​Ryoya Kurihara joined Fukuoka Softbank as the 2nd draft pick in 2014. In his 12th professional season this year, he established himself as the cleanup hitter in May and had a massive performance, recording 11 Home Runs in a single month. On July 1st, he hit his 22nd, quickly surpassing his career high, and currently has 37 Home Runs and 110 RBI, nearly securing two league titles.

He is on the verge of becoming the first left-handed hitter for the club to hit 40 Home Runs in a season since Nobuhiko Matsunaka in 2005. While Kurihara has a strong image as a mid-range hitter, why has he been able to produce so many home runs this season?

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First, to improve slugging power, it is important to increase the number of batted balls with an angle. Of course, a pop fly that goes over the infielder's head will not result in a long hit, so it is necessary to increase the number of outfield flies.

Ryoya Kurihara originally recorded a high percentage of outfield flies, but this season it is 52.7%, which is more than 10 points higher than the league average. Among the Pacific League players who reached the regulation number of plate appearances, only two players, Kurihara and his teammate Kensuke Kondo (51.5%), have exceeded 50%.

Both swing power and stability have improved.

To increase Home Runs, it is necessary not only to increase outfield fly balls but also to hit them further. This table shows the average distance of outfield fly balls categorized by hitting direction and the distinction between fastballs and breaking balls.

First, regarding fastballs, it is worth noting that balls pulled to the right have extended significantly compared to last season. Furthermore, for breaking balls, the distance has improved in all directions, and the overall average of 96.1m is almost the same figure as for fastballs. Kurihara's swing this season achieves both the strength to not be overpowered by ball speed and the stability to not be disrupted by movement.

An increase in home runs toward the center fielder and left field directions.

Looking at the direction of the Home Runs actually hit, home runs in directions other than pulling were limited to two each in 2024 and 2025, but this season they have significantly increased to 14. It was the first time in five seasons, since hitting four in 2021, that a shot was hit toward left field.

Regarding the factors behind the increase in home runs, Kurihara himself said when he received the Outstanding Player Award during the interleague games, "I think the most important thing is that I have a good swing path and am able to use my body well." It is not that he changed his batting style with the opposite field in mind, but rather that by further improving the quality of the swing he has cultivated so far, he has become able to hit large drives across the entire field.

He doesn't care even if it's a ball outside the strike zone.

Finally, I would like to introduce one more piece of data that symbolizes a "good swing." He has hit 7 home run on pitches outside the strike zone so far, ranking top in the league, closer than Chiba Lotte Marines' Koki Yamaguchi and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham's Reyes. The way he effortlessly carries a pitch outside the zone into the stands is truly worthy of being called a slugger.

Although there were games in August where he was moved down the batting order due to a slump, Kurihara showed a sudden recovery after returning to the cleanup spot on August 16. The "Mr. September" who contributed to league championships by winning the monthly MVP for September and October for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025 will once again wield a fierce bat in this autumn of competition.

*All figures in the text and tables are as of the end of September 14, 2026.

Text by Data Stadium