Yoshinori Sato tops out at 158km/h
by Gen on Jul.29, 2010 @ 11:49 pm, under NPB
Yoshinori Sato topped out at 158km/h tonight (twice) and tied the Japanese player speed gun record. He also became the youngest Japanese pitcher to hit the mark.
Yoshinori hit 158km/h in the first and third innings; Jun Hirose was in the batter's box both times; 6th pitch to Hirose in the first inning and 4th pitch to Hirose in the third inning; both pitches were balls.
Yoshinori also finished the night with his first complete game of his career.
Other young players that have hit 158km/h (out of a total of eight): Hideki Irabu when he pitched for Lotte and was 23 years and 11 months; Kazuo Yamaguchi when he pitched for Orix and was 28 years and 2 months; Ryota Igarashi when he pitched for Yakult and was 25 years and 0 months.
NOTE: post updated with additional information about the two pitches. Other players to hit 158k/m were also added.



