Dodgers Team News

Japan’s Best Current Pitcher in NPB Spotted Wearing Full Dodgers Gear

Another superstar Japanese-born pitcher is hinting at a future with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Since the departure of Roki Sasaki, right-hander Hiroto Takahashi is considered Nippon Professional Baseball’s best pitcher. 

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Like the trio of Japanese-born Dodgers players, Takahashi represented Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The then-20-year-old struck out seven-time NL All-Star Paul Goldschmidt and nine-time AL Silver Slugger Mike Trout in the championship game of the tournament.

Takahashi was seen practicing in Dodgers gear via an X post on Saturday, suggesting a potential future in Los Angeles.

Takahashi will turn 23 in August and will be eligible to play in the Major Leagues after the 2027 season. Conveniently for Takahashi, this will be the same offseason Tyler Glasnow and Freddie Freeman’s contracts expire. 

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Takahashi is also a major fan of Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In addition to playing together in 2023 on Team Japan, the pair trained together last offseason. 

“His pitching skill, his pitching style, everything – I think he’s the best pitcher that I’ve ever seen in my life,” Takahashi said to MLB.com’s Michael Clair. “I’m trying to take away anything that I can, steal everything from Yoshinobu.”

His fastball garnered attention after it hit 98.2 mph in July 2022 and set a new franchise record for the Chunichi Dragons. 

He also relies on a split-finger pitch, resembling Yamamoto’s pitching style. 

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Takahashi had the best season of his career in 2024. He held a 15-5 record while logging a career-best 1.30 ERA and 152 strikeouts across 172.2 innings.

The Dodgers will probably always be in the conversation for Japanese-born players. But, Takahashi’s admiration for Yamamoto may be the final push to convince him to join forces with the Dodgers.

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Sam Garcia

Samantha is a third-year transfer student at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Professional Writing.

2 Comments

  1. The CBA will be ending by the time he gets posted in 2027, so Dodgers are no sure thing anymore, there is talk about a lock out if the rest of mlb teams get their way.

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