After an all-conference season at Seattle University, Japanese two-way player Kenny Ishikawa made the decision to transfer to Georgia for the 2026 college baseball season.
The Yokohama, Japan-native detailed what went into his decision and how Georgia head coach Wes Johnson was very willing to make it happen.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to stress too much about the portal,” Ishikawa said. “I gave myself a deadline of one week to make a decision. On day one, I got a call at night from UGA.”
The two-way prospect added: “I really liked how he [Johnson] talked to me. He had a clear plan for how I could develop as a two-way player at Georgia. I just liked the vibe, the feeling between me and Coach Johnson. So I made the decision and committed.”
This meeting between Ishikawa and Coach Johnson happened in the late hours of 10 p.m. in Seattle. Therefore, it was around 1 a.m. in Athens, Ga. This shows a true commitment between both parties.
Georgia Plans to Roll with Ishikawa in a Two-Way Player Role – Despite moving on to play baseball in the Southeastern Conference, Johnson and the Georgia Bulldogs plan to have Ishikawa play a two-way role next season. The Seattle University star reaffirmed this to World Baseball Network.
“I told them I wanted to be a full-time two-way player at Georgia,” Ishikawa said. “Coach Johnson said he has experience coaching guys like Paul Skenes and other two-way players, and that they’d have a specific plan to develop me on both sides.”
Ishikawa’s All-Conference Season at Seattle in 2025 – Ishikawa was a great two-way player with Seattle University in 2025. He made 10 starts on the mound and had a 4.35 ERA in 70 1/3 innings of work.
He was also great at the plate, with a .312 batting average, 23 doubles, eight home runs, and 32 RBI.
This great season led to Ishikawa being named first-team All-WAC.
The two-way player went over his 2025 season and what went right for him.
“The Seattle U. coaching staff just let me have fun,” Ishikawa said. “I got to pitch, I got to hit. They really gave me freedom, which helped me grow on my own. It was just a really good environment. I had a great time there.”
Photo: Seattle’s Kenny Ishikawa waits for a pitch during an at-bat during an NCAA baseball game against against Pacific on Saturday March 1, 2025, in Bellevue. Pacific won the game 6-1. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
