Kazuhisa Makita

Kazuhisa Makita (牧田 和久, Makita Kazuhisa, born November 10, 1984) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Saitama Seibu Lions of NPB and for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Kazuhisa Makita
Makita with the San Diego Padres
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles – No. 22
Pitcher
Born: (1984-11-10) November 10, 1984
Yaizu, Japan
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: 2011, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
MLB: March 30, 2018, for the San Diego Padres
NPB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Win–loss record53–49
Earned run average2.83
Strikeouts514
Saves25
Holds54
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average5.40
Strikeouts37
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
2015 WBSC Premier12
2015 Tokyo Team

Career

Japan

Makita played collegiately at Heisei Kokusai University but was not drafted out college. He went on to play for Nippon Express in the Japanese industrial leagues for several years after college before being selected by the Saitama Seibu Lions with their second pick in the 2010 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft.[1]

Makita played seven seasons with the Saitama Seibu Lions, compiling a career 2.83 earned run average (ERA) with 514 strikeouts and 206 walks in 921⅓ innings.[2] Makita was named the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 2011 after recording 22 saves and a 2.61 ERA in 55 appearances.[3] Makita was also named a NPB All-Star in 2011 and 2013.

San Diego Padres

On December 1, 2017, the Lions announced that they would be posting Makita to be made available to MLB teams before the end of the month.[4] On January 6, 2018, Makita signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres.[5] He made 27 appearances on the season, registering an ERA of 5.40 in 35 innings. Makita had his contract selected by the Padres on June 17, 2019, but was designated for assignment the next day without making an appearance for the club. He elected free agency on October 1.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

On November 26, 2019, Makita signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[6][7]

International Career

Makita played for the Japan national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series,[8] 2015 exhibition series against Europe,[9] 2015 WBSC Premier12,[10] and 2017 World Baseball Classic as a relief pitcher.[11]

In 2014, Makita was one of four pitchers who combined to throw a no-hitter for Samurai Japan against a team of Major League players in the MLB-Japan All-Star Series at the Tokyo Dome.[12]

Playing style

With an unconventional submarine delivery, Makita throws a fastball which sits at 80 mph (tops out at 84-85 mph), a sinker (shuuto), a slider, and a curveball.[13] Makita's pace is very quick; he took approximately eight seconds between pitches in 2016, making him the fastest-working pitcher in NPB that season.[1]

References
  1. Sypa, Steve (November 20, 2017). "International Free Agent Profile: Kazuhisa Makita". Amazin' Avenue. SB Nation. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  2. "Kazuhisa Makita Career Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  3. "Makita wins 2011 Pacific League Rookie of the Year". Baseball-Reference Bullpen. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  4. Trezza, Joe (December 1, 2017). "Kazuhisa Makita to be posted for MLB teams". MLB.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  5. "Padres sign Kazuhisa Makita to a two-year contract". MLB.com. January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  6. "牧田 和久選手 入団基本合意に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス 公式サイト (in Japanese). November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  7. Jeff Todd (November 26, 2019). "Kazuhisa Makita Signs With Rakuten Golden Eagles". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. "選手一覧". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 9, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  9. "欧州代表戦、侍ジャパン出場選手発表！6選手が小久保体制下で初招集". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). January 16, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  10. "「WBSC プレミア12」侍ジャパントップチーム最終ロースター28名発表！！". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 9, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  11. BaseballAmerica.com: Majors: International Affairs: World Baseball Classic: Preliminary Rosters For 2013 World Baseball Classic
  12. Coskrey, Jason (15 November 2014). "Norimoto, three relievers toss combined no-hitter against MLB All-Stars". The Japan Times. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  13. 変化球ラーニング シンカー編 牧田和久、『Weekly Baseball』2011 No.26、BASEBALL MAGAZINE SHA Co.,Ltd、P.30-31。
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