Akifumi Takahashi

Akifumi Takahashi (高橋 聡文)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 176 lb.

• High School Takaoka Daiichi High School

• Born May 29, 1983 in Oi-gun, Fukui Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Akifumi Takahashi has pitched for several years in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Takahashi was not selected until the 8th round of the 2001 NPB draft, when the Chunichi Dragons chose him. He was 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA and .215 opponent average in 24 games in debut with the big club in 2004. He retired all four batters he faced in game seven of the 2004 Japan Series, his lone appearance in a Series Chunichi dropped in seven games to the Seibu Lions.

Takahashi got his first career win 364 days after his pro debut. He was 2-1 with a 4.67 ERA and .297 opponent average in 2005, with 44 1/3 IP in 61 games as a LOOGY. He still put together a stretch of 31 straight games with no runs allowed. In 2006, he really struggled with a .339 opponent average and 10.29 ERA in 26 games (14 IP), going 1-3.

Akifumi rebounded in 2007 to 1-0, 4.23 in 25 games. He made one appearance in the 2007 Japan Series, retiring two and hitting one batter, who later came around to score. Chunichi prevailed over the Nippon Ham Fighters for their first title in 53 years.

In 54 games in 2008, Takahashi was 2-1 with a save and a 2.33 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He had a 2-2, 3.08 record and .211 opponent average in 49 outings in 2009. He got his first NPB hit, in his second at-bat, a single off Stephen Randolph; early in his career, there was talk of Takahashi being used as a position player due to his bat skills.

Takahashi made 63 appearances in 2010 and went 4-1 with a 1.61 ERA, .206 opponent average and 62 whiffs in 61 1/3 IP,

Takahashi's repertoire includes a slider, curveball, forkball and fastball (peak 95 mph).

Source: Japanbaseballdaily