Haruto Takahashi

Influenced by his older brother, Haruto played softball at an early age, then played little league baseball for the Nishina Shonen Baseball Club in his hometown in Shizuoka.[2]。

He entered Tokoha University Tachibana Integrated High, where doubling as a pitcher and right fielder, he helped his school win the national junior high softball tournament.[3] In his 2nd year in high school, he pitched as a reliever in the 2012 Summer Koshien, but his team lost in the 1st round.[4] The next year, despite declaring his intentions to become a professional baseball player after graduation, none of the teams drafted him, so he entered Asia University in Tokyo instead.[5] He became a regular starter as his team participated in the Tohto University Baseball League, and even made it all the way to the Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship Tournament in 2016.[6]

He was the Tiger's 2nd round pick during the 2017 professional draft.[3] He signed a 70 million yen contract with Hanshin, for an estimated annual salary of 12 million yen.[7] He was assigned jersey number 29.[5]

2018

The coaches made him undergo strength training during spring camp to improve his weak pitching arm as they've seen its potential.[8] Shortly into the season, he was given the opportunity to debut as the starter for the April 11 match against the Carps. He pitched seven shutout innings and allowed only 2 hits and no runs, earning him his first career win. This victory made him the first Hanshin rookie pitcher in 6 decades to win his debut match in Koshien Stadium (since Minoru Murayama won against the Swallows in April 1959).[9] Despite his starts having wider rest intervals than the team's other starting pitchers due to his weak arm, his continuous starts took its toll in June, prompting the coaches to stop him from pitching any further before his arm gets worse. His season ended with a 2–3 win loss record, and a 3.63 ERA.[10]

With three quarters delivery, he throws a four-seam fastball as his main pitch, coupled with a slider, cutter, an occasional change up, and also a two-seam fastball.[6] Despite his weak arm, his fastest pitch was clocked at 151 km/h (94 mph).[11]

• NPB Statistics

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)