Kona Takahashi

Kona Takahashi (髙橋 光成)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 198 lbs.

• High School Maebashi Ikuei High School

• Born February 3, 1997 in Numata, Gunma, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Kona Takahashi has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Takahashi represented Japan in the 2013 U-18 Baseball World Cup; he allowed four runs in three innings for the highest ERA on the Silver Medalists but went 1-0. He was drafted by the Seibu Lions in the first round of the 2014 NPB draft, and he joined the rotation as a rookie. He became the fifth rookie pitcher to win a player of the month award when he did so in August, and broke Daisuke Matsuzaka's record for youngest pitcher to win that award. Takahashi was 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 8 starts in 2015, and he got 22 vote for the 2015 Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award, finishing third behind Kohei Arihara's 110 votes and Akihiro Hakumura's 33.

The Gunma native stayed with the big club for the entire 2016 season, but he only went 4-11 with a 4.42 ERA and led the Pacific League in wild pitches. He suffered a right shoulder injury, so he only had 10 starts combined with the big club over the next two seasons. Takahashi came back and went 10-6 with a 4.51 ERA in 2019, but he also led the PL in runs and hit-by-pitches. He was still selected into the 2019 NPB All-Star Games, and he relieved Taisuke Yamaoka in the 2nd inning in Game 2. He gave up back-to-back homers to Fumihito Haraguchi and Ryutaro Umeno, retired Yota Kyoda but Koji Chikamoto added a double. Shuhei Takahashi's double helped Chikamoto scored, and Tetsuto Yamada also collected a hit. Yoshitomo Tsutsugo then crushed the third homer for the Central League to extended their lead to 8 runs. Takahashi allowed another single to Seiya Suzuki, and finally retired José López and Haraguchi to end this inning. Manabu Mima succeded him He suffered a right elbow injury in September, and missed the rest of the season.

Takahashi was 8-8 with a 3.74 ERA in 2020, and led the PL in shutouts. He was named the opening day starter of the Seibu in 2021, and started a league-leading 26 games with a 11-9 record and a 3.78 ERA. He led the league in hits allowed, wild pitches and runs, ranked 2nd in innings (20 behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto), 4th in wins (7 behind Yamamoto) and 12th in strikeouts (79 behind Yamamoto). Takahashi improved in 2022, having a 12-8 record with a 2.20 ERA. He ranked 2nd in wins (3 behind Yamamoto), 4th in ERA (.52 behind Yamamoto), 4th in strikeouts (17 1/3 behind Yamamoto) and 2nd in innings (77 behind Yamamoto). He dueled with Kodai Senga in Game 1 of the first stage in the 2022 PLCS, but he allowed 5 runs in 6 innings, including a 3-run homer to Yuki Yanagita and got the loss.

Seibu's ace extended his domination in 2023. He became just the 12th PL pitcher to strike out 4 batters in a inning, doing so on April 8, and ended up 10-8 with a 2.21 ERA. He led the league in complete games, ranked 4th in wins (6 behind Yamamoto), 2nd in ERA (1.00 behind Yamamoto), 10th in strikeouts (49 behind Yamamoto), 6th in innings (15 behind Naoyuki Uwasawa) and 2nd in shutouts (1 behind Hiroya Miyagi).

Takahashi's repertoire features a fastball that peaks at 97.5 mph, a forkball, slider and a cutter.