NPB history to have five pitchers reach sixty or more appearances in the same season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/201709280000029.html?Page=2|title=阪神ＣＳへＭ１ 史上初！藤川ら６投手50試合登板|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=2017-09-28}} With this, he received a 20 million yen pay raise post-season, bringing his annual salary to 45 million yen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/201712060000473.html|title=阪神岩崎2000万円増 中継ぎで「1年回れた」|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=2017-12-06}}

2018

Even though their bullpen was short of southpaw starters, Hanshin still opted to use Iwazaki mainly as a reliever throughout the season. He fared slightly worse than 2017 and finished 1-3 with 10 holds and a lower ERA of 4.94. In spite of this, he received a 5 million raise and brought his annual pay to 50 million yen.

2019

Despite suffering from left elbow pain early in the season, he brought his A-game in all his outings starting April 12.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20190413/tig19041305000006-n1.html |title=阪神、秋山抹消し岩崎が昇格|newspaper=Sankei Sports |date= 2019-04-13}} He was however removed from the roster on May 4 when he contracted Influenza A.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20190505/tig19050505010002-n1.html |title= 阪神・岩貞＆岩崎がインフル抹消…高橋遥が５日緊急先発|newspaper=Sankei Sports |date= 2019-05-05}} To make things worse, he also suffered from lower back pain so he did not return to the mound until June 19.{{Cite news|url=https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/13155|title= 記者泣かせの"ソルティー"岩崎優 現状に満足しない男の秘めたる思い|publisher= Bunshun Online|date= 2019-08-17}} Afterwards, he continued to pitch well, and was assigned more play time when Dolis went into a slump in July. From July 26 to August 24, he did not give up a single run in all of his 14 appearances.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2019/09/03/kiji/20190903s00001173031000c.html |title= 阪神「ファンが選ぶ月間MVP」8月は岩崎優、中継ぎで抜群の安定感|publisher=Sports Nippon|date= 2019-09-03}} When the Tigers and Carps were battling for 3rd in the last few games of the season, he also went all out to notch 0.64 ERA in 13 consecutive games which proved instrumental in Hanshin's advance into the rankings and post-season playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://baseballking.jp/ns/column/204778ml|title=ミラクルCS進出の阪神 "下剋上"のキーマン・岩崎優|accessdate=2019-10-04|date=2019-09-03|website=BASEBALL KING|language=ja-JP}} Despite having less outings compared to 2018, he finished stronger with 3 wins, no losses, 26 holds and a personal best of 1.01 ERA. He was particularly effective against the Baystars lineup where no one managed to score a run against him in all of his 10 outings with them. With his excellent performance in the playoffs taken into account, he received a 30 million pay raise bringing his annual salary to 80 million yen, and making this his 6th consecutive year to receive a pay raise.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2019/12/06/kiji/20191206s00001173287000c.html|title=阪神 岩崎、3000万円増の8000万円で更改 48試合登板でCS進出貢献「来年は優勝したい」|accessdate=2019-12-06|date=2019-12-06|website=スポーツニッポン|language=ja-JP}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/201912060000442.html|title=阪神岩崎3000万円増「真のセットアッパーに」|accessdate=2019-12-06|date=2019-12-06|website=日刊スポーツ|language=ja-JP}}

2020

He injured his right foot during spring training and was not scheduled to be with the main squad for the season opener.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2020/05/20/kiji/20200519s00001173491000c.html |title=阪神・岩崎 甲子園練習に合流 痛めた右足問題なし「練習の強度を上げていく」|date=2020-05-20 |publisher=Sports Nippon |language=ja-JP}} But due to the season being delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, he recovered in time to pitch in relief on his 29th birthday during the opening card with the Giants (June 19), which he unfortunately lost after giving up 2 runs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.daily.co.jp/tigers/2020/06/19/0013438489.shtml |title=阪神・矢野監督 逆転負けに「オレの責任」岩崎誤算、ボーアも打てず |accessdate=2020-09-03 |date=2020-06-19 |website=Daily Sports |language=ja-JP}} He redeemed himself in July when he notched a 0.84 ERA in 11 outings, but experienced tightness in his left elbow that inevitably got him sent back to the farms later that month.{{Cite web |url=https://www.daily.co.jp/tigers/2020/07/26/0013544194.shtml |title=阪神 岩崎抹消…セットアッパー痛恨の離脱 中継ぎ陣緊急事態、故障者続発 |accessdate=2020-09-03 |date=2020-07-26 |website=Daily Sports |language=ja-JP}} He returned and had a couple of bad outings in August, but pitched 18 consecutive scoreless outings all the way until the end of October.{{Cite web|url= https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202010300001106.html|title= 阪神岩崎18試合連続無失点「次も抑えられるよう」|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=2020-10-30}} He also experienced being a closer for the first time on September 3 to give the main closer Suarez a break, and earned his first career save when he maintained the 1-point lead against the Swallows in Koshien.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2020/09/03/kiji/20200903s00001173485000c.html |title=阪神・岩崎 プロ初セーブで藤川の凄み痛感「ここでは言い表せないぐらいのものが」 |date=2020-09-03 |publisher=Sports Nippon |language=ja-JP}} He finished 5-2 with 17 holds and 2 saves in 41 outings, and a 1.82 ERA. With this performance, he once more earned a 15 million raise which brought his annual salary to 95 million yen, and made this his 7th consecutive year to receive a pay raise. {{Cite web| title = 阪神岩崎７年連続増9500万 能見の活動引き継ぐ | url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202012170000282.html |newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=2020-12-17}}

With a three-quarters delivery, his fastest pitch was clocked at {{Convert|149|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1818387.html|title=阪神岩崎149キロストレートで満塁ピンチ断つ|publisher=Nikkan Sports|date=2017-05-05}} With almost exactly the same form, he can throw fastballs, breaking balls such as sliders and curves, and forkballs for changeups.{{cite news|title=2013年ドラフト 岩崎 優|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/npb/2013/draft/profile/iwasaki-suguru.html|publisher=Sports Nippon|date=2013-11-01|accessdate=2013-11-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104064029/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/npb/2013/draft/profile/iwasaki-suguru.html|archive-date=2013-11-04}} His unique delivery makes it difficult for the batters to assess the origin of the pitch, and his balls to have a later release point. Upon seeing him pitch for the first time, 2nd squad manager Katsuo Hirata and pitching coach Takashi Yamaguchi praised his abilities and compared him to fellow lefty Yoshihisa Naruse of the Chiba Lotte Marines who was also a 6th pick in the rookie draft.{{cite news|title=岩崎を首脳陣が称賛！「成瀬みたい」|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/tigers/2014/01/20/0006649067.shtml|publisher=Daily Sports|date=2014-01-20|accessdate=2014-02-02}}

When Iwazaki was in grade school, his father wanted to prioritize the proper development of his shoulders so he was made to join the swimming club. He practiced all types of swimming styles that enabled him to train his legs, and at the same time, improved the flexibility of his arms and shoulders. Breaststroke was his forte.{{cite news|title=阪神ドラフト6位ルーキー岩崎5回無失点の好投|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/f-bb-tp0-20140402-1279426.html|work=Nikkan Sports|date=2014-04-02|accessdate=2014-04-02}}

He entered the 2013 draft but did not expect to be picked by any team because very few scouts came to check out his games. So after watching the first few rounds of the draft, he turned the TV off and just played computer games in his room. When a high school friend called to congratulate him for being drafted, he thought he was being pranked so he didn't believe it at first.{{cite news|url=http://column.sp.baseball.findfriends.jp/?pid=column_detail&id=046-20181105-10 |title=阪神・岩崎優投手「まさか指名されるとは……」ドラフト会議| publisher= Weekly Baseball ONLINE 2018-10-25}}

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