Swallows pitcher Masanori Ishikawa retiring with no regrets after 25 seasons
Ishikawa won 188 games for the Swallows, the only team he played for during his pro career.
The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) announced that 46-year-old Yakult Swallows pitcher Masanori Ishikawa will retire at the end of the current season. A source with knowledge of the situation revealed this information on Wednesday.
Ishikawa has dedicated his entire professional career to the Swallows, having made his debut in 2002. Throughout his tenure, he has compiled 188 career wins and holds a notable record in Japanese professional baseball. In April of last year, he achieved a remarkable feat by winning a game in 24 consecutive seasons.
Standing at only 167 centimeters, Ishikawa was known for his exceptional command and pitching guile. He recorded double-digit wins in a season a total of 11 times, including a streak of five consecutive years from his rookie season. In 2002, he was honored as the Central League's Rookie of the Year, and in 2008, he claimed the ERA title.
Despite playing in only five games over the past three seasons through 2025, Ishikawa made his lone appearance this year on August 27th against the Yomiuri Giants. However, he was forced to leave the game after just three innings due to shoulder pain.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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