Was the No. 1 overall pick when the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles won his rights in October 2013...Was a member of the Team Japan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and was teammates with Yu Darvish on the 2023 Japan WBC championship team...when he signed with the Padres, Matsui noted that a big part of his decision to sign with San Diego was that countryman Yu Darvish is the Padres' ace...Preceded is first official media scrum of Spring Training with an 95-second opening statement in which he spoke in English and Spanish. Matsui began by saying, ¡°Hello everyone. My name is Yuki Matsui. Hola. ?Qu¨¦ onda todos? Me nombre es Yuki Matsui. You can call me Yuki, Mat, Mats, whatever." He closed by addressing San Diegans: ¡°Lastly, to San Diego and all Padres fans, nice to meet you. Mucho gusto. I promise you that I will always give my best to bring you joy with my pitches. My family and I are so glad to be a part of this beautiful city. So we would be very happy if you give us a warm welcome. Thank you very much. Muchas gracias.
2023
In his 10th season for the Tohuku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), posted a 1.57 ERA (10 ER, 57.1 IP) with a career-best 39 saves, 0.89 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 59 appearances...Set a career high in SO/BB ratio with a 5.54 mark (72 SO against 13 BB)...bested his previous-high of a 4.46 SO/BB ratio in 2019...Recorded an ERA under 2.00 for the third consecutive season (1.92 in '22 and 0.63 in '21) while compiling 95 saves with a 1.42 cumulative ERA (24 ER, 152.0 IP) over that stretch...It was also his sixth total season with a sub-2.00 ERA...also: 2015 (0.87), 2017 (1.20) and 2019 (1.94)...His 0.89 WHIP marked his second-best mark in a season, trailing just his 0.77 WHIP he had the previous season in 2022...Pitched for the Gold Medal-winning Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
2022
In 53 appearances in his ninth season for the Golden Eagles, owned a 1-3 record with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA (11 ER, 51.2 IP)...It was his second consecutive season posting a sub-2.00 ERA, after owning a 0.63 ERA in 2021. ? Struck out 83 batters with just 19 walks allowed...his 83 punchouts were his most in a season since his 107 strikeouts in 2019...Set a career high in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched at 14.5, besting his previous best of 13.8 SO/9 IP in 2019...also set a career-best in WHIP (0.77).
2021
Owned a career-best 0.63 ERA (3 ER, 43.0 IP) with just one home run allowed in his 43 appearances...Besides his 2014 rookie season (27 appearances) and his 2020 season (25 appearances), his 43 appearances in 2021 were the fewest he made in a single season in his career...Marked his only winless season, posting an 0-2 record in 43 appearances...also faced just 172 batters, the fewest in a season in his career.
2020
His 25 appearances in 2020 with Rakuten were his fewest in a single season in his career, and he went 4-5 with just two saves and a 3.18 ERA (24 ER, 68.0 IP)...Matsui's two saves were the second-fewest he had in a campaign, ahead of just his save-less rookie 2014 season...His 286 batters faced also ranked second most to just his 504 batters faced in his rookie 2014 campaign...2014 was the only season he worked as a starter (made 17 starts and 10 relief appearances in 2014).
2019
Appeared in 68 games, going 2-8 with 38 saves and a career-high-tying 12 holds (also 2015) and a 1.94 ERA (15 ER, 69.2 IP)...Posted his third-career 100+ strikeout season (also: 126 in 2014 and 103 in 2015), fanning 107 of his 271 batters faced...Allowed a career-high five home runs, which was later matched in his 2020 season.
2018
In his fifth season in the NPB in 2018, went 5-8 with 11 holds and a 3.65 ERA in 53 appearances for Rakuten...his 72.2 innings of work were his third most in a season in his career, behind just his 85.0 IP and 136.1 IP in 2014.
2017
In 2017, fanned just 62 batters in 214 batters faced... posted a 1.20 ERA (7 ER, 52.2 IP) and a 3-3 record in 52 appearances...his 33 saves at the time tied his 33 in 2015 for his most in a single season.
2016
In his third season in 2016, logged a 3.32 ERA and 1-4 record in 58 appearances for the Golden Eagles
2015
Made 63 appearances with a 0.87 ERA in 2015 in his sophomore season logging 33 saves, 12 holds and 103 strikeouts
2014
Made his professional debut in 2014, going 4-8 with a 3.80 ERA (49 ER, 116.0 IP) across 27 appearances (17 starts)...his 17 starts in 2014 would be the only starts of his career.
