Kotaro Otake

Kotaro Otake (大竹 耕太郎)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 172 lbs.

• School Waseda University
• High School Seiseiko High School

• Born June 29, 1995 in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Kotaro Otake has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Otake was drafted by the Softbank Hawks in the fourth round of the development phase in the 2017 NPB draft, and he joined the rotation as a rookie. He was 3-2 with a 3.88 in his rookie year. He pitched two shutout innings in Game 2 of the 2018 Japan Series after relieving Rick van den Hurk; Softbank won the title. Otake improved to 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 2019, but he spent the most of the 2020 season in the NPB Farm leagues because the Hawks had many starters. He led the Western League in wins, ERA and winning percentage, but only got 3 appearances with the big club. The Kumamoto native still didn't have many chances in the next two seasons,and only pitched 4 games combined with the big club.

The Hanshin Tigers drafted him in the 2022 NPB Active draft, and Otake finally broke out. He relieved Shosei Togo in 2023 NPB All-Star Game 2, but Ariel Martinez hit a single against him, then Go Matsumoto hit another single and Ryoya Kurihara's sacrifice fly drove in a run. Otake forced Shuta Tonosaki to hit a grounder to end this inning, and ended up with a no-decision while the Central League was beaten by the Pacific League. He ended up 12-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 2023 and ranked 2nd in the CL in wins, 4 behind Katsuki Azuma. Had he qualified, his 2.26 ERA could ranked 4th in CL, 0.41 behind his teammate Shoki Murakami.

Related Sites

• Wiki Japan
• NPB.com Bio
• 2023 NPB All-Star Game