On the 2nd, the Seibu Lions announced that pitcher Kona Takahashi will exercise his international free agent rights.
Takahashi joined the Seibu Lions as the first-round draft pick in 2014. After recording five wins, including his first professional win, in his first year in 2015, he achieved his first double-digit win season in his fifth year in 2019. He reached the regulation innings pitched for the first time in 2020 and continued to reach it for four consecutive years starting that year, throwing 175 2/3 innings in 2022. He recorded double-digit wins for three consecutive years starting in 2021, with a career-high 12 wins in 2022. In 2024, he struggled with 0 wins and 11 losses and a 3.87 ERA across 15 games, but last season he pitched 148 innings over 24 games, recording 8 wins, 9 losses, and a 3.04 ERA. This season, he pitched 138 1/3 innings over 22 games, recording 9 wins, 6 losses, and a 2.54 ERA.
▼ Kona Takahashi
I am filled with gratitude toward the many people who have supported me and for the fact that I have been able to continue pitching on the first-team stage without any major injuries until now. Regarding my free agency rights, I decided to exercise them as a result of considering my future baseball life and prioritizing my own feelings about what I want to do. I was honestly happy to receive words from the club saying, 'Thank you for pitching for The Lions all this time.' I believe I am who I am today because they continued to use me even during difficult times. I am truly grateful. The 12 years I spent with The Lions had many ups and downs, but they went by in a flash. They respected each individual's personality and allowed me to play freely. I feel that it was because of that environment that I was able to develop my skills. I am truly grateful to all the fans for supporting me through both good times and bad. In particular, I really love and have a strong impression of the loud cheers that felt like they were pushing me forward, saying 'Go get 'em,' when my entrance music played as I headed to the mound in the 9th inning. During the year I couldn't get a single win, I was personally struggling and felt I hadn't met many people's expectations. I received some harsh words, but what remains in my heart even now is how people encouraged me more by saying, 'You can do it' and 'You've still got it.' It was truly reassuring that people stayed by my side and kept offering words of encouragement even when I wasn't getting the results I wanted. It is because of everyone's support that I have been able to keep pitching this far. I am truly grateful. Thank you very much.
