Japanese baseball players Yuki Karikawa and Nobuyoshi Yamada announce retirement

Two prominent Japanese professional baseball players have announced their retirement at the end of the current season.

Yuki Karikawa of the Chiba Lotte Marines will retire after a 19-year career with the club. A first-round draft pick in 2007, Karikawa transitioned from a starting pitcher who contributed to a Japan Series championship to a reliable set-up man. He recorded 82 career wins, highlighted by a career-high 12 wins in 2011 and a strong performance in 2024. A retirement ceremony is scheduled for October 3 at ZOZO Marine Stadium.

Nobuyoshi Yamada of the Orix Buffaloes is also retiring after 17 seasons. Yamada, known for his resilience after undergoing Tommy John surgery, achieved a professional tie for the most monthly appearances in August 2018 with 18 games. Over his career, he appeared in 328 games, recording 14 wins and 78 holds. The club is expected to hold a farewell ceremony for him during the final home game on September 26.