Yuki Takahashi

Yuki Takahashi (髙橋 優貴)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lbs.

• School Hachinohe Gakuin University
• High School Tokai University Sugao High School

• Born February 1, 1997 in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yuki Takahashi has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Takahashi was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants after they lost the first two lotteries in the first round of the 2018 NPB draft (for Akira Neo and Ryosuke Tatsumi), and he soon joined their rotation. He debuted on April 4, and became the first university graduate in team history to get the win in his debut since Hiroaki Aoki did it in 1960. Takahashi ended up 5-7 with a 3.19 ERA in his rookie year. He started in Game 3 of the 2019 Nippon Series, and he allowed 2 runs (includingYurisbel Gracial's solo shot) in 2 2/3 innings before giving way to Yohei Kagiya, and ended up with a no-decision. The Giants were swept by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Takahashi suffered a left elbow injury, so he only played 8 games in 2020. He pitched one inning in the 2020 Japan Series while allowing a RBI single to Akira Nakamura, and the Giants was swept again by the Hawks.

The Ibaraki native had his career year in 2021, and he was selected as the Central League starter for 2021 NPB All-Star Game 1. Takahashi retired the first three batters of the Pacific League in the first inning (Yuki Yanagita, Tomoya Mori and Brandon Laird), but he allowed a single to Masataka Yoshida in the next inning. Leonys Martín drew a walk, then Hotaka Yamakawa's clutch double gave him two earned runs allowed. He was replaced by Shosei Togo, and ended up with a no-decision. Takahashi was 11-9 with a 3.39 ERA in this season, led the Central League in starts and walks and ranked 3rd in wins (2 behind Koyo Aoyagi and Aren Kuri). However, he struggled in 2022 as his ERA rose to 5.40, and he underwent left elbow surgery. He only pitched 6 games in 2023, with a 5.14 ERA.

Takahashi's repertoire features a fastball that peaks at 94.4 mph, a screwball and a slider.