Mikiya Tanaka

Mikiya Tanaka (田中 幹也) (Saru, Ninja)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.

• School Asia University
• High School Tokai University Sugao High School

• Born November 28, 2000 in Aiko-gun, Kanagawa Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Mikiya Tanaka has played in the Nippon Pro Baseball.

Tanaka was a college star in the Tohto University Base Ball League, and he won the Best Nine award as a shortstop in the 2021 Spring season. He suffered from ulcerative colitis in 2021, then he overcame it and returned in March 2022. He tied Mitsuru Manaka's league record for stealing 6 bases in a game on April 14, and he won the MVP of the 2022 All-Japan University Baseball Championship Series.

The Chunichi Dragons selected him in the 6th round of the 2022 NPB draft, and he was expected to become their new starting shortstop soon. However, he dislocated his shoulder after diving back into first base on a pickoff throw by the pitcher on April 19 against the Rakuten Golden Eagles, and he missed most of the 2023 season. As Chunichi's starting second baseman, Tanaka hit .224/.270/.281 in 112 games in 2024. He got 8 votes for the 2024 CL Rookie of the Year, finishing third behind Hiromasa Funabasama and Takumi Kurohara.

He received the nickname "Saru" which means "monkey" in high school due to his small size and fast movements and later gained the nickname "Ninja" at university because he was able to steal bases slickly.