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Ryoji Kuribayashi
Ryoji Kuribayashi
Hiroshima Toyo Carp – No. 20
	Pitcher
	Born: July 9, 1996 (age 28); Aisai, Aichi, Japan
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
NPB debut
	March 27, 2021, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Career statistics ; (through 2023 season)
Win–loss record	3–10
Earned run average	1.76
Strikeouts	191
Saves	86
Holds	21
Teams
	Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2021–present);
Career highlights and awards
	2021 Central League Rookie of the Year; 3× NPB All-Star (2021, 2022, 2024);
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing Japan
Summer Olympics
World Baseball Classic

Ryoji Kuribayashi (栗林良吏, Kuribayashi Ryōji, born July 9, 1996 in Aisai, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).^[1]^[2]

Professional career

Kuribayashi was selected by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp with the team's first selection in the 2020 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. He made his NPB debut on March 27, 2021, pitching a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts against the Chunichi Dragons. After recording a stellar 0.55 ERA in 33 appearances to begin the year, Kuribayashi was named an NPB All-Star for the first time in his career.^[3] In 2021, Kuribayashi recorded 37 saves with a 0.86 ERA in 53 games and claimed the Central League's Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2022, Kuribayashi pitched as a closer throughout the season and recorded 31 saves with a 1.49 ERA in 48 games.

On June 6, 2023, Kuribayashi pitched a scoreless seventh inning against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, earning his first win in NPB.^[4]

International career

Kuribayashi represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He pitched in five games and recorded 2 wins and 3 saves, contributing to Japan's gold medal in the Olympics.^[5]