Hanshin's Nishi Yuki retires after 18 years, citing knee injury and desire for full effort

Nishi Yuki, a 35-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers, announced his retirement at the end of the 2026 season on September 24. The veteran pitcher emphasized his commitment to playing with 100% effort until the final game, citing a right knee injury sustained in April 2025 as a factor in his decision.

Nishi underwent a medical diagnosis of degenerative change in the medial collateral ligament of his right knee, which affected his pitching mechanics and consistency. Despite earning his first win in 617 days on April 30 against the Yakult Swallows, he struggled to maintain his previous form throughout the season. He formally decided to retire in June 2026 and informed the team and related parties by July.

During his 18-year professional career, Nishi compiled 127 wins and 113 losses across 351 appearances. He achieved 1,500 strikeouts on June 4 against the Seibu Lions, becoming the 61st player in NPB history to reach that milestone. Among his notable accomplishments was a no-hitter on October 8, 2012, against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks—the first by a Heisei-era pitcher. He also achieved victories against all 12 NPB teams, making him the 20th player to do so.

Nishi began his career with the Orix Buffaloes in 2008 as a third-round draft pick from Komono High School. He established himself in the starting rotation from 2011 onward, recording seven seasons with double-digit wins. In 2018, he exercised his free agency rights to join the Hanshin Tigers, where he served as a cornerstone of the starting rotation, particularly from 2019 to 2020 when he posted back-to-back 20-win seasons. He maintained the 306-game consecutive starting pitcher record (tied for second all-time) through September 3, 2026.

The Hanshin Tigers attempted to convince Nishi to continue playing, but his determination to retire remained firm. A retirement game is expected to be scheduled against the Hiroshima Carp in the extended schedule at Koshien Stadium. Nishi expressed no regrets about his career, describing all his memories as valuable and noting his satisfaction with the results he achieved despite entering professional baseball as a high school graduate.