Fumikazu Kimura

Japanese baseball player

Baseball player

Fumikazu Kimura
Kimura with the Saitama Seibu Lions
Outfielder
Born: (1988-09-13) September 13, 1988 (age 35) Tokyo, Japan
Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
August 31, 2007, for the Seibu Lions
Last NPB appearance
September 20, 2023, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
NPB statistics
Batting average	.213
Hits	326
Home runs	42
RBI	154
Stolen bases	53

Teams
Seibu Lions/Saitama Seibu Lions (2007–2021) Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2021–2023)

Fumikazu Kimura (木村文紀, born September 13, 1988) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Professional career

Saitama Seibu Lions

On November 21, 2006, Kimura was drafted by the Seibu Lions first overall pick high school draft in the 2006 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.

On August 31, 2007, he made his debut as a relief pitcher in the Pacific League against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

In the match against the Orix Buffaloes on July 31, 2011, Kimura pitched as a relief pitcher and became his first Winning pitcher.^[1]

In 2007-2012 season, he pitched 41 games in the Pacific League.

In 2013 season, Kimura converted from Pitcher to Outfielder.^[2] On May 23, 2013, Kimura recorded his first hit.^[3] And he recorded his first home run and RBI against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the Interleague play on May 28.^[4] He played in 11 games in the Pacific League.

In 2014 season, Kimura finished the regular season in 100 games with a batting average of .215, a 10 home runs, a RBI of 27, and a 16 stolen bases.

In 2015 season, he finished the regular season in 49 games with a batting average of .195, a 5 home runs, a RBI of 12, and a one stolen bases.

In 2016 season, he played only 28 games in the Pacific League.

In 2017 season, Kimura finished the regular season in 105 games with a batting average of .201, a 2 home runs, a RBI of 13, and a 7 stolen bases.

In 2018 season, he finished the regular season in 75 games with a batting average of .260, a 3 home runs, a RBI of 12, and a 7 stolen bases.

In 2019 season, Kimura finished the regular season in 130 games with a batting average of .220, a 10 home runs, a RBI of 38, and a 16 stolen bases.

In 2020 season, he finished the regular season in 90 games with a batting average of .231, a 8 home runs, a RBI of 33, and a 5 stolen bases.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

On August 12, 2021, Kimura and Ryusei Satoh was traded to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in exchange for Katsuhiko Kumon and Shota Hiranuma.^[5]

On September 20, 2023, Kimura announced his retirement and played in his final game against the Saitama Seibu Lions, his former team.^[6]

References

^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news ナベQ2世木村プロ1勝「長かった」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 1, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 「ナベQ2世」木村投手外野手転向". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 12, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【西武】野手転向木村、プロ初打席初安打". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 23, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 西武木村V1号！野手転向プロ3打席目弾". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 西武と日本ハムで2対2交換トレード木村、佐藤がハム、平沼、公文が西武". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ https://x.com/marinerds/status/1704415493204185382?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw ^{[bare URL]}