Kaima Taira

Kaima Taira (平良 海馬)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 209 lb.

• High School Yaeyama Shoko High School

• Born November 15, 1999 in Ishigaki, Okinawa Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Kaima Taira has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Taira was a 4th-round pick of the Seibu Lions in the 2017 NPB draft. He was wild in the minors in 2018 (17 BB, 21 K, 11 R, 10 ER in 16 2/3 IP). In 2019, he was 2-1 with a save and a 3.38 ERA in 26 games, making his Pacific League debut. He blossomed in 2020, going 1-0 with a save and a 1.87 ERA, allowing only 22 hits in 53 innings while fanning 62. He walked 29 and hit 8 batters. He tied Naoya Masuda for the PL lead in appearances (54) in the COVID-19-shortened season. He got 144 votes for the 2020 Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award, edging Hiroto Kobukata's 125 to take the honor.

His fastball has topped 99 mph.