Hideki Kuriyama

Hideki Kuriyama
Hideki Kuriyama
	Kuriyama in 2023
	Outfielder / Manager
	Born: April 26, 1961 (age 62); Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
	Batted: Both Threw: Right
debut
	October 8, 1984, for the Yakult Swallows
Last appearance
	October 9, 1990, for the Yakult Swallows
Career statistics
Batting average	.279
Home runs	7
Hits	336
Managerial record (NPB)	684–672
Winning %	.504
Teams
	As player Yakult Swallows (1984–1990); As manager Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2012–2021); Japan (2023);
Career highlights and awards
	As Player Central League Golden Glove Award (1989); As Manager Japan Series champion (2016); Matsutaro Shoriki Award (2016);
Medals
Men's baseball
Manager for Japan
World Baseball Classic

Hideki Kuriyama (栗山英樹, Kuriyama Hideki, born April 26, 1961) is a Japanese former baseball manager and player. He managed the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball for ten seasons from 2012 to 2021, leading them to a Japan Series title in 2016. Kuriyama also managed for the Samurai Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, leading the national team to its third Classic title and the first since 2009.

Kuriyama also planned to be a teacher at Tokyo Gakugei University, but pursued a career in baseball instead, signing with the Yakult Swallows. His career came to a short end after an injury in 1990, and like other short careered baseball players, he pursued a career within sports media. He is also well known as the mentor of the two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who was drafted by the Fighters despite him wanting to pursue an MLB career instead.^[1]

Kuriyama retired from management following the 2023 World Baseball Classic.