Hiroto Takahashi
| Hiroto Takahashi 高橋 宏斗 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chunichi Dragons – No. 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: August 9, 2002 Owariasahi, Aichi, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2022, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB statistics (through 2025) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 33–32 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 2.32 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 547 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Hiroto Takahashi (高橋 宏斗, Takahashi Hiroto; born August 9, 2002) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Career
Chunichi Dragons
On 26 October 2020, Takahashi was selected by the Chunichi Dragons with their 1st pick at the 2020 NPB Draft.[1]
On 1 November, Takahashi signed a pre-contract with the Dragons guaranteeing a ¥100,000,000 sign-on bonus and a ¥16,000,000 yearly salary with ¥50,000,000 in incentives.[2]
On March 30, 2022, Takahashi made his professional debut against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as the starting pitcher. He pitched 5 innings and allowed 5 hits, 4 walks, and 4 earned runs, and was charged with a loss.[3][4] On April 7, Takahashi earned his first win against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, allowing 3 runs across 6 innings pitched.[5] On July 7, Takahashi struck out Taishi Ohta on a fastball that set a club record for the fastest pitch thrown by a Japanese pitcher, clocking in at 98.2 miles per hour (158 kilometers per hour) in a 0–0 tie against the BayStars.[6][7] On July 29, Takahashi was 5 outs away from a no-hitter against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, but gave up a single to Kaito Kozono in the 8th inning.[8]
International career
On January 26, 2023, Takahashi was selected to play in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Samurai Japan.[9] On March 10, he closed out the game in the 9th inning against South Korea, retiring all three batters faced.[10] However, on March 13, Takahashi gave up a home run to Alex Hall in the 9th inning against Australia. Japan won the game 7–1 nonetheless.[11] In the final on March 22 against the United States, Takahashi pitched in the 5th inning, retiring Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, and Kyle Schwarber after giving up a leadoff single to Mookie Betts.[12]
On October 9, 2024, Takahashi was selected to play in the 2024 WBSC Premier12.[13] On November 15, Takahashi gave up 7 hits and 2 runs across 4 innings pitched.[14] On November 21, Takahashi struck out 8 batters across 4 innings against the United States, which lead to praise from Team USA manager Mike Scioscia.[15]
On January 26, 2026, Takahashi was selected to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.[16]
References
- ^ "【ドラフト】中日が中京大中京高・高橋宏斗を１位一本釣り 根尾、石川昂に続き３年連続で地元のスター指名成功". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "竜1位・高橋宏斗、年俸1600万円の満額仮契約！「やっとスタートラインに立てた」宿敵G倒果たし「日本一の投手」に!!：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "【中日】高橋宏、プロ初マウンドほろ苦4失点にも希望…ラストイニング3人斬りにガッツポーズ出た：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "2022年3月30日 【公式戦】 試合結果 （中日vs横浜DeNA）". npb.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "中日が11得点快勝！４本塁打で勝率５割復帰 高橋宏はプロ初勝利/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "【中日】高橋宏、球団日本人最速158キロ、７イニング無失点９K！なのになのに…援護なく遠い勝ち星：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "達成なら4人目の快挙だった...高橋宏斗10代でのノーヒットノーラン、８回１死で断たれる【中日】：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "【侍ジャパン】中日・高橋宏斗、最年少２０歳でＷＢＣ選出「一つの目標としていた舞台…世界一に貢献」". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "最年少侍・高橋宏斗が即席クローザー！韓国打線3人斬りで鮮烈代表デビュー最速156キロ【WBC】：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "侍・高橋宏斗、被弾は反省も「チームが勝てたんで、そこは良かったです」プロ初の中1日登板【WBC】：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "侍J最年少の高橋宏斗がトラウトを空振り三振！2点リードのしびれる場面で登板【WBC決勝】：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ NPBエンタープライズ. "井端弘和監督がチェコ戦とプレミア12の出場28選手を発表 次回WBCまでの契約更新も発表される". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパンオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2024-11-15). "【プレミア12】侍ジャパン・高橋宏斗は4回7安打2失点 国際大会の雰囲気に飲まれる". サンスポ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "高橋宏斗の剛球を米国指揮官が太鼓判 4回8Kを絶賛…「十分に力を発揮した」". Full-Count（フルカウント） ― 野球ニュース・速報・コラム ― (in Japanese). 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "Japan names 8 MLB players to World Baseball Classic roster". MLB.com. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Dragons.jp Archived 2021-03-05 at the Wayback Machine