Haruki Nishikawa
| Haruki Nishikawa | |
|---|---|
Nishikawa with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters | |
| Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – No. 7 | |
| Infielder / Outfielder | |
| Born: April 16, 1992 Wakayama Prefecture, Japan | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| NPB debut | |
| March 30, 2012, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| NPB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .271 |
| Hits | 1,426 |
| Home runs | 63 |
| Runs batted in | 452 |
| Stolen Bases | 343 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Haruki Nishikawa (西川 遥輝, Nishikawa Haruki; born April 16, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder and outfielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Career
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters selected Nishikawa in the second round of the 2010 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]
On March 30, 2012, Nishikawa made his NPB debut as a pinch runner against the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Nishikawa hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2016 Japan Series, which Nishikawa would go on to win.[2]
On February 27, 2019, Nishikawa was selected for the first time for Japan national baseball team at the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico.[3]
In 2020, Nishikawa hit .296/.419/.388 with 5 home runs, 15 doubles, and 3 triples to go along with 37 stolen bases. After the 2020 season, on December 3, 2020, the Fighters announced it was allowing Nishikawa to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).[4] On January 3, 2021, Nishikawa failed to secure a deal with any of the MLB teams.[5] Nishikawa became a free agent following the 2021 season.[6]
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
On December 22, 2021, Nishikawa signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.[7]
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
On November 17, 2023, Nishikawa signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.[8]
Nishikawa made 49 appearances for Yakult in 2025, batting .174/.280/.217 with six RBI and one stolen base. On September 29, 2025, the Swallows announced that they would be releasing Nishikawa.[9]
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (second stint)
In November 2025, Nishikawa signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.[10]
References
- ^ "北海道日本ハムファイターズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ Coskrey, Jason (October 27, 2016). "Late-game heroics propel Fighters to brink of Japan Series title: Haruki Nishikawa slugs game-winning grand slam in ninth inning". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ "ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019「日本 vs メキシコ」に出場するメンバー28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
- ^ "西川遥輝選手のポスティングシステム申請手続きについて". 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "日本ハム、西川遥輝のポスティング不成立を発表 メジャー移籍は叶わず". Full-Count (in Japanese). January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "Pay attention to the trends of players who have acquired FA rights Hanshin Umeno, Hiroshima Ohsera & Guri, Takachiga, etc. What will happen !? | Full-Count". 15 November 2021.
- ^ "西川 遥輝選手 入団基本合意に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ^ "選手の獲得について | ニュース | 東京ヤクルトスワローズ". 東京ヤクルトスワローズ公式サイト Tokyo Yakult Swallows (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ 木下大輔. "【日本ハム】西川遥輝「最後に野球やるとしたら…」16年日本一メンバーの５年ぶり復帰が正式決定 - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-03.