Scouts Gather to Evaluate 2-Meter-Tall Pitchers Aiming to Follow in Ohtani and Darvish’s Footsteps

As the summer Koshien tournament qualifiers are in full swing, tall pitchers are making headlines.

“This year, there are more excellent pitchers over 190 cm than ever before. Some players are even over 2 meters tall. Tall pitchers can throw angled pitches at batters and, thanks to their exceptional physique, find it easier to throw fast balls.

Many have become top-tier pitchers, such as Yu Darvish (196 cm, Padres), Shohei Ohtani (193 cm, Dodgers), Shintaro Fujinami (197 cm, Mets Triple-A Syracuse), and Roki Sasaki (192 cm, Lotte). To scout such promising talent, many professional scouts, including those from Major League teams, are flocking to the qualifying games.” (National sports reporter)

 

Attention from 10 Japanese and American Teams

We want to introduce the true abilities and backgrounds of the highly anticipated tall pitchers.

The leading figure is Harun Kikuchi (3rd year) from Chiba Gakugei (Chiba Prefecture). Standing 2 meters tall and weighing 103 kg, he is a right-handed pitcher born to a Pakistani father and a Japanese mother. He started pitching in games from his first year and became the ace in his third year. His fastball speed, which was around 120 km/h when he entered school, has increased to a top speed of 149 km/h in just over two years (as of July 22, current qualifying conditions and results).

“He has the ability to pitch a variety of breaking balls, including curves, sliders, and forks, from a well-balanced pitching form, and is highly rated by professionals for his considerable potential. Scouts from approximately 10 Japanese and American teams visited the Sakura game in the second round, with radar guns lined up behind the backstop.” (same source)

Chiba Gakugei was defeated in the fourth round of the prefectural qualifiers, but Kikuchi is a highly anticipated pitcher with a promising future.

Tsubasa Kobune (3rd year) from Chitoku (Shizuoka Prefecture) stands 198 cm tall and weighs 110 kg. Despite not having notable achievements during his senior years, he began to gain attention in high school, and in the spring tournament of this year, he repeatedly threw pitches in the 150 km/h range. In a game where he threw a 152 km/h pitch, tying the record for high school students in the prefecture, he struck out 14 batters.

“He primarily uses fastballs and sliders, with his fastball having a heavy, impactful feel. In the first round of the summer prefectural qualifiers, he threw a top speed of 148 km/h while being observed by scouts from seven Japanese and American teams. Although he had to leave the game early due to an accident where a batted ball hit his face and cut his lip, his team won, and he is a pitcher to watch for the future.” (same source)

Ryusei Fujita, a left-handed pitcher from Tokai University Sagami, stands 198 cm tall and weighs 92 kg, allowing him to focus his fastballs low. By middle school, he was already 193 cm tall and had gained attention for throwing a 137 km/h fastball and participating in national tournaments. In the quarterfinals of this summer’s tournament against Nihon University Fujisawa, he pitched 7 innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 6, and not conceding any runs. His fastball reached a personal best of 149 km/h, increasing the expectations of the scouts in attendance.

“Given the rarity of left-handed pitchers, it’s understandable that professionals are paying attention when a tall pitcher can throw near 150 km/h. Tokai University Sagami has a deep pitching roster, so Fujita won’t be pitching extensively in the qualifiers. Even if they advance to Koshien, he’ll be able to pitch with minimal fatigue.” (Baseball magazine editor)

In the summer of Koshien two years ago, Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi Prefecture), which won the championship, and last year’s runner-up, had pitcher Ren-oh Yamaguchi (3rd year). With a build of 193 cm and 95 kg, he lifts his left leg high to his face like Roki Sasaki and throws at a top speed of 151 km/h. In the Tohoku game of the prefectural qualifiers’ third round, he pitched 8⅔ innings without allowing a run. Combined with the semifinals, he has pitched 9⅓ innings so far without giving up any runs.

“Sendai Ikuei had the ‘150 km trio’ of Koki Takahashi, Toma Yuda, and Haruto Nitta, who became Japan’s best in the summer of ’22. This year, they have a strong pitching lineup with nine pitchers exceeding 140 km/h. Among them, pitcher Yamaguchi is a material that Coach Wataru Sue has said, ‘Since becoming the coach of Sendai Ikuei, I have been paying the most attention to'” (same).

Takashi Shimizu (3rd year) of Maebashi Shō (Gunma Prefecture) is also a large pitcher who throws at a top speed of 148 km/h from 192 cm and 92 kg. Although he did not achieve sufficient results when he appeared as a second pitcher in the Clark International game at last year’s summer Koshien, his fastball still recorded 144 km/h.

In the prefectural qualifiers’ second round, amidst the inspection of scouts from seven teams, he navigated through 7 innings with 6 hits and no runs allowed while mixing his fastest 143 km/h fastball and a slow curve, leading his team to victory. Although he allowed runs as a reliever in the quarterfinals, he threw his personal best 149 km/h. If pitcher Shimizu continues to excel and wins through the prefectural tournament, it seems likely that we will see his pitching again at Koshien.

In addition, there are notable large pitchers such as Hiroki Imasamaru (3rd year, 188 cm, 80 kg) from Hōtoku Gakuen (Hyōgo Prefecture), who throws up to 151 km/h. The high school tall pitchers introduced might follow in the footsteps of Ohtani and Darvish, and could shine on the major or professional stages in the future.