Former Hiroshima Carp player Ryutaro Hatsuki sparked widespread controversy across Nippon Professional Baseball during a May 28 TikTok livestream in which he made a series of allegations involving drug use, bullying, and internal divisions within the organization.
During the offseason, Hatsuki was arrested for violating Japan’s pharmaceuticals and medical devices law after using etomidate, a designated drug commonly referred to as “zombie cigarettes” when consumed through a vape. The Carp released him on February 25, and he later received a sentence of one year of imprisonment, suspended for three years.
A native of Miyazaki Prefecture, Hatsuki was selected by Hiroshima in the seventh round of the 2018 NPB Draft. He appeared with the top team in parts of six seasons, batting .243/.299/.318 across 453 plate appearances.
Hatsuki enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025, posting a .295 batting average, a 119 OPS+, and 17 stolen bases in 64 games. After splitting time between second and third base, the 26-year-old appeared set to become a regular in Hiroshima’s infield in 2026 before his arrest abruptly ended his NPB career.
“There is a lot of speculation about the situation, so I want to tell everyone the truth in my own words,” Hatsuki said at the start of his livestream.
During the 12-minute broadcast, Hatsuki claimed that five other Hiroshima players had also purchased etomidate. He had previously testified in court that other Carp players around him had used the substance, but the livestream marked the first time he publicly gave a specific number.
Hiroshima has said it is conducting an internal investigation and cooperating with police, but will not publicly respond to every allegation made online. Even if Hatsuki’s claims are accurate, reports have indicated that legal action against other players would be difficult without supporting physical evidence.
Hatsuki said he obtained the drug from an individual connected to several players but not directly employed in professional baseball. That person has reportedly already been taken into custody in Tokyo.
Hatsuki also alleged that he became isolated within the team after his relationship with a senior teammate deteriorated. According to his account, the Carp still have an old-school “Showa-era-esque culture,” and there was a period when he was treated as an outcast in the clubhouse.
His most serious claim involved an incident that allegedly occurred after he fell asleep while drinking. Hatsuki said a senior player heated a fork with a lighter and pressed it against his neck, leaving a scar.
Sources familiar with the organization have described a strict seniority culture in which younger players are traditionally expected to follow the instructions of veterans. Unreasonable demands and harsh teasing have sometimes been dismissed as jokes or accepted as part of Japanese team culture.
Similar issues have previously surfaced elsewhere in NPB. The most notable example came when pitcher Tomohiro Anraku was released by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2023 following allegations of harassment and abusive behavior toward younger teammates.
Hatsuki apologized to fans during the initial livestream and has continued to broadcast regularly on TikTok in recent weeks, saying he hopes to rebuild his life and eventually regain the public’s trust.
Online reaction remains divided over whether Hatsuki deserves support, and his allegations remain largely unverified. Still, the situation has clearly grown into a much larger controversy than it initially appeared, adding further turmoil for a Carp team already struggling with a 20-31-3 record so far this season.
Photo: Former Hiroshima Carp player Ryutaro Hatsuki sparked widespread controversy across Nippon Professional Baseball during a May 28 TikTok livestream in which he made a series of allegations involving drug use, bullying, and internal divisions within the organization. (Still captured from YouTube Video)
