Takahiro Araki

Takahiro Araki (荒木 貴裕)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 168 lb.

• School Kindai University
• High School Teikyo Daisan High School

• Born July 26, 1987 in Oyabe, Toyama Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Takahiro Araki played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 14 years.

Araki represented Japan in the 2008 Haarlemse Honkbalweek and 2008 World University Championship (hitting .320/.393/.480 with six runs in eight games; he tied for 9th in runs. He also handled 14 chances error-free). He was drafted by the Yakult Swallows in the 3rd round of the in the 2009 NPB draft, and he spent his first 4 seasons primarily in the NPB Farm Leagues; he only got 86 at-bats combined with the big club. He won the MVP of the 2011 NPB minor league All-Star Game. Araki hit .275/.349/.349 in 55 games in 2014, and he had a .253/.319/.335 batting line in 2015; he was mainly used as a 4th outfielder and pinch-hitter. He then recorded a .243/.311/.333 batting line in 2016, and he played 91 games in 2017; his batting line fell to .207/.273/.367 though.

The Toyama native struggled again in 2018, and he hit .218/.340/.356 in 62 games. He then hit .250/.329/.347 in 2019, and he had a terrible .164/.235/.247 batting line in 2020. Araki played a career-high 100 games in 2021, but he was mainly used as defensive replacement so he only got 67 at-bats; he collected 11 hits. Araki appeared in 6 games in the postseason, but he didn't got a single at-bat. The Swallows beat the Orix Buffaloes in 6 games, and he won his only title. Araki went 3-for-22 in 2022, and he announced his retirement in 2023.

Overall, Araki hit .228/.300/.323 with 241 hits and 18 homers in 14 seasons in NPB. A versatile player, he played in over 100 games at each infield position as well as in the outfield; his main spot was first base, followed by second and short.

Sources

• Wiki Japan
• 2008 World University Championship Final Report