Takuya Kuwahara (鍬原 拓也, Kuwahara Takuya, born March 26, 1996) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1]

Takuya Kuwahara
Kuwahara with the Yomiuri Giants.
Pitcher
Born: (1996-03-26) March 26, 1996 (age 28)
Gose, Nara, Japan
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
NPB debut
May 31, 2018, for the Yomiuri Giants
Last NPB appearance
June 4, 2023, for the Yomiuri Giants
Career statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record5-5
ERA5.80
Holds16
Saves0
Strikeouts91
Teams

He previously played for the Yomiuri Giants.[2]

Professional career

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Yomiuri Giants

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On October 26, 2017, Kuwahara was drafted first round pick by the Yomiuri Giants in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]

On May 31, 2018, Kuwahara pitched his debut game in the interleague play against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[3] On June 14, in the interleague play against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, he became the winning pitcher for the first time.[4] He pitched 5 games in his rookie year.

Kuwahara pitched only 14 games in three seasons. on July 4, 2020, he became the winning pitcher for the first time in two years in a game against the Chunichi Dragons, but on August 12, he fractured his right elbow and underwent surgery.[5][6]

On December 8, 2020, the Giants re-signed him as a developmental player with an estimated salary of 13.2 million yen.[7]

On August 30, 2021, the Giants re-signed Kuwahara as a registered player under control.[8] However, he did not have a chance to pitch in the first league, and on December 9, he was re-signed as a developmental player for 10.6 million yen.[9]

On March 11, 2022, Kuwahara re-signed as a registered player under control.[10] In 2022 season, Kuwahara pitched in a career-high 49 games as a setup man, finished the regular season with a 3-2 win–loss record, 13 holds, and a 5.16 ERA.

In 2023 season, Kuwahara only had a chance to pitched five games in the first league, and the Giants released him on October 28.[11]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

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On November 28, 2023, Kuwahara signed as a developmental player with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2023/11/28 (火) プレスリリース 鍬原拓也投手 入団のお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Nikkan Sports baseball news 巨人は外れ外れ1位で中大・鍬原を指名". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 26, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 巨人鍬原プロ初黒星も母へ「いつか勝利球渡したい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 31, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news 巨人ドラ1鍬原"3度目の正直"で待望プロ初勝利". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). June 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 巨人鍬原2年ぶり白星 3失点もプロ2勝目". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 4, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【巨人】鍬原拓也、8月中に右肘手術". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). August 22, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 巨人鍬原が育成再契約「2桁に戻り1軍マウンドに」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 巨人鍬原拓也が支配下復帰「ストレートで勝負したい」フォーム変更が転機に". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 30, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【巨人】鍬原拓也、育成選手として再契約 260万円減1,060万円でサイン". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【巨人】堀田賢慎、鍬原拓也、増田陸と支配下選手契約を締結". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). March 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【巨人】17年ドラフト1位・鍬原拓也に戦力外通告". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). October 28, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
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