Riku Kikuchi

Riku Kikuchi (菊地 吏玖)

• Bats Right Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 205 lb.

• School Senshu University
• High School Sapporo Otani High School

• Born June 13, 2000 in Tomakomai, Hokkaido Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Riku Kikuchi has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Kikuchi represented Japan in the 2022 Haarlem Baseball Week, going 1-0 and pitching 8 shutout innings over 3 games; he beat Cuba's Pavel Hernandez. He tied for the event lead in appearances, tied Ruderly Manuel for 7th in IP and led in ERA. He was drafted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in the first round of the 2022 NPB draft after they lost the lottery for the rights to Kosei Shoji; the scout was Yoichi Fukuzawa. He only pitched one game in 2023 for the big club, then he notched 2 holds with a 2.25 ERA in 20 appearances in 2024.

Kikuchi's repertoire features a fastball that peaks at 94.4 mph, curveball, forkball and a slider.

Sources

• 2022 Haarlem Baseball Week
• Wiki Japan