Yuki Saito (baseball)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the Hiroshima Toyo Carp player, see Yuki Saito (NPB player).

Yuki Saito (斎藤佑樹, Saitō Yūki^?, born June 6, 1988), often referred to as the Handkerchief Prince (ハンカチ王子, Hankachi Ōji^?) or Yū-chan (佑ちゃん, Yū-chan^?), is a Japanese collegiate pitcher who plays in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League for Waseda University.^[1]

Saito is best known for leading Waseda Jitsugyo to a National High School Baseball Championship victory in 2006, and its ensuing media frenzy and sensationalism. Saito performed exceptionally, pitching 42 innings in the final 4 days, but the sensation that surrounded the pitcher was bolstered by media focus on a blue handkerchief he always used (the origin of his 'Prince Handkerchief' title) and popularity among women of all ages.^[2]

Saito has furthered his fame by becoming a vital part of Waseda University's baseball team which charged to Big6 and National Championships in the spring of 2007, immediately after his joining the university team. His subsequent participation in the 36th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series introduced America to Saito, and even fueled speculation of Saito following the footsteps of fellow countryman, Daisuke Matsuzaka. ^[3]

In the autumn session of the Tokyo Big6 League, he shined once again, amassing a 4-2 record in 8 starts with 3 complete games which included a complete game shutout over Keio University to clinch the title. In 57-2/3 innings of work he only gave up 6 earned runs for a paltry 0.78 ERA.^[4]^[5]