| Shota Takeda | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Takeda with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SSG Landers – No. 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: (1993-04-03)April 3, 1993 (age 32) Miyazaki,Miyazaki,Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
| July 7, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB statistics (through 2023 season) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 66-48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 858 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Shota Takeda (武田 翔太,Takeda Shota; born April 3, 1993) is aJapanese professionalbaseballpitcher for theFukuoka SoftBank Hawks ofNippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
On October 27, 2011, Takeda was drafted by theFukuoka SoftBank Hawks with the first overall pick in the2011 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]
On July 7, 2012, Takeda pitched his debut game against theHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters as astarting pitcher, and won the game for the first time in thePacific League.[2] He finished the 2012 season appearing in 11 games and posting a 8–1 record, 1.07 ERA, and 67 strikeouts across 67 innings. On November 20, he was honored with the 2012 Pacific League Excellent rookie award.[3]
In 2013, Takeda finished the regular season with 17 appearances, a 4–4 record, 3.48 ERA, and 56 strikeouts across 93 innings.
In 2014, Takeda developed pain in his right shoulder during spring camp and spent half of the year in rehabilitation. On August 6, he made his return from injury and pitched against theSaitama Seibu Lions.[4] He finished the regular season making 7 outings and logging a 3–3 record, 1.87 ERA, and 43 strikeouts in43+1⁄3 innings of work. On October 26, he started against theHanshin Tigers during theJapan Series, and recorded the win. Takeda was later honored with the 2014 Japan Series Excellent Player Award.[5]
On November 7, Takeda was selected as theJapan national baseball team for2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series.[6] On November 20, he pitched against the MLB All-Stars as a starting pitcher. He would record the win as Japan won for the first time in theMLB Japan All-Star Series.[7]
In 2015, Takeda finished the regular season appearing in 25 games and registering a 13–6 record, 3.17 ERA, and 163 strikeouts in164+2⁄3 innings pitched. On October 24, he pitched against theTokyo Yakult Swallows in the2015 Japan Series as the starting pitcher, and won the game. He was honored with the 2015 Japan Series Excellent Player Award for the second time in his career.[8]
In 2016, Takeda finished the regular season with 27 games pitched, a 14–8 record, 2.95 ERA, and 144 strikeouts across 183 innings.
On February 4, 2017, Takeda was selected to the Japan national baseball team for2017 World Baseball Classic.[9] On April 14, he developed inflammation in his right shoulder and spent time rehabilitating until the summer.[10] He finished the 2017 season with 13 appearances, a 6–4 record, 3.68 ERA, and 60 strikeouts in 71 innings of work. On October 31, Takeda started against theYokohama DeNA BayStars in the2017 Japan Series.
In 2018, Takeda finished the regular season with 27 appearances, a 4–9 record, 4.48 ERA, onesave, and 87 strikeouts across124+2⁄3 innings pitched. He additionally pitched as arelief pitcher against theHiroshima Toyo Carp in the2018 Japan Series.
In 2019, Takeda finished the regular season appearing in 32 contests, and posted a 5–3 record, 4.55 ERA, one save, and 70 strikeouts in 83 innings of work. He was also selected to the Japan Series roster in the2019 Japan Series.[11]
In theCOVID-19–affected 2020 season, Takeda pitched in only 7 contests, logging a 2–2 record, 6.48 ERA, and 23 strikeouts in 25 innings. The Hawks would go on to appear in the2020 Japan Series against theYomiuri Giants.[12]
In 2021, Takeda began the year pitching out of Fukuoka's rotation, but developedtenosynovitis in his right hand during an interleague game and spent the remainder of the season in rehabilitation.[13] In 12 games, he had logged a 4–5 record, 2.68 ERA, and 73 strikeouts across77+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Takeda began the 2022 season on the injured list withenthesitis of thelatissimus dorsi muscle before being activated in July. He would return to the injured list in August with inflammation of the ligaments in his right elbow.[14][15] He finished the regular season making 10 appearances for the Hawks and pitching to a 2–1 record, 2.57 ERA, and 34 strikeouts across 28 innings of work. In 2023, Takeda made 29 appearances for Fukuoka, registering a 1–2 record, 3.91 ERA, and 38 strikeouts across 46 innings pitched.
On April 9, 2024, Takeda underwentTommy John surgery, prematurely ending his season.[16]
On October 9, Takeda was selected as the Japan national baseball team for2015 WBSC Premier12.[17]
February 2, 2017, Takeda was elected to the Japan national baseball team at the2017 World Baseball Classic.[18]
