Japanese pitcher Satoshi Iriki (56), who was a foreign player for the Doosan Bears, passed away in an unexpected car accident.
On the 11th, the Japanese professional baseball ‘Yakult Swallows’ expressed their condolences by announcing the news of Iriki’s death. Riki Iriki entered온라인바카라 Korea as the first Japanese pitcher in the KBO League, and in 2003, he played an all-weather role for the Doosan Bears.
In 1986, Riki Iriki, who started his career as a player at Mitsubishi Motors, a commercial baseball game, entered the professional league in 1989 when he was nominated by the Gindes Buffaloes. After that, he played at Yakult after going through Hiroshima and Yomiuri.
After leaving Yakult at the end of 2002, Riki Iriki turned his eyes abroad and signed a contract with the Doosan Bears to play in the KBO League. His league performance did his part with 7 wins, 11 losses, 5 saves, and an earned run average of 3.74 in 39 games (159 innings). In particular, it was impressive that he showed a good figure by going back and forth between starting and finishing whenever the team needed it.
After failing to renew his contract with Doosan, he signed a contract with the Taiwan Pro Baseball Lane Bears. And he announced his retirement as a player when he was notified of his release mid-season.
After his retirement, he served as a special commentator for the Korea-Japan match broadcast, but it is said that he suffered from hardships in life at one time as he could not adapt to work other than baseball. It is said that he worked as a caregiver until shortly before his death. Then, on the 10th, while driving, he collided with a car coming in the opposite direction and crashed into a field next to the road. He was then immediately taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead within two hours.
His younger brother, Yusaku Iriki, is also a former pitcher and currently serves as a pitching coach for the Orix Buffaloes. Both have a unique record of appearing in the 2001 NPB All-Star Game.