Regarded as a potential next generation ace of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows' mound staff, left-hander Keiji Takahashi has had his ups and downs heading into his fifth pro season since being drafted out of high school.
The 23-year-old Takahashi, whose main weapon is a 150-plus kph fastball, secured a steady place on the Swallows' roster last season when he compiled a 4-6 record in 20 appearances.
But as he found on June 7 in a practice game against the Yomiuri Giants, success is never a sure thing. He was hammered for six runs in less than two innings, another sign of the vast gap between his good days and bad.
While Swallows manager Shingo Takatsu has tapped Takahashi for a spot in the starting rotation when the season starts, he is also encouraging him to further step up his game.
Against the Giants, the Takahashi "at his worst" was just that. He gave up six hits, including two home runs, in 1-1/3 innings, and also issued two walks. While he hit 150 kph numerous times on the speed gun and all four of his outs were strikeouts, control problems led to a pitch count of 64. Dai Yuasa's three-run homer followed a walk.
"If you look at each one separately, I thought he threw really good pitches," Takatsu said after the game. "But as a pitcher, when you look at it overall, the results tell the story. At this point, this is his level."
Harsh words can also show an opposite side of high expectations. Takatsu has been observing Takahashi previously as the Swallows' pitching coach and farm team manager, since he joined Yakult in 2015.
Taking into consideration his strong-willed character, Takatsu puts it bluntly. "There is part of him that puts emotions first. If he doesn't maintain a physical and mental balance, it will be difficult for him to make it in the pro world."
For his part, Takahashi realizes the challenges he faces when in a jam. "I have to be a bit more aware [of staying calm]." Bringing up veteran teammates Masanori Ishikawa and Yasuhiro Ogawa, he adds, "With a runner on base, they work to get a double play and try to limit the number of pitches. If you can't do that, you can't become a top pitcher."
For Takatsu, this is also part of the development process. "I think this will be a good learning experience," he said. The question now is whether Takahashi can maintain a calm presence on the mound and fully develop his potential. He wants to respond to the parental-like sentiment of the commander.
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