Satoshi Iriki, the first Japanese player to sign a contract after the KBO League foreign player system was introduced, passed away in a car accident. He is 56 years old.
Japanese media such as Sankei Sports and Daily Sports reported on the 11th, “Iriki died in a traffic accident in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan on the night of the 10th.”
Riki Iriki was selected by the Kintetsu Buffaloes with the 6th pick in the 1989 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft after passing through professional baseball, and started his professional career in 1990.
After that, he went through the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Yomiuri Giants, and Yakult Swallows, and recorded 35 wins, 30 losses, 2 saves메이저놀이터, and an earned run average of 5.25 in 214 Japanese professional baseball games.
In 2003, he moved to the Doosan Bears, and he left his name as the first Japanese player since the KBO League introduced the foreign player system in 1998.
Iriki pitched in 39 games (20 starting games) for Doosan, recording 7 wins and 11 losses, 5 saves and an average ERA of 3.74, but failed to renew the contract.
Moving to Taiwan in 2004, he played one more season for La New Bears before retiring from his active career.
Iriki’s younger brother is Yusaku Iriki, coach of the Orix Buffaloes, and the two once garnered attention by playing together in Yomiuri.