Wataru Karashima

Wataru Karashima (辛島 航)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 8", Weight 158 lb.

• High School Iizuka High School

• Born October 18, 1990 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Wataru Karashima has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

The Rakuten Golden Eagles took Karashima in the 6th round in the 2008 NPB draft. He pitched two games in 2009 (5 IP, 10 H, 5 R). He was 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA in 12 games for the big club in 2010 then did not appear for them in 2011. In 2012, the little lefty was 8-5 with a 2.53 ERA. Had he qualified, he would have ranked 9th in the Pacific League in ERA. He missed half of 2013 with injury and was 3-4 with a 4.42 ERA after returning. Starting game 5 of the 2013 Japan Series, he outdueled 2012 Japan Series MVP Tetsuya Utsumi, allowing only one hit (to Daisuke Nakai) and two walks in five shutout innings; Takahiro Norimoto relieved and got the win in a 4-2, 10-inning game.

Karashima throws a fastball (peak 90 mph), slider, curveball and changeup.