Shota Takeda (武田 翔太, Takeda Shota, born April 3, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Shota Takeda
Takeda with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 18
Pitcher
Born: (1993-04-03) April 3, 1993 (age 31)
Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
July 7, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record66-48
ERA3.34
Strikeouts858
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
2015 WBSC Premier12
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Tokyo Team
2017 World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Team

Professional career

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On October 27, 2011, Takeda was drafted by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks with the first overall pick in the 2011 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

2012–2015

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Takeda with the Japan national baseball team in 2015.

On July 7, 2012, Takeda pitched his debut game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters as a starting pitcher, and won the game for the first time in the Pacific League. [2] He finished the 2012 season appearing in 11 games and posting a 8–1 record, 1.07 ERA, and 67 strikeouts across 67 innings. On November 20, he was honored with the 2012 Pacific League Excellent rookie award.[3]

In 2013, Takeda finished the regular season with 17 appearances, a 4–4 record, 3.48 ERA, and 56 strikeouts across 93 innings.

In 2014, Takeda developed pain in his right shoulder during spring camp and spent half of the year in rehabilitation. On August 6, he made his return from injury and pitched against the Saitama Seibu Lions.[4] He finished the regular season making 7 outings and logging a 3–3 record, 1.87 ERA, and 43 strikeouts in 43+13 innings of work. On October 26, he started against the Hanshin Tigers during the Japan Series, and recorded the win. Takeda was later honored with the 2014 Japan Series Excellent Player Award.[5]

On November 7, Takeda was selected as the Japan national baseball team for 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series.[6] On November 20, he pitched against the MLB All-Stars as a starting pitcher. He would record the win as Japan won for the first time in the MLB Japan All-Star Series.[7]

In 2015, Takeda finished the regular season appearing in 25 games and registering a 13–6 record, 3.17 ERA, and 163 strikeouts in 164+23 innings pitched. On October 24, he pitched against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the 2015 Japan Series as the starting pitcher, and won the game. He was honored with the 2015 Japan Series Excellent Player Award for the second time in his career.[8]

2016–2020

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In 2016, Takeda finished the regular season with 27 games pitched, a 14–8 record, 2.95 ERA, and 144 strikeouts across 183 innings.

On February 4, 2017, Takeda was selected to the Japan national baseball team for 2017 World Baseball Classic.[9] On April 14, he developed inflammation in his right shoulder and spent time rehabilitating until the summer.[10] He finished the 2017 season with 13 appearances, a 6–4 record, 3.68 ERA, and 60 strikeouts in 71 innings of work. On October 31, Takeda started against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the 2017 Japan Series.

In 2018, Takeda finished the regular season with 27 appearances, a 4–9 record, 4.48 ERA, one save, and 87 strikeouts across 124+23 innings pitched. He additionally pitched as a relief pitcher against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the 2018 Japan Series.

In 2019, Takeda finished the regular season appearing in 32 contests, and posted a 5–3 record, 4.55 ERA, one save, and 70 strikeouts in 83 innings of work. He was also selected to the Japan Series roster in the 2019 Japan Series.[11]

In the COVID-19–affected 2020 season, Takeda pitched in only 7 contests, logging a 2–2 record, 6.48 ERA, and 23 strikeouts in 25 innings. The Hawks would go on to appear in the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants.[12]

2021–present

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In 2021, Takeda began the year pitching out of Fukuoka's rotation, but developed tenosynovitis in his right hand during an interleague game and spent the remainder of the season in rehabilitation.[13] In 12 games, he had logged a 4–5 record, 2.68 ERA, and 73 strikeouts across 77+13 innings pitched.

Takeda began the 2022 season on the injured list with enthesitis of the latissimus dorsi muscle before being activated in July. He would return to the injured list in August with inflammation of the ligaments in his right elbow.[14][15] He finished the regular season making 10 appearances for the Hawks and pitching to a 2–1 record, 2.57 ERA, and 34 strikeouts across 28 innings of work. In 2023, Takeda made 29 appearances for Fukuoka, registering a 1–2 record, 3.91 ERA, and 38 strikeouts across 46 innings pitched.

On April 9, 2024, Takeda underwent Tommy John surgery, prematurely ending his season.[16]

International career

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On October 9, Takeda was selected as the Japan national baseball team for 2015 WBSC Premier12.[17]

February 2, 2017, Takeda was elected to the Japan national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site news (Japanese) 2011/10/28(金) 球団 ドラフト会議で高校生No.1の武田投手ら12人を指名!武田投手「やるからには頂上を!」と早くも意気込み". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 28, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) 武田 高卒ルーキー初登板初勝利は2年ぶり17人目". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). July 8, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク 武田に優秀新人賞 パが特別表彰". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  4. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク武田復活の今季初登板初勝利". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 7, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2014 表彰選手 優秀選手賞". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB武田「侍」招集 魔球で米斬る". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  7. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 侍武田3回1失点「リズムが悪かった」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  8. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2015 表彰選手 優秀選手賞". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site news (Japanese) 2017/02/04(土) 選手 武田投手がWBC出場の侍ジャパンに追加招集". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). February 4, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) 武田は右肩炎症 「蓄積疲労みたいなもの。しっかりリハビリする」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). April 14, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2019 出場資格者名簿(福岡ソフトバンクホークス)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  12. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2020 出場資格者名簿(福岡ソフトバンクホークス)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンク・武田 完全復活へ宝刀カーブ改良 理想は右打者に食い込むイメージ バド投法で磨き上げる". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 武田が広背筋付着部炎でリハビリ組へ 6日のキャッチボール中に異変". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). February 7, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Nikkansports Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】武田翔太が今季中の復帰絶望的 27日緊急途中降板、右肘内側側副靱帯炎症など". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 30, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "[SoftBank] Shota Takeda is in despair this season due to Tommy John surgery. Is he in the middle of 25 years?". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "Japan national baseball team Official site news (Japanese) 選手発表「WBSC プレミア12」侍ジャパントップチーム最終ロースター28名発表!!". Japan national baseball team Official site (in Japanese). October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks news (Japanese) 2017/02/04(土) 選手 武田投手がWBC出場の侍ジャパンに追加招集". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). February 2, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
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