Yuki Saito (pitcher, born 1988)

Yuki Saito

Saito with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters – No. 18

Starting pitcher

Born: June 6, 1988 (age 28)
Nitta (part of the special city of Ōta), Gunma, Japan

Bats: Right-hande

Throws: Right

NPB debut

April 17, 2011, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

NPB statistics
(through 2016 season)

Win–loss record

14-20

Earned run average

4.02

Strikeouts

180

Teams

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2011–present)

Career highlights and awards

Collegiate baseball

Three-time Best Nine Award winner (Spring/Fall 2007, Fall 2008)
56th All-Japan University Baseball Championship Series Most Valuable Player (2007)

Last updated on: 17 May 2009

Collegiate baseball

Yuki Saito (斎藤佑樹, Saitō Yūki^?, born June 6, 1988 in Nitta, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese pitcher for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Saito rose to national stardom as a senior for Waseda Jitsugyo High School when he led the team to a title in the 88th National High School Baseball Championship in 2006. He was given the nickname The Handkerchief Prince (ハンカチ王子, Hankachi Ōji^?) by the Japanese media for his use of a handkerchief to wipe sweat from his face while on the mound and is also often referred to as Yū-chan (佑ちゃん, Yū-chan^?).

Saito was born in Nitta, a town in Gunma Prefecture that has since been incorporated into the larger city of Ōta. He began playing baseball in the first grade, following in the footsteps of his older brother, who as team captain would later lead Kiryū High School to the semi-finals of the regional Gunma Tournament of the National High School Baseball Championship.

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