Kodai Senga

Kodai Senga (千賀 滉大, Senga Kodai, born January 30, 1993, in Gamagōri, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Kodai Senga
Senga with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 41
pitcher
Born: (1993-01-30) January 30, 1993
Gamagōri, Aichi, Japan
Bats: Left Throws: Right
debut
April 30, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record66-35
ERA2.69
Holds20
Saves1
Strikeouts1,006
Teams
Career highlights and awards

He has been consistently rated by MLB scouts as having the potential to be a top quality starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.[1][2]

Professional career

On October 28, 2010, Senga was drafted as a developmental squad player (ja:育成選手制度 (日本プロ野球)) by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2010 Nippon Professional Baseball draft with Takuya Kai and Taisei Makihara.[3][4][5]

From 2011 season to mid-2012 season, he played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues. On April 23, 2012, he signed a 4.4 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under management. (ja:支配下選手登録)[6]

In 2013 season, he lined up the Pacific League record of consecutive no-Run innings (34 1/3 innings) by relief pitchers.

In 2017 season, he finished the regular season with a 13–4 Win–loss record, a 2.64 ERA, a 151 strikeouts in 143 innings and he won the 2017 Pacific League Winning percentage leader (.765 Winning percentage).[7]

In 2019, Senga attempted unsuccessfully to get the Hawks to post him to Major League Baseball teams.[8] On September 6, 2019, he achieved the second no-hitter as Hawks, for the first time in 76 years. This is the first time a player has been drafted with the developmental squad players draft.[9]

International career

Senga represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2016 exhibition games against Mexico and Netherlands, 2017 World Baseball Classic.

In the 2017 World Baseball Classic,Following the conclusion of the tournament, he was named to the 2017 All-World Baseball Classic team.[10][11]

On October 1, 2019, he was selected at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[12] But he canceled his participation because of the accumulation of fatigue in the regular season.[13]

Playing style

Senga is a 6 ft 2 in, 198 lb right-handed pitcher.[14] With a three-quarters delivery he throws a fastball topping out at 161 kilometres per hour (100.0 mph),[15] a deceptive forkball,[16] a cutter and a slider. Due to the effectiveness of his forkball, the pitch has been nicknamed "ghost fork(ball)" in Japan.[17][18]

References
  1. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/04/e6fae4bb16f1-baseball-his-mlb-dream-on-hold-senga-makes-opponents-feel-his-pain.html
  2. https://thedynastyguru.com/2016/11/15/kodai-senga-potential-strikeout-machine/
  3. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 由規弟ら各球団育成選手一覧／ドラフト". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  4. ja:2010年度新人選手選択会議 (日本プロ野球)
  5. In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under management (roster of players) , each team can have developmental squad players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management within the 3 year contract period (Non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  6. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 【ソフトＢ】千賀が支配下契約128→21". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 23, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  7. "2017年度 表彰選手（パシフィック・リーグ）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  8. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/01/30/baseball/japanese-baseball/pitcher-kodai-senga-says-hawks-refuse-budge-posting/
  9. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 【ソフトＢ】令和初！ソフトＢ千賀ノーヒットノーラン　80人目". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 6, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  10. "PREVIEW: Israel Looks To Fend Off Elimination, Must Defeat Japan To Force Tiebreaker Game: - Hardball Scoop - Scout
  11. "World Baseball Classic: Previous champs, results, medal count, MVPs, All-WBC teams", CBS Sports.
  12. "「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」出場選手決定について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク千賀プレミア12辞退、疲労蓄積を考慮". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  14. NPB profile (2020)
  15. Daily Sports (2019/03/29)
  16. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/03/09/baseball/japan-beats-australia-second-straight-win-world-baseball-classic/#.XQRlHVUzbGg
  17. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/10/26/baseball/japanese-baseball/hawks-kodai-senga-awaits-chance-battle-carp-fearful-rare-hitting-assignment/#.XQR-KVUzbGg
  18. https://thedynastyguru.com/2016/11/15/kodai-senga-potential-strikeout-machine/
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