Originally tweeted by 阪神タイガース (@TigersDreamlink) on August 31, 2020.
Multiple sources, including the Hanshin Tigers official social media accounts, are reporting that longtime ace closer Kyuji Fujikawa (40) has expressed his desire to retire at season’s end. He has a 1-3 record on the season with 2 saves and a 7.20 ERA. Fujikawa has twice been deactivated from the top squad roster, and says his body is experiencing pain and it is becoming harder and harder to get through seasons.
Apparently, he made this known to the club in mid-August, and he may require surgery on his shoulder. However, he is still supposedly working towards being able to come back at some point during the 2020 season.
Fujikawa was the Tigers’ first-round draft pick in 1999 and has appeared in 777 games with the Tigers over 19 years, going 60-38 with 243 saves. He also has 2 MLB saves with the Chicago Cubs, which leaves him 5 short of admission into the meikyukai.
He has not had an official press conference, but H-TEN will update you when he does.
In the meantime, here’s a famous Kyuji moment. He basically told the biggest slugger at the all-star game, Alex Cabrera, that he was coming at him with all heaters. The result:
小笠原の時もえぐいよなー
Originally tweeted by 高 山 📖 み や も ん 🍎 ◢⁴⁶ (@kazumon0913) on August 31, 2020.