Kaima Taira

Yuri Karasawa ( https://x.com/yakyucosmo ) and Brandon Tew ( https://x.com/brandonteweets ) discuss the latest storylines from Japanese baseball. 00:00 - Ohtani’s best season ever? 06:45 - Rikuu Nishida called up to CWS 12:28 - Rintaro Sasaki’s decision looms 25:01 - Roki Sasaki is back 37:47 - Yuudai Yamamoto traded for Shuto Ogata 48:55 - How valuable are defensive catchers? 54:06 - News: Shinnosuke Abe resigns, Zombie cigarette scandal update, Shunpeita Yamashita Tommy John 59:30 - Hiroto Takahashi demoted 1:01:06 - Kaima Taira’s MLB upside? 1:03:56 - Ryosuke Ohtsu’s rise 1:05:50 - Interleague update & conclusion https://japanball.com https://extrainningstravel.com https://yakyucosmo.com

Yuri Karasawa ( https://x.com/yakyucosmo ) and Brandon Tew ( https://x.com/brandonteweets ) discuss the latest developments in Nippon Professional Baseball from Hiroya Miyagi's injury to Kaima Taira and Haruto Takahashi dominating on the mound to Teruaki Sato and Shota Morishita raking at the plate. 00:00 - Roki Sasaki 05:02 - Tatsuya Imai 10:03 - Shota Imanaga, Kodai Senga, Tomoyuki Sugano 18:25 - Hiroya Miyagi Requires Tommy John Surgery 25:10 - Best Pitcher in NPB Right Now? 29:10 - Haruto Takahashi, Kaima Taira 38:09 - Kosei Shoji, Ryoji Kuribayashi, Kona Takahashi 46:38 - Best Takahashi: Haruto, Hiroto, Kona 50:25 - Hiroto Saiki 1:00:40 - Teruaki Sato, Shota Morishita 1:11:20 - Early Standout Hitters 1:17:50 - Conclusion https://japanball.com https://extrainningstravel.com

Yuri Karasawa ( https://x.com/yakyucosmo ) and Brandon Tew ( https://x.com/brandonteweets ) talk about early season Nippon Professional Baseball news and performances, including Haruki Hosono's no-hitter, Ryoji Kuribayashi's near perfect game, Allen Kuri's shutout, Kotaro Kiyomiya's hot start, and much more. https://japanball.com https://extrainningstravel.com 00:00 - Murakami, Okamoto, Imai in MLB 07:28 - Haruki Hosono's No-Hitter 13:19 - Kotaro Kiyomiya's Hot Start 24:15 - Ryoji Kuribayashi's Near-Perfecto 32:14 - Allen Kuri's Shutout 39:45 - Anderson Espinoza, Haruto Takahashi, Kaima Taira Throw CGSO 49:43 - Kenta Maeda's NPB Return 56:01 - NPB vs. MLB Ball Movement 1:03:23 - Worried about Hiromi Itoh? 1:07:10 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa ( https://x.com/yakyucosmo ) and Brandon Tew ( https://x.com/brandonteweets ) break down their top 20 starting pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2026 season. Where do they agree and disagree? Yuri's Breakdowns: https://www.justbaseball.com/international-baseball/npb-top-15-starting-pitcher-rankings-2026/ Brandon's Scouting Reports: https://www.prospectslive.com/author/brandon-tew/ 00:00 - Introduction 02:53 - Shunpeita Yamashita, Hiromi Itoh, Livan Moinelo, Hiroya Miyagi 13:50 - Atsuki Taneichi & Jon Duplantier 21:07 - Kaima Taira & Forrest Whitley 30:32 - Chihiro Sumida & Koki Kitayama 37:36 - Hiroto Takahashi & Shoki Murakami 53:32 - Haruto Takahashi & Hiroto Saiki 01:03:16 - Haruya Tanaka, Kota Tatsu, Yumeto Kanemaru 01:11:38 - Katsuki Azuma & Ryuhei Sotani 01:17:23 - Ruei-Yang Gu Lin & Iori Yamasaki 01:22:59 - Just Outside the Top 20

In this episode of Pacific Swings, David and Jasper talk with Kaima Taira (平良海馬) , the Seibu Lions ace closer who has dominated Japanese baseball with a legendary 1.88 career ERA across seven NPB seasons. For the first time ever, Kaima Taira speaks in English! From his devastating slide step that makes elite hitters look foolish to his ambitious quest to throw 170 km/h (105 MPH), Taira opens up about his journey from a tiny 6-player junior high school team in Okinawa to becoming one of the most feared closers in Japanese baseball. Key Topics Covered: The secret behind his slide step technique that baffles elite hitters Why his high school coach's advice changed his entire pitching approach forever How he prepares differently as a starter vs closer (spoiler: he doesn't prepare much as a closer) The mental game of closing tight games with bases loaded and 40,000 fans screaming His devastating pitch arsenal: 100+ MPH fastball, unhittable cutter , and why he switched from splitter to changeup Facing Japan's best hitters like Yanagita (SoftBank) and why the Fighters lineup is so dangerous His YouTube channel documenting the quest to throw 170 km/h and why that final 10% is nearly impossible Life as a new father while still throwing 100+ MPH (spoiler: no sleep, no video games) Growing up in Okinawa as a Chiba Lotte fan and watching spring training His off-season hobbies: fishing in beautiful Okinawan waters and terrible golf Why he'd be a YouTuber if he wasn't a professional baseball player Whether you're fascinated by elite pitching mechanics or want to understand what separates NPB's best closers from the rest, this episode delivers rare insights from someone operating at the absolute pinnacle of Japanese baseball. Kaima Taira is the ace pitcher for the Seibu Lions with a career 1.88 ERA across seven NPB seasons, known for his devastating slide step and 100+ MPH fastball while pursuing his goal of throwing 170 km/h. 🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: 日本の100マイル・クローザーが打てないスライドステップの秘密を明かす エピソードノート: 西武ライオンズのエース・クローザー平良海馬が、NPB通算防御率1.88という伝説的な成績を誇る投手として、沖縄の6人制高校チームから日本最恐のクローザーまでの軌跡を語ります。 主要トピック: 打者を翻弄するスライドステップの秘密 先発とクローザーの違い 柳田悠岐など日本最高打者との対戦 170km/h達成への挑戦 新米パパとしての生活 Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 10 キーワード: 平良海馬、西武ライオンズ、NPB、クローザー、スライドステップ、100マイル 🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 일본의 100마일 마무리 투수가 치기 어려운 슬라이드 스텝의 비밀을 공개 에피소드 노트: 세이부 라이온즈의 에이스 마무리 투수 타이라 카이마가 NPB 통산 평균자책점 1.88이라는 전설적 성적을 자랑하는 투수로서, 오키나와의 6인제 고교팀에서 일본 최강의 마무리 투수까지의 궤적을 들려줍니다. 주요 주제: 타자를 농락하는 슬라이드 스텝의 비밀 선발과 마무리의 차이점 야나기타 유키 등 일본 최고 타자들과의 대결 170km/h 달성을 향한 도전 신임 아빠로서의 생활 Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 10 키워드: 타이라 카이마, 세이부 라이온즈, NPB, 마무리 투수, 슬라이드 스텝, 100마일

In our second episode, we sit down with left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns , who has lived the Pacific Swings experience across three countries and three professional leagues. From his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins to starring in Japan's NPB with the Seibu Lions , and then dominating in Korea's KBO with the LG Twins , Dietrich brings a unique perspective on international baseball. Key topics covered: The culture shock of landing in Japan and experiencing earthquakes in your first week How different baseballs completely change your pitching approach across leagues The incredible training regimens and attention to detail in Japanese baseball Why NPB starters throw 150-pitch bullpens and complete games at 130+ pitches The electric atmosphere of Asian baseball fans and their coordinated chants Facing elite talent like Yamakawa's 44-homer season and Kensuke Kondoh's hitting wizardry The rising wave of Japanese pitching talent heading to MLB Living as a foreign player: from steakhouses in Tanashi to navigating train systems The respect and politeness that defines Japanese baseball culture Dietrich also shares insights on pitchers like Tatsuya Imai and Kaima Taira, discusses the differences between Korean and Japanese baseball cultures, and explains why the texture and seams of different baseballs can make or break a pitcher's career overseas. This episode delivers authentic stories from someone who's mastered the art of adaptation across three very different baseball worlds. 🇯🇵 JAPANESE VERSION: エピソードタイトル: 三つの国、三つの野球ボール：ディートリック・エンス エピソードノート: 左腕投手ディートリック・エンスがMLB、NPB、KBOでの経験を語ります。ミネソタ・ツインズでのデビューから西武ライオンズ、LG双子まで、三つのリーグでの野球の違いと文化について深く掘り下げます。 主要トピック： 日本での地震体験と文化的衝撃 各リーグの野球ボールの違いと投球への影響 日本の訓練体制と150球ブルペン アジアファンの熱狂的応援 山川、近藤健介などのエリート選手との対戦 今井達也、平良海馬の才能 外国人選手としての生活体験 シーズン番号: 1 エピソード番号: 2 エピソードタイプ: フル 露骨な内容: いいえ キーワード: ディートリック・エンス、NPB、KBO、MLB、日本野球、韓国野球、西武ライオンズ、LG双子、国際野球 🇰🇷 KOREAN VERSION: 에피소드 제목: 세 나라, 세 개의 야구공: 디트릭 엔스 에피소드 노트: 좌완 투수 디트릭 엔스가 MLB, NPB, KBO에서의 경험을 들려줍니다. 미네소타 트윈스 데뷔부터 세이부 라이온즈, LG 트윈스까지, 세 리그의 야구 차이점과 문화에 대해 깊이 탐구합니다. 주요 주제: 일본에서의 지진 경험과 문화적 충격 각 리그 야구공의 차이점과 투구에 미치는 영향 일본의 훈련 체제와 150구 불펜 아시아 팬들의 열광적인 응원 야마카와, 콘도 겐스케 등 엘리트 선수들과의 대결 이마이 타츠야, 타이라 카이마의 재능 외국인 선수로서의 생활 경험 시즌 번호: 1 에피소드 번호: 2 에피소드 타입: 풀 노골적인 내용: 아니요 키워드: 디트릭 엔스, NPB, KBO, MLB, 일본 야구, 한국 야구, 세이부 라이온즈, LG 트윈스, 국제 야구