With the Dodgers signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto this off season, the question is who will take his spot as the top pitcher in the NPB. I asked this question to long time analyst, Yakyu Cosmopolitan, who replied, “besides the obvious Roki Sasaki there are four others”.
I have written a couple of articles on Sasaki already and, with today’s article, will be writing about the other four as well to introduce you to them.
Hiroto Takahashi is a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher who plays for the Chunichi Dragons and was part of the 2023 WBC Japan team. Takahashi is linked to having been mentored by Yamamoto and his pitching style is very similar. Reports say he has the stuff to be a “Bonafide ace” featuring a quality 80 mph split finger, a high 90’s fastball, combined with the ability to develop a few more pitches.
On July 7, 2022, Hiroto set a club record for fastest pitch thrown at 98.2 MPH, and, with 2 full seasons in the NPB under his belt, he has posted some decent stats.
WL% .351 / ERA 2.50 / SHO 1 / IP 301 / allow 14 HR / SO 279 / WHIP 1.146
In the WBC Hiroto pitched against USA and threw a scoreless inning.
He faced Mookie Betts who hit an infield single, then struck out Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt, gave up a hit to Nolan Arenado, before getting Kyle Schwarber to fly out to escape any runs scored.
According to reports, Takahashi created a significant buzz among scouts who used the phrase “nasty” to describe his pitching in the WBC.
There is a buzz around the recent Japanese pitchers that have landed in the MLB, like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga most recently. Especially for those, like Takahashi, who played in the WBC and have faced Major League hitters. Takahashi has shown that he can get Major League hitters out, but only in a very small sample size, so he is one I am looking forward to following as he progresses in the 2024 NPB season.
For Dodgers Daily, I’m Mike Salas
