Takayuki Kato

Takayuki Kato (Kyaru) (加藤 貴之)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 176 lb.

• High School Takushoku University Koryo High School

• Born June 3, 1992 in Minamiboso, Chiba Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Takayuki Kato was pitching for Shin Nittetsu Sumikin Kazusa Magic in the industrial leagues when he was picked for the Japanese national team for the 2014 Asian Games. Kato pitched one game, starting against a Mongolian national team that went hitless against their first two opponents (China and Pakistan). He was perfect for three innings before fellow pitcher Munkhbat Dashzeveg singled in the 4th. Kato finished with 7 K, 1 H and no BB in 4 IP as he got the win. Koshiro Imamura finished with a one-hit 5th.

The Nippon-Ham Fighters picked him in the 2nd round of the 2015 NPB draft, and Kato soon joined the rotation. He was 7-3 with a 3.45 ERA in his rookie year, and the Fighters won the Pacific League pennant. Kato was the opener of the 2016 NPB All-Star Game 5, and he allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings. He won his first Nippon Series title as the Fighters beat the Hiroshima Carp in 6 games. Kato remained a solid pitcher in 2017, having a 6-6 record with a 3.53 ERA. He slumped to 5-8 with a 4.53 ERA in 2018, but bounced back soon and collected 5 wins with a 3.52 ERA in 2019. The Fighters used Kato as a reliever in 2020, and he had a 3.26 ERA in 28 appearances.

The Chiba native came back to the rotation in 2021, and he was still reliable as he went 6-7 with a 3.42 ERA. Kato then set the NPB record in 2022. He only walked 11 batters in the entire season, and broke Jiro Noguchi's record for fewest walks by a ERA-title-qualifying pitcher. He was 8-7 with a 2.01 ERA, leading the PL in WHIP and shutouts (2, tied with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hiromi Itoh and Tomohisa Ohzeki) and ranked 3rd in ERA (.33 behind Yamamoto). Kato replaced Seigi Tanaka in the 8th inning of 2023 NPB All-Star Game 1, and he pitched 2 shutout innings. He ended up 7-9 with a 2.87 ERA, led the PL in hits allowed, ranked 6th in ERA (1.66 behind Yamamoto) and 3rd in innings (6 2/3 behind Naoyuki Uwasawa).