Overview
The Sawamura Award, established in 1947, is NPB's most prestigious pitching honor named after Eiji Sawamura, a legendary fastball pitcher who was killed in World War II. The selection criteria include seven benchmarks: 25+ games started, 10+ complete games, 15+ wins, .600+ winning percentage, 200+ innings pitched, 150+ strikeouts, and a sub-2.50 ERA. Masaichi Kaneda and Shigeru Sugishita share the record for most wins at three each. As modern pitching has shifted toward bullpen specialization, fewer pitchers achieve 10 complete games or 200 innings, leading to more years with no recipient. Since 2014, the selection committee has moved away from strict adherence to the criteria, instead making holistic evaluations. In 2022, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix) won the award for a third consecutive year, cementing his status as the era's dominant ace. Unlike league-specific awards, the Sawamura Award is given to the single best starting pitcher across both the Central and Pacific Leagues.