Nishikawa played 136 games for Lotte in 2026, collecting 155 hits with a .290 average and .353 on-base percentage. He added 28 doubles, eight homers and 53 RBI. Availability and reaching base define the season, with further extra-base impact an enticing next step.
Updated 2026-11-10Nishikawa came through Ryukoku University Heian High School and Aoyama Gakuin University before Lotte selected him in the first round in 2024. His first top-level professional season in 2025 included 108 games and 444 plate appearances. He hit .281 with 117 hits, including 27 doubles, establishing value beyond home-run totals.
Beyond his three rookie-year homers, doubles and triples provided extra-base value. Moving from Aoyama Gakuin University to Lotte, he quickly received more than four hundred plate appearances and became involved in regular outfield and lineup work, rather than waiting for isolated pinch-hitting opportunities.
Five straight first-inning hits and an eight-pitcher relay carried Japan past Hiroshima 5–1. Hiroto Takahashi worked two scoreless innings, while Koki Yamaguchi drove in the opening run.
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