The Savior of Seibu: Junior High Mentor Reflects on Shinnosuke Haneda Japan’s Randy Johnson

Beatboxing performance on the bus

To avenge last season’s dismal performance—finishing dead last with a 49–91 record—the Seibu Lions have started this season under their new manager, Fumiya Nishiguchi.

Looking to be the team’s savior is pitcher Shinnosuke Haneda (21), now in his fourth year as a pro, who earned his first-ever spot on the Opening Day roster.

Standing 191 cm tall, the left-hander draws attention for his sidearm-esque delivery and fastball that tops out at 156 km/h. He’s even been dubbed the “Japanese Randy Johnson.”

Last year, Haneda began the season in the minors but posted an impressive 0.33 ERA over five games, earning a call-up in May. He pitched both in relief and as a starter but struggled to make an impact, resulting in a demotion. However, he returned in September and earned his first professional win in relief against the SoftBank Hawks.

“Top-tier pitchers like Kaima Taira (25), our closer, and Manager Nishiguchi have all said, ‘That guy’s something else.’ He’s undoubtedly a top-tier talent,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

Haneda hails from Tokorozawa, home to the Seibu Lions. His family lives near the Belluna Dome. In junior high, he joined the prestigious Tokyo-based youth team, Higashi Nerima Little Senior, which also produced stars like Kenshi Sugiya and Chusei Mannami. Haneda was three years younger than Mannami.

Former team manager Satoshi Tokumoto recalls:

“He was tall from the beginning, but skinny and frail. Still, since he had been selected for the Lions Jr. team, we kept an eye on him. The first time I saw him play catch, I was struck by the fluidity of his arm—it moved like a whip. I was convinced he’d become a phenomenal player once he physically matured.”

Though he showed promise, Haneda struggled with growing pains and was often unable to pitch much.

“We agreed with the pitching coach at the time to wait for his body to catch up before pushing him too hard,” Tokumoto added.

He was an oddity—throwing faster than older players at times, yet unable to do basic core workouts like sit-ups or pull-ups. People around him often wondered how he managed to throw so hard.

By his third year of junior high, he had grown to 185 cm and was a physical standout on the team.

“He could pitch a decent number of pitches, but his control was all over the place, so he’d end up only lasting about three innings. He had a quirky, laid-back personality and was known on the team as ‘the alien.’ I still remember him skillfully beatboxing during our bus rides,” said Tokumoto.

This season, Haneda has struggled with control, often getting hit when leaving pitches over the plate. Still, the day when this local Tokorozawa native truly lifts the team is surely approaching.