Taiki Ono

Taiki Ono (小野 泰己, Ono, Taiki, born May 30, 1994 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball.[1]

Taiki Ono
Hanshin Tigers – No. 28
Pitcher
Born: (1995-05-30) May 30, 1995
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
Bats: Right Throws: Right
NPB debut
May 21, 2017, for the Hanshin Tigers
Career statistics
(through 2020 season)
Games52
Win-Loss9–15
Earned Run Average4.49
Strikeouts165
Teams

Early baseball career

Taiki started playing softball in 1st grade, and went to play for the Koujaku Junior High softball team. Upon entering Orio Aishin High, he became the baseball team's ace pitcher in his 2nd year, but his team never made it to Koshien.[1] With a desire to play in the professional leagues upon graduating high school, he submitted his application for the autumn professional baseball draft. But when none of the 12 teams drafted him, he decided to enter Fuji University in Iwate.[2]

He was a regular starter for his team as they participated in the Northern Tohoku University Baseball League. In his 3rd year, he won all of his starts, and grabbed the league's title for best pitcher with an untarnished ERA of 0.00. The following year, he finished with a 0.45 ERA, won the league MVP and best nine award,[3] and helped his team win the championships.[4] He left the league with a 12–1 win-loss record.

Hanshin Tigers

He was the Tiger's 2nd round pick during the 2016 professional draft. He signed a 70 million yen contract with Hanshin, for an estimated annual salary of 12 million yen. He was assigned jersey number 28, which formerly belonged to reliever Shinobu Fukuhara who retired in 2016, and is currently working as a pitching coach for Hanshin's farm league team.[1]

2017

Along with fellow draftees Kento Itohara and Yūsuke Ōyama, Taiki joined the main roster's spring training camp.[5] His 150 km/h fastball was highly regarded by coaches, so he remained with the main roster until the camp ended. However, due to his lackluster performance during the pre-season games (3 games, 6.55 ERA), he was sent back to the farms before opening day.[6]

He debuted on May 21 match against the Yakult Swallows in Meiji Jingu, where he pitted against fellow uni-drafted rookie Tomoya Hoshi. While he gave up 4 earned runs including 2 home runs and didn't grab the win, Hanshin won the match when they took back the lead on the 7th.[7]

Playing Style

With an overhand delivery, he throws a four-seam fastball averaging 145 km/h (tops out at 151 km/h), a forkball clocked at low 130s, an occasional curveball, and a solid slider that ranges from 120–140 km/h.[8] His fastest pitch ever recorded was a 153 km/h fastball, thrown during spring camp training.[9]

Trivia

His father, being an avid fan of horse racing, named him "Taiki" (泰己) after the famous racehorse Taiki Blizzard whose total earnings exceeded 1 billion yen back in the 1990s.[10]

Career Statistics

References
  1. "阪神ドラ２小野が仮契約　高山斬りで１軍アピール". Nikkan Sports. December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  2. "阪神２位小野、高校時代憧れ本拠甲子園「うれしい」". Nikkan Sports. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  3. "阪神２位指名の富士大・小野、新人王獲り宣言「甲子園は憧れ」／ドラフト]". Sankei Sports. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  4. "阪神ドラ２小野、１４２球完投で神宮大会出場決めた！最速１４９キロ１０Ｋ". Daily Sports. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  5. "年春季一軍キャンプメンバーについて]阪神タイガース". Hanshin Tigers News. February 20, 2017.
  6. "阪神ドラ2小野二軍落ち「はい上がって一軍を」". Nikkan Sports. March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  7. "阪神ドラフト2位小野ほろ苦初登板4失点…まだまだ力不足". Nikkan Sports. March 25, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  8. 2017年度　大野　雄大【中日】投手成績詳細
  9. "阪神小野が自己最速153キロ!金本監督「すごい」". Nikkan Sports. March 2, 2017.
  10. "阪神2位小野は「泰己ブリザード」競馬好き父が命名". Nikkan Sports. January 12, 2017.
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