1. Overview
Ken Takahashi (高橋 建Takahashi KenJapanese, born April 16, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and coach. Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Takahashi embarked on a distinguished playing career primarily with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1995 to 2008, and briefly with the New York Mets in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2009, before concluding his playing days with the Carp in 2010.
Known for his unique pitching style and surprising batting ability, Takahashi accumulated significant milestones including multiple All-Star selections, and achieving the rare feat of pitching in both NPB and MLB. Following his retirement as a player, he transitioned into a career as a baseball commentator and has held various coaching positions with both the Hanshin Tigers and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, where he currently serves as a pitching coach. His career is marked by resilience, adapting his pitching approach, and a strong dedication to baseball across different roles.
2. Playing Career
Ken Takahashi's playing career spanned over a decade and a half, beginning in Japan's corporate leagues before a lengthy tenure with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, a brief but notable stint in Major League Baseball, and finally a return to Hiroshima for his final season.
2.1. Before Professional Career
Takahashi's journey in baseball began at a young age, leading him through amateur leagues, university, and corporate baseball before he made his professional debut.
2.1.1. Youth and High School
Takahashi began playing baseball in the fourth grade of elementary school. During his time at Yokohama Junior and Senior High School, he primarily played as a first baseman and outfielder. Although he would later become known as a pitcher, he had experience as a pitcher during his elementary and junior high school years in soft baseball leagues.
2.1.2. University and Corporate League
After high school, Takahashi enrolled at Takushoku University, competing in the Tohto University Baseball League. During his university career, he displayed significant batting prowess as a field player in the second division, hitting a total of 17 home runs. However, it was in his senior year that he began to emerge as a formidable pitcher.
Following university, Takahashi joined the Toyota Motors corporate baseball team. In his first year with Toyota, he started in two consecutive games at the Intercity Baseball Tournament. For the subsequent two years, he was selected as a reinforcement player, even pitching in the final game of the 1994 Intercity Baseball Tournament. In 1993, he was considered a top draft prospect, receiving offers from eight professional teams, but he chose to remain with Toyota Motors. By the 1994 draft, his evaluation had reportedly declined due to his team's poor performance, leading him to believe he might not be drafted. However, on November 13, 1994, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp informed him of their intention to draft him. He expressed immense joy and commitment to join, stating that the draft position or contract amount did not matter. He was ultimately selected in the fourth round of the 1994 NPB Draft by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
2.2. Hiroshima Toyo Carp (1995-2008)
Takahashi spent the majority of his professional playing career with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, establishing himself as a versatile and enduring pitcher.
2.2.1. Early Career and Transition to Starter
In his debut professional season in 1995, Takahashi was primarily used as a middle reliever but also made occasional starts. He appeared in 39 games, achieving a record of 4 wins and 4 losses with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.90. The following year, in 1996, he pitched a no-hitter in the Western League on July 28. He made 24 appearances for the top team that season, recording 2 wins. In 1997, he pitched in 34 games, but struggled with inconsistency, posting an ERA in the upper 4.00s. The team finished in the A-Class (top half of the league standings) that year, which would be Takahashi's last experience playing for a Carp team in the A-Class until 2013. In 1998, he appeared in 41 games, going 3-8 with a 3.83 ERA, his best in four years.
From 1999, Takahashi's opportunities as a starter increased due to a lack of left-handed starting pitchers for the team. While still predominantly a reliever (36 appearances), he made 13 starts. In 2000, he made a career-high 50 appearances, starting 10 games, and earned 5 wins against 9 losses. He was also selected for his first All-Star Game that year and served as a closer towards the end of the season. In 2001, he officially transitioned to a full-time starter role, joining the starting rotation from opening day. He achieved his first career 10-win season (10 wins, 8 losses) and was selected to the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year.
2.2.2. Key Seasons and Injuries
In 2002, Takahashi recorded 9 wins but led the league with 14 losses. Despite this, he delivered a memorable performance on August 28, pitching a 1-0 complete game shutout against the Yomiuri Giants, the eventual Japan Series champions, throwing 173 pitches. The 2003 season started exceptionally well for Takahashi, as he opened with 8 consecutive wins and maintained an ERA in the low 1.00s. Armed with a fastball that touched 93 mph (149 km/h) and a sharp screwball, he filled crucial gaps in the rotation left by struggling or injured pitchers like Hiroki Kuroda, Shinji Sasaoka, and Masayuki Hasegawa, earning him the moniker of "left-handed ace." However, his performance dipped in the latter half of the season, securing only one more win and finishing with 9 wins for the second consecutive year, just shy of double-digit victories.
In 2004, his performance significantly declined from the previous year, as he posted a 3-10 record with a 5.53 ERA in 18 appearances. After the season, he became a free agent. Although the Giants, Hanshin Tigers, and MLB's Toronto Blue Jays expressed interest, he opted to re-sign with Hiroshima, taking a significant pay cut. The 2005 season saw him start as a member of the rotation, but a knee injury severely hampered his performance. He was limited to 14 appearances and recorded no wins for the first time in his professional career. On August 10, a detailed examination diagnosed him with "left knee femoral trochlear cartilage damage," leading to surgery on August 26. He considered retirement but ultimately chose to continue his career, re-signing at half his previous year's salary.
2.2.3. Relief Role and Final Seasons
In 2006, Takahashi did not make any starts for the first time in his career, but his knee injury had healed sufficiently for him to become a full-time left-handed middle reliever. He pitched in a career-high 54 games, recording 15 holds, despite his ERA remaining in the 4.00s. For 2007, he did not make the opening day roster but returned to a starting role due to an injury to teammate Jared Fernandez. On May 17, against the Hanshin Tigers at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium, he earned his first start victory in 1,072 days, marking his first since June 2004. He had transitioned his pitching style from relying on raw power to emphasizing control and breaking balls, particularly his screwball, which led to more stable performances. He also successfully navigated the challenging summer months, a period he had historically struggled with. He made 22 appearances, falling short of the required innings pitched but securing 5 wins.
In 2008, Takahashi pitched a 102-pitch complete game shutout against the Yomiuri Giants on April 19, which became the second oldest complete game shutout in Carp history, trailing only Yutaka Ohno, and the oldest against the Giants. On May 3, he performed well against Yokohama, throwing 6 scoreless innings, and hit a crucial two-run home run against Yokohama's ace Daisuke Miura, his first home run in seven years, contributing significantly to Hiroshima's victory. His strong first half, with a 6-4 record and a 3.03 ERA at the time of selection, earned him his first All-Star Game selection via fan vote, his fourth overall appearance. At 39 years and 2 months old, he set a record for the oldest pitcher to be selected by fan vote, and became only the third player over 39 to receive their first All-Star selection. However, he was removed from the active roster in September due to fatigue. He finished the season with 8 wins and 5 losses and a 3.50 ERA, though he did not reach the innings pitched qualification. On November 10, he declared free agency to pursue a career in Major League Baseball.
2.3. Major League Baseball (2009)
After a long and successful career in Japan, Takahashi set his sights on playing in Major League Baseball.
2.3.1. Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Stint
On February 2, 2009, Ken Takahashi signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays through an agency representing him. He received an invitation to participate in spring training with the team. However, his training was hampered by difficulties in obtaining a visa. He made his first exhibition game appearance on March 1 but suffered a right calf injury while fielding a squeeze bunt in the second inning, an injury he had previously experienced. He attempted to recover in the minor leagues but was released by the Blue Jays on March 30, 2009.
2.3.2. New York Mets Major League Debut
Despite being released by the Blue Jays, Takahashi quickly found another opportunity, signing a minor league contract with the New York Mets on March 30, 2009. After posting an impressive 0.77 ERA over 11.2 innings in six games with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he was called up to the Major Leagues on April 26. He made his MLB debut on May 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies, entering the game in the middle of the third inning in relief of Óliver Pérez. At 40 years old, he became the third oldest player to make their MLB debut since World War II, following Satchel Paige (42) and Diomedes Olivo (41). On June 22, he was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo but was recalled to the Major Leagues on August 24. He finished the season without any starts, making 28 appearances as a reliever with a strong 2.96 ERA. However, he was released by the Mets on October 20, 2009.
2.4. Return to Hiroshima and Retirement (2010)
After his brief stint in Major League Baseball, Takahashi returned to his long-time team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, for his final professional season.
On December 21, 2009, Takahashi's return to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp was officially announced, marking his reunion with the team after a two-year absence. He reclaimed his previous uniform number, 22. During spring training the following year, he showed strong determination to re-enter the starting rotation, even throwing his first bullpen session on the second day of camp, which also happened to be his eldest daughter's birthday.
In 2010, Takahashi was primarily used as a middle reliever. On April 16 and 17, against the Chunichi Dragons at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, he remarkably earned consecutive wins on back-to-back days, becoming the first pitcher in NPB history in his 40s to achieve this feat. However, his performance declined after May, and he was removed from the active roster on June 21. He continued to struggle with neck pain in the minor leagues, leading him to announce his retirement on September 8.
His official retirement game took place on September 29, 2010, against the Yokohama BayStars at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Before the game, he participated in a ceremonial first pitch, with his eldest and second daughters serving as the battery while he stood in as the batter. He made his final professional appearance in the eighth inning, with Hiroshima leading by 8 runs. He faced only one batter, striking out Jose Castillo to conclude his career on the mound. Following the game, an official retirement ceremony was held.
3. Playing Style
Ken Takahashi was known for his distinctive pitching mechanics and an unusual proficiency at the plate for a pitcher.
3.1. Pitching Style
Takahashi's primary weapons were his fastball, which reached a maximum velocity of 93 mph (150 km/h) (recorded on July 14, 1999), and a diverse array of breaking balls. Early in his career, he was characterized by a unique pitching form that involved a high leg kick. While he was a hard-throwing pitcher capable of striking out batters, he sometimes struggled with control. As a result, he modified his form in 2000 to a more conventional, less high-legged delivery.
He had a notable compatibility with the Chunichi Dragons, often performing well against them, especially at Nagoya Dome. Conversely, he tended to struggle against the Hanshin Tigers; he did not record a win at Koshien Stadium until the 2004 season, his tenth year in the league.
3.2. Batting Ability
Takahashi was unusually talented as a batter for a pitcher, a skill likely honed during his college years when he played as an outfielder. In a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on March 29, 2003, he broke a tie with an RBI triple. His career batting average in the minor leagues exceeded .300. In official first-team games, he hit a total of three home runs. His first professional home run was a solo shot against Masashi Saito of the Yomiuri Giants on April 8, 2001, in his seventh professional season. This marked the first home run by a Hiroshima pitcher since Hiroshi Hiroike in 1999.
4. Post-Retirement Career
After retiring as a professional player, Ken Takahashi embarked on new ventures in baseball as a commentator and coach.
4.1. Baseball Commentator
From 2011 to 2015, Takahashi worked as a baseball commentator for Chugoku Broadcasting (RCC) and the Hiroshima branch of Daily Sports. During this period, he appeared on various baseball programs, including `S☆1 BASEBALL` (a TBS television network program, locally aired as `RCC Carp Nighter / RCC Carp Day Game Broadcast` on RCC TV) and `MLB Stadium` (on TBS Television and BS-TBS). He also provided commentary for `RCC Carp Nighter / RCC Carp Day Game Broadcast` on RCC Radio.
Beyond broadcasting, Takahashi also became an image character for the Hiroshima Branch of JR West starting in the fall of 2011. He was featured in campaigns for the Sanyo Shinkansen, such as the "Nozomi is coming one after another" commercial, and on posters for the J-WEST Card. On May 16, 2015, he made a surprise appearance at a special chartered one-way Shinkansen event titled "Jōsha-damashii ~RED RIDING~," a fan invitation event hosted by the Hiroshima Carp linked to one-way travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen.
4.2. Coaching Career
Takahashi transitioned into coaching after his commentary stint. On November 7, 2015, the Hanshin Tigers announced his appointment as their minor league pitching coach. This move was influenced by his shared baseball philosophy with Tomoaki Kanemoto, a former Hiroshima teammate who had been appointed Hanshin's first-team manager in October of the same year. His appointment finalized the Hanshin Tigers' coaching staff for the 2016 season.
In 2021, he was reassigned to the minor league development coach position within the Hanshin Tigers organization. However, on November 2, 2021, at the end of the season, his departure from the Hanshin Tigers was announced. Shortly after, on November 15, 2021, it was announced that he would return to his former club, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, as a pitching coach. He currently serves in this role.
5. Personal Life and Trivia
Ken Takahashi is affectionately known by the nickname "Ken-san" (建さんJapanese).
Prior to turning professional, after joining Toyota Motors, Takahashi was selected for the Japanese national team as a pitcher. In the 1993 draft, he received offers from eight professional teams and was considered a first or second-round prospect. However, he remained with the company due to their persuasion. The following year, his draft evaluation dropped due to his team's poor performance, leading him to believe he might not make it to professional baseball. However, on November 13, 1994, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp informed him of their intention to draft him. He expressed immense joy and commitment, stating that the draft position or contract amount did not matter.
Takahashi was involved in two notable home run milestones against the Yomiuri Giants, both hit by Yoshinobu Takahashi. In September 2000 at Tokyo Dome, he gave up the Giants' 100th career sayonara home run. In June 2002 at Sapporo Dome, he conceded the 7500th team home run in Giants' history.
For his contributions to his family, Takahashi received the Best Father Yellow Ribbon Award in the "Professional Baseball Category" in 2010.
6. Awards and Honors
Ken Takahashi received several significant awards and recognitions throughout his career.
- Best Father Yellow Ribbon Award (Professional Baseball Category): 2010
- All-Star Game appearances: 4 times (2000, 2001, 2003, 2008)
7. Career Statistics
Ken Takahashi's career statistics reflect his long tenure in professional baseball in Japan and his brief stint in Major League Baseball.
7.1. Pitching Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | CG | SHO | No-Walk Games | W | L | SV | HLD | W-L% | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | BK | WP | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Hiroshima | 39 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | -- | .500 | 393 | 90.0 | 85 | 12 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 39 | 3.90 | 1.44 |
| 1996 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | .667 | 233 | 52.2 | 57 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 29 | 4.96 | 1.46 | |
| 1997 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | -- | .429 | 282 | 62.0 | 69 | 8 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 33 | 4.79 | 1.66 | |
| 1998 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -- | .273 | 431 | 101.0 | 92 | 10 | 46 | 2 | 2 | 76 | 5 | 1 | 45 | 43 | 3.83 | 1.37 | |
| 1999 | 36 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | -- | .300 | 448 | 102.0 | 102 | 21 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 90 | 9 | 0 | 64 | 53 | 4.68 | 1.39 | |
| 2000 | 50 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 4 | -- | .357 | 482 | 112.1 | 89 | 13 | 57 | 7 | 3 | 88 | 6 | 0 | 56 | 49 | 3.93 | 1.30 | |
| 2001 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | -- | .556 | 736 | 173.0 | 165 | 23 | 60 | 6 | 8 | 132 | 6 | 0 | 89 | 82 | 4.27 | 1.30 | |
| 2002 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 0 | -- | .391 | 758 | 173.1 | 197 | 22 | 38 | 4 | 3 | 142 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 74 | 3.84 | 1.36 | |
| 2003 | 24 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 0 | -- | .529 | 706 | 167.0 | 174 | 26 | 36 | 2 | 8 | 127 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 68 | 3.66 | 1.26 | |
| 2004 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | -- | .231 | 428 | 96.0 | 122 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 59 | 5.53 | 1.52 | |
| 2005 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 133 | 26.2 | 43 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 9.45 | 1.95 | |
| 2006 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 15 | .400 | 201 | 46.0 | 46 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 24 | 4.70 | 1.35 | |
| 2007 | 22 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .556 | 481 | 112.0 | 116 | 18 | 36 | 1 | 5 | 74 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 46 | 3.70 | 1.36 | |
| 2008 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .615 | 503 | 115.2 | 124 | 11 | 42 | 2 | 5 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 45 | 3.50 | 1.44 | |
| 2009 | NYM | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 116 | 27.1 | 23 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 2.96 | 1.35 |
| 2010 | Hiroshima | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | .444 | 144 | 30.0 | 37 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 31 | 9.30 | 1.87 |
| NPB: 15 years | 459 | 182 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 70 | 92 | 5 | 23 | .432 | 6359 | 1459.2 | 1518 | 216 | 522 | 37 | 41 | 1066 | 43 | 3 | 793 | 703 | 4.33 | 1.40 | |
| MLB: 1 year | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 116 | 27.1 | 23 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 2.96 | 1.35 | |
7.2. Fielding Statistics
Takahashi's fielding statistics as a pitcher are provided below.
| Year | Team | Pitcher (P) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PO | A | E | DP | FP | ||
| 1995 | Hiroshima | 39 | 4 | 22 | 1 | 1 | .963 |
| 1996 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | .933 | |
| 1997 | 34 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 2 | .944 | |
| 1998 | 41 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 0 | .967 | |
| 1999 | 36 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| 2000 | 50 | 6 | 24 | 2 | 1 | .938 | |
| 2001 | 30 | 13 | 26 | 3 | 3 | .929 | |
| 2002 | 26 | 11 | 31 | 4 | 2 | .913 | |
| 2003 | 24 | 8 | 31 | 2 | 3 | .951 | |
| 2004 | 18 | 5 | 22 | 1 | 4 | .964 | |
| 2005 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | .833 | |
| 2006 | 54 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2007 | 22 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 2 | .958 | |
| 2008 | 21 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2009 | NYM | 28 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 |
| 2010 | Hiroshima | 26 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| NPB | 459 | 85 | 274 | 18 | 23 | .952 | |
| MLB | 28 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | |
8. Key Records and Milestones
Ken Takahashi achieved several notable records and milestones throughout his professional career, both as a pitcher and a batter.
8.1. Firsts
These are the initial achievements recorded by Ken Takahashi during his professional career.
- Pitching Records
- First appearance: April 8, 1995, against the Yokohama BayStars (Game 2) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, as the second relief pitcher in the sixth inning, pitching 1.2 innings allowing 2 hits and 0 runs.
- First strikeout: April 8, 1995, against Takahiro Saeki in the seventh inning of the above game.
- First start: April 16, 1995, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Game 3) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, resulting in a loss after pitching 4 innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs.
- First win: April 20, 1995, against the Chunichi Dragons (Game 3) at Nagaragawa Stadium, as the second relief pitcher in the second inning, pitching 6 scoreless innings.
- First save: September 29, 1996, against the Yokohama BayStars (Game 25) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, as the third relief pitcher in the seventh inning, completing 3 scoreless innings.
- First start win: October 6, 1996, against the Yokohama BayStars (Game 26) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing 3 runs.
- First complete game win and first complete game shutout: August 1, 1999, against the Yomiuri Giants (Game 18) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium.
- First hold: April 19, 2006, against the Yokohama BayStars (Game 2) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, as the second relief pitcher in the sixth inning, pitching 2 scoreless innings.
- Batting Records
- First hit: June 14, 1996, against Masaru Yamamoto of the Chunichi Dragons (Game 10) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, a right-field single in the second inning.
- First RBI: September 29, 1999, against Kurt Miller of the Hanshin Tigers (Game 25) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, an infield single in the first inning.
- First home run: April 8, 2001, against Masashi Saito of the Yomiuri Giants (Game 3) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, a solo home run to right field in the third inning.
8.2. Milestone Records
Takahashi reached significant career milestones in pitching.
- 1000 innings pitched: Achieved on August 20, 2003, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Game 20) at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, by recording the second out in the first inning against Alex Ramirez (groundout to third base). He was the 293rd player in NPB history to reach this milestone.
- 1000 strikeouts: Achieved on May 9, 2008, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Game 4) at Meiji Jingu Stadium, by striking out Kyohei Muranaka in the second inning. He was the 121st player in NPB history to reach this milestone.
8.3. Other Notable Records
Takahashi's career included several other distinctive achievements.
- He participated in the All-Star Game four times (2000, 2001, 2003, 2008).
- His selection to the 2008 All-Star Game by fan vote at 39 years and 2 months old set a record for the oldest pitcher to be chosen through fan balloting.
- At 40 years old, he became the third oldest player to make their MLB debut since World War II.
- On April 16-17, 2010, he became the first pitcher in NPB history in their 40s to record wins on two consecutive days.
- His complete game shutout against the Yomiuri Giants on April 19, 2008, was the second oldest in Hiroshima Toyo Carp history and the oldest against the Giants.
9. Uniform Numbers
Ken Takahashi used different uniform numbers throughout his playing and coaching careers.
- 22 (1995-2008, 2010) - Playing career with Hiroshima Toyo Carp
- 36 (2009) - Playing career with New York Mets
- 72 (2016-2021) - Coaching career with Hanshin Tigers (Pitching Coach, Development Coach)
- 87 (2022-present) - Coaching career with Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Pitching Coach)