Shugo Fujii

Shugo Fujii announced his retirement late last November after being released by the Baystars and failing to attract the interest of any other teams.  Fujii was a star pitcher in college at Waseda and was drafted in the second round by Yakult in the fall 1999 draft (aka the 2000 draft).

2011 BBM Legend Of Tokyo Big Six #082

2000 BBM #468

2001 was by far his best year.  After working in relief during his rookie season, he moved into the rotation in 2001 and ended up going 14-8 with a 3.17 ERA, leading the Central League in wins.  He made his first All Star team that season and played in the Nippon Series for the first time as the Swallows beat the Buffaloes four games to one.  He wrapped up the season pitching for the Japan National Team in the 2001 Baseball World Cup.

2001 BBM All Stars #A20

2001 BBM Nippon Series #S5

2002 BBM 1st Version #389

2002 BBM Japan National Team #11

 His numbers for 2002 actually look a little better than his number for 2001 although his win-loss record dropped to 10-9 as the Swallows failed to repeat.  He got injured in 2003, however, and underwent Tommy John surgery.  His first full season back in 2005 got him to the All Star team again, but it would be the last time.  Following a couple so-so seasons, he was traded to the Fighters following the 2007 season.

2002 Calbee #OP-1

2007 Konami Baseball Heroes 3 Black Edition #163

He spent two seasons with the Fighters, going 10-13.  His final appearance for the Fighters was his start in Game 5 of the 2009 Nippon Series against the Giants, throwing 7 shutout innings in a game ultimately won by the Giants in the bottom of the ninth.

2008 BBM 2nd Version #629

Following the 2009 season, Fujii became a free agent and signed with the team that had just defeated his team in the Nippon Series.

2010 BBM Rookie Edition #111

2011 BBM 1st Version #228

He switched teams one last time in 2012, heading for the Baystars as compensation for the Giants signing Shuichi Murata.  It looks like he pitched pretty effectively for them in 2012 & 2013 but he didn't make any appearances at the ichi-gun level in 2014.  He did get into 14 games with the ni-gun Baystars and it doesn't look like he pitched too badly there but the Baystars released him at the end of the season.

2013 BBM 2nd Version #667

2014 Front Runner Baystars Rookies & Young Stars #09