Kohei Arihara
Arihara with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 17
Pitcher
Born: (1992-08-11) August 11, 1992
Hiroshima, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: May 15, 2015, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB: April 3, 2021, for the Texas Rangers
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record70-55
Earned run average3.56
Strikeouts700
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record3–7
Earned run average7.57
Strikeouts38
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kohei Arihara (有原 航平, Arihara Kōhei, born August 11, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball (MLB) and for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters NPB.

Early baseball career

Arihara with the Waseda University Baseball Club.

Arihara entered Koryo High School, participated in the spring 82rd Japanese High School Baseball Invitational Tournament and the summer 92rd Japanese High School Baseball Championship in his third year.[1]

He also entered Waseda University, and won the Best ERA leader Award in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League in the fall of his junior year, and was selected for the Best Nine Award in the spring of his senior year.[1]

Professional career

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters selected Arihara with the third selection in the 2014 NPB draft.[2]

Arihara with the Fighters in 2018.

On May 15, 2015, Arihara made his NPB debut. He won the Pacific League Rookie of the Year after pitching to an 8–8 record with 102 strikeouts.[3][4] Arihara won the Japan Series in the 2016 season, and was also a NPB All-Star after he posted a 2.94 ERA and 11–9 record in 22 appearances.

In 2017, Arihara registered a 10–13 record and 4.74 ERA in 25 appearances. In 20 games in 2018, Arihara pitched to a 8–5 record and a 4.55 ERA with 87 strikeouts. In 2019, Arihara led the NPB in wins, with 15, and was named an All-Star for the second time in his career. In 2020, Arihara recorded an 8–9 record and 3.46 ERA in 20 games.

After the 2020 season, on November 26, 2020, the Fighters announced they were allowing Arihara to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).[5]

Texas Rangers

On December 26, 2020, Arihara signed a two-year contract worth $6.2 million[6] with the Texas Rangers of MLB.[7][8] On April 3, 2021, Arihara made his MLB debut as the starting pitcher against the Kansas City Royals, allowing 3 earned runs in 5.0 innings of work with 1 strikeout.

On May 22, 2021, it was revealed that Arihara had a posterior humeral circumflex artery aneurysm in his right shoulder, which required surgery, ruling him out for at least 12 weeks.[9] On May 26, he was placed on the 60-day injured list.[10] On September 1, Arihara was activated from the injured list. On September 19, Arihara was designated for assignment by the Rangers.[11]

He had his contract selected back to the major league roster on August 16, 2022. In a September 10 start against the Toronto Blue Jays, Arihara was clobbered for 11 earned runs on 12 hits and 5 walks in 3.0 innings pitched.[12] The next day, Arihara was designated for assignment, with a cumulative 9.45 ERA in 5 games. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Round Rock Express on September 14.[13] He elected free agency on November 6.[14]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On January 6, 2023, Arihara returned to Japan, signing a deal with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[15]

In the interleague play against the Yokohama DeNA Baystars on June 6, 2023, Arihara pitched for the first time since returning to NPB.[16] He also earned his first win with the Hawks on June 13 in the interleague play against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[17] In 2023 season, he finished the regular season with a 17 Games pitched, a 10-5 Win–loss record, a 2.31 ERA, and a 74 strikeouts in 120.2 innings.

References

  1. 1 2 "High School Baseball.com news エース・有原を擁し春は全国4強！春夏連続出場を果たした2010年の広陵ナインのその後". High School Baseball.com (in Japanese). September 2, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "北海道日本ハムファイターズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Hurler Arihara foils Marines as Fighters cruise to 13th consecutive victory The Japan Times-Jul 9, 2016 Kohei Arihara allowed no runs for the second straight start, pitching the ... Arihara (9–3), last year's PL Rookie of the Year, worked eight innings". Japan Times. Japan Times. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Yakult's Yamada, Softbank's Yanagita win MVP Awards". Japan Times. Japan Times. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "有原航平投手のポスティングシステム申請手続きについて". 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  6. ↑ T.R. Sullivan (December 26, 2020). "Arihara gives Rangers innings, rotation depth". MLB.com. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Texas Rangers sign free agent RHP Kohei Arihara to two-year contract". MLB.com Press Release. December 26, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ "有原投手とテキサス・レンジャーズとの契約が成立". 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). December 27, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Rangers' Kohei Arihara to Undergo Shoulder Surgery". 22 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Rangers Place David Dahl on IL, Select Jason Martin". 26 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Rangers' Kohei Arihara: DFA'd by Texas". 19 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rangers unable to compete rally after rough start from Kohei Arihara against Blue Jays". dallasnews.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Passes through waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Kohei Arihara: Becomes free agent". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Amphetamines Land Miguel Tejada 105 Game Suspension". 17 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 有原航平　日本復帰後初登板初先発で好投6回2/3を102球1失点 勝ち負けつかず降板". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 6, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Nikkansports Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】有原航平、移籍後初勝利　６回５安打１失点　21年の右肩手術から復活". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
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