1. Career
Atsuya Kogita's baseball career began in his early childhood, progressing through amateur leagues, a significant period in the industrial league, and culminating in his professional debut with the Orix Buffaloes, where he has since made notable contributions.
1.1. Early Life and High School
Atsuya Kogita began playing baseball in third grade with the Kakunodate Max team while attending Semboku Municipal Kakununodate Elementary School in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture. In junior high, he was a member of the soft baseball club at Semboku Municipal Kakunodate Junior High School.
He attended Akita Prefectural Kakunodate High School, where he joined the baseball team in his first year and made the bench as an infielder during the summer tournament. His team won the prefectural tournament, making their first appearance in the National High School Baseball Championship (also known as Koshien Tournament), specifically the 96th National High School Baseball Championship in 2014. Kogita started as the regular third baseman, wearing uniform number 5, in their first game (Round 2) against Yazu High School from Tottori Prefecture, but he went hitless, and the team lost.
Following this, Kogita also began pitching. In his second year, he became the ace pitcher and attracted attention as a "two-way player." However, in his first game as a pitcher that summer against Akita Prefectural Noshiro High School, he gave up 4 runs and the team was defeated. In the spring of his third year, he was not in peak condition. Five professional scouts observed his first game against Akita Prefectural Omagari Kogyo High School, but he left the game after giving up 4 runs on 9 hits in less than five innings, and his team lost. In the summer of his third year, he led the team as both the ace pitcher and the cleanup hitter. He achieved a no-hitter in the quarterfinals against Akita Prefectural Noshiro Shoyo High School. However, in the final against Omagari Kogyo, despite his team gaining a 6-run lead early, his pitching velocity dropped after a line drive hit his calf, resulting in him giving up 8 runs. His team suffered a come-from-behind loss, missing a return to Koshien since his first year. After the game, he stated his intention to join professional baseball after gaining experience in the industrial league, choosing not to declare for the professional draft immediately. During his high school career, Kogita's fastest pitch was 91 mph (147 km/h). His classmate at the time was Yuto Akagami.
1.2. Industrial League (TDK)
After graduating from high school, Atsuya Kogita joined the TDK industrial league baseball team, where he focused exclusively on pitching. He made his official game debut in his first year. In his second year, he participated in the 89th Intercity Baseball Tournament as a reinforcement player for the 77 Bank Baseball Club.
In his third year, his first year eligible for the professional draft, he was unable to pitch satisfactorily due to a right shoulder injury and went undrafted. In his fourth year, during the 91st Intercity Baseball Tournament secondary qualifiers, he pitched in all three games, starting two of them. Notably, in the first representative decision game against JR East Tohoku, he threw a 12-inning, 6-hit, 7-strikeout complete game shutout, leading his team to their first appearance in the main tournament in seven years (their 15th overall). He performed exceptionally well in the qualifiers, pitching 22 1/3 innings with only 2 earned runs, and was awarded the Most Valuable Player award. However, in the 2020 NPB Draft, he went undrafted for the second consecutive year.
In the summer of his fifth year, his team qualified for the 46th Japan National Baseball Championship, their sixth appearance in five tournaments. He started the first game against Toyota Motor Corporation Baseball Club, pitching 8 innings and allowing only 1 run, but his team lost. In the fall, his team secured their second consecutive appearance in the 92nd Intercity Baseball Tournament.
On October 11, 2021, Kogita was selected by the Orix Buffaloes in the seventh round of the 2021 NPB Draft. On December 8, he signed a provisional contract with a signing bonus of 30.00 M JPY and an estimated annual salary of 8.00 M JPY. His uniform number was set as 56. After being drafted, he pitched in the Intercity Baseball Tournament, starting the first round game against Saibu Gas, where he allowed 4 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings. His team won this game, advancing past the first round for the first time in eight years. However, they were defeated in the second round by NTT East, failing to reach the best eight for the first time in 15 years.
1.3. Professional Career (Orix Buffaloes)
Since joining the Orix Buffaloes, Atsuya Kogita has developed into a key pitcher, navigating through injuries and adjustments to contribute significantly to the team's successes, including league championships.
1.3.1. Orix Buffaloes (2022)
Kogita started the 2022 season in the B group during spring training but made the Opening Day roster for the first team. He made his professional debut on March 26 against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome, pitching one scoreless inning and retiring three batters in a row. On April 8, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was removed from the active roster the following day under the "Special Case 2022" protocol. He returned to the first team on April 28 and recorded his first professional hold against the Seibu Lions on April 29. However, on May 7, he gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in one inning against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and was demoted to the minor leagues on May 8.
He continued to adjust in the minor leagues and was selected for the Fresh All-Star Game on July 23, where he pitched one scoreless inning as the third reliever. He was recalled to the first team on August 31 and remained with the team for the rest of the season, including the postseason. In the regular season, he appeared in 16 games, recording 0 wins, 0 losses, and 5 holds, with an ERA of 3.14. In the offseason, his contract was renewed for an estimated salary of 16.00 M JPY, an increase of 8.00 M JPY.
1.3.2. Orix Buffaloes (2023)
In 2023, Kogita started spring training in the A group but began the season in the minor leagues. There, he learned a new changeup pitch from pitching coach Mamoru Kishida. He was called up to the first team on April 29. On April 30, in his first appearance of the season against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he pitched a scoreless 11th inning in a tied game. The Buffaloes then won with a walk-off hit, earning Kogita his first professional win. He was temporarily removed from the roster on May 24 but was immediately re-registered on May 25 as a replacement player under the "Special Case 2023" protocol. He was again removed on May 29 but re-registered on June 1, remaining with the team thereafter.
On July 22, he made his first professional start in a "bullpen day" game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk in 2 innings (0 earned runs due to defensive errors) and received no decision. Despite a two-week demotion for readjustment in August, he performed various roles, including mid-inning relief, long relief, and escaping jams. In September, he recorded 2 wins, 0 losses, and 2 holds with an ERA of 0.00 in 7 appearances. On September 20, he pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Lotte Marines, helping his team achieve a comeback win and secure their third consecutive league championship.
Overall in the regular season, he appeared in 38 games (1 start), recorded 4 wins, 0 losses, and 7 holds, with an ERA of 2.19 over 49 1/3 innings, contributing to the team's league title. In the postseason, he pitched in 6 games (2 in the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage against the Chiba Lotte Marines and 4 in the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers), allowing no runs. In the offseason, his contract was renewed for an estimated salary of 36.00 M JPY, a significant increase of 20.00 M JPY.
1.3.3. Orix Buffaloes (2024)
In 2024, Kogita missed some practice sessions during spring training due to illness but made the Opening Day roster for the second time in his career. He primarily served as the 7th-inning setup man, achieving 11 consecutive scoreless appearances starting from April 2 against the Seibu Lions. By May 5, he had appeared in a team-high 13 games, with 1 win, 1 loss, and 8 holds, and an ERA of 1.38.
However, he experienced pain in his right elbow, and after examination, he was diagnosed with a muscle injury to the right flexor carpi ulnaris. He was removed from the active roster on May 6. He returned to action in a minor league game on August 2 but subsequently suffered a recurrence of an old right shoulder injury, forcing him to end his season prematurely. In the offseason, his contract was renewed for an estimated salary of 30.00 M JPY, a decrease of 6.00 M JPY.
2. Pitching Style
Atsuya Kogita's pitching arsenal is characterized by his fastball, which can reach up to 95 mph (153 km/h), and a sharp slider. His repertoire also includes a splitter, cut fastball, curve, two-seam fastball, and a changeup, demonstrating a versatile array of pitches. Despite being relatively small for a professional baseball player, standing at 68 in (173 cm), he generates considerable power.
A unique aspect of his pitching mechanics is a subtle difference in his glove movement just before entering the set position, depending on the type of pitch he intends to throw. Aware of this tendency, he has consciously worked to ensure his glove moves consistently for all his pitches to avoid tipping off batters.
3. Personal Life
Atsuya Kogita married his high school classmate on December 25, 2021, shortly after being drafted. Initially, he moved into the Orix Buffaloes dormitory, but by April of the following year, he moved out to live with his family. His given name, "Atsuya," was inspired by Atsuya Furuta, a prominent former Tokyo Yakult Swallows player. He is affectionately known by the nickname "Corgi."
Kogita is described as having a calm and reassuring personality, which has earned him the respect of his teammates. Within the Orix Buffaloes, players born in the same year as him, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Yuki Udagawa, and Soichiro Yamazaki, affectionately refer to their cohort as the "Kogita Generation." The nickname was coined by Yuki Udagawa. This "Kogita Generation" has even inspired official team merchandise, with Kogita expressing his desire to perform well to live up to the name and further popularize it.
4. Detailed Statistics and Records
4.1. Annual Pitching Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | BB/9 | W | L | SV | HLD | WPct | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Orix | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ---- | 63 | 14.1 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3.14 | 1.53 |
| 2023 | Orix | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1.000 | 193 | 49.1 | 37 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 2.19 | 1.01 |
| 2024 | Orix | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | .500 | 46 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.38 | 0.68 |
| Career: 3 Years | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | .833 | 302 | 76.2 | 62 | 5 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 19 | 2.23 | 1.05 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
4.2. Annual Fielding Statistics
| Year | Team | Pitcher | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PO | A | E | DP | FPct | ||
| 2022 | Orix | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2023 | Orix | 38 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2024 | Orix | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| Career | 67 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
- Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
4.3. First Records
- First appearance (pitcher): March 26, 2022, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome, as the second relief pitcher in the 6th inning, pitching 1 scoreless inning.
- First strikeout: March 29, 2022, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Kyocera Dome Osaka, striking out Daichi Suzuki in the 9th inning.
- First hold: April 29, 2022, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Kyocera Dome Osaka, as the second relief pitcher in the 6th inning, pitching 1 scoreless inning.
- First win: April 30, 2023, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Kyocera Dome Osaka, as the sixth relief pitcher in the 11th inning, pitching 1 scoreless inning and completing the game for a team walk-off victory.
- First start: July 22, 2023, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Hotto Motto Field Kobe, pitching 2 innings and allowing 4 runs (0 earned runs) with no decision.
5. Uniform Number
- 56 (2022-present)