A pillar of two Pacific League teams… Looking back at the achievements of Torai Fushimi will be transferring to Hanshin Tigers
Pacific League Insight
2025.11.21(金) 11:00
On November 14th, it was announced that Torai Fushimi would be transferred from Hokkaido Nippon-Ham to Hanshin Tigers Tigers in a trade for pitcher Hiroya Shimamoto. Fushimi played in Pacific League from his professional debut until this season. We look back on his 13 seasons.
Returning from a serious injury, he contributed to Orix ‘s consecutive championships
Fushimi joined Orix as the third pick in the 2012 draft from Tokai University. He made his professional debut as defense on April 29, 2013, against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters during his rookie year. He recorded his first hit, doble to right-center field, in his first hit in the top of the ninth inning. On August 3, against Chiba Lotte, he hit his first professional Home Run, hitting a shot to the right-field pole off pitcher Naoya Masuda.
However, at the time, Orix had Hikaru Ito as their starting catcher. Looking at Fushimi’s performance in his first five seasons with the team, his most appearances were 20 games in his third year in 2015. In his sixth year as a pro in 2018, he played in 76 games and improved his batting average to .274, but he ruptured his Achilles tendon during a game in June 2019.
Despite suffering a serious injury, he made a remarkable comeback the following year, playing in 71 games and hitting six Home Run the most since turning pro. Then, in 2021 and 2022, Orix won back-to-back championships. In both seasons, Fushimi played the most games as catcher on the team. He contributed to the team’s second consecutive league championship and its first Japan Series title in 26 years.
Moving to his hometown of Hokkaido as a free agent… Leading the team as a veteran
In November 2022, he exercised his domestic free agent rights and transferred to Hokkaido Nippon-Ham. At the time, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters was aiming to bounce back from last place. In a team with many young players, Fushimi led the team with his skillful play like a veteran and acted as a moral pillar, inspiring the team.
He was a battery partner at Orix Fukuya Yamazaki The combination with pitcher, Fukuya Yamazaki He returned in 2024 after pitcher transferred to free agency. He was affectionately known as “Sachitora” by fans and gained popularity.
The previous year, he played in 88 games, the most of catcher on the team, but in 2024, thanks to the rise of Yua Tamiya, he only had a batting average of .242 in 62 games.
Now 35 years old and in his 13th year as a professional, he batted .241 Home Run in 64 games this season. His battery with pitcher Kota Tatsu Tatsu led the team to six consecutive wins since the start of the season, influencing the young right-hander’s progress. Furthermore, he won the “2025 Professional baseball Best Battery Award” established by the Sports Nippon newspaper, along with fellow Hokkaido native pitcher Hiromi Ito.
Will he be able to use his experience in Pacific League to his advantage at Hanshin Tigers?
His new home at Hanshin Tigers is home to two catcher in their 30s, starting catcher Seishiro Sakamoto and Ryutaro Umeno. In 2026, he will compete against experienced rivals, aiming to win Central League title for the second consecutive year and regain the title of Japan’s best. He will be putting his experience leading pitcher like pitcher Yamamoto, Hiroya Miyagi pitcher Hiromi Ito Ito, pitcher Fukuya pitcher to good use, and we look forward to seeing him in action in the vertical striped jersey.
Text by Ayako Kikuchi
AloJapan.com