Chiba Lotte Marines draft pick 4th pick / [Haru Sakai] Kanto Daiichi High School

profile

name:Haru Sakai
position:pitcher
Pitching/batting:Right-handed pitcher/batter
Birthplace:Chiba Prefecture
date of birth:May 8, 2006
Height/Weight:178cm/78kg
Biography:Tomisato City Tomisato Elementary School (Tomisato Little Stars) - Tomisato City Tomisato Junior High School (Edogawa Minami Boys) - Kanto Daiichi High School

Characteristics as a player

A right-handed pitcher who produces a large number of strikeouts with a fastball that reaches a maximum speed of 151 km/h and a variety of breaking balls such as sliders and forkballs, he has participated in Koshien twice and led his team to second place in the summer of 2024. After entering high school, he only just switched from outfielder to pitcher, but in 2024 he showed no sign of this and showed great growth, being selected for the U-18 Japan national team.

Baseball career

Born in Tomisato City, Chiba Prefecture, Sakai began playing softball as a pitcher and outfielder for the Tomisato Little Stars in the fifth grade of elementary school. After entering Tomisato Junior High School, he joined Edogawa Minami Boys, which has a ground in Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture, and played as an outfielder. He went on to Kanto Daiichi High School, a regular participant in the Koshien tournament.

*Illustration by vaguely

Achievements at Kanto Daiichi High School

Sakai, who entered Kanto Daiichi High School in 2022, switched to pitching in the fall of his first year. Although he was able to make the bench, he struggled with control at first. After that, Sakai moved up a grade and made his debut at the Tokyo Tournament in the summer of 2023. He pitched in three games, pitching 5 1/3 innings with 8 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.69, but the team lost to Nihon University Toyoyama High School in the fifth round and was unable to participate in Koshien. For the new team that then took on the Tokyo Tournament in the fall, Sakai was active as the starting pitcher. He pitched in five of the eight games, pitching a total of 38 2/3 innings with 36 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.63, leading the team to victory in the tournament.

The team defeated Waseda Jitsugyo High School in the semi-finals and Soka High School in the finals to qualify for the Meiji Jingu Baseball Tournament, advancing to the final four for the first time. Sakai pitched in three games as a relief pitcher, including a victory over Toin High School, which had won the championship for two years in a row, and although he was hit hard, his performance throughout the tournament gave him a sense of accomplishment for the future. In the spring of 2024, he will participate in the Senbatsu Koshien. Sakai pitched in the eighth inning of the first game against Hachinohe Gakuin Kosei High School, with the score at 1-1, but he gave up four runs in four innings, although he only gave up one earned run. Despite his strong pitching, the team lost in a tiebreaker.

The summer of 2024, his senior year, was a turning point for Sakai. He was deployed as a relief pitcher in the Tokyo Tournament Qualifiers, pitching 17 innings in five games with an ERA of 2.65, helping him to qualify for the Koshien in both spring and summer. In the main tournament, he kept the scoreboard at zero with a combination of fastballs and curveballs that he had extended to 151 km/h. Sakai piled up outs against top opponents such as Hokuriku High School, Meitoku Gijuku, Tokai University Affiliated Sagami, and Kamimura Gakuen, and the team advanced to the finals as if pushed by his momentum. Although they were defeated in a tiebreaker by Kyoto International High School, who were aiming for their first championship, their name became widely known. Sakai's 0.00 ERA in five or more games as a relief pitcher in the 2024 Summer Tournament was the first in the history of the tournament.

Achievements for the U-18 Japan National Team

In August 2024, he was selected for the Japan U-18 national team and participated in the 13th BFA U-18 Asian Championship, pitching in three games and contributing to the team's runner-up finish.

Participation results

High school grades

2024 Spring Koshien: 1 game, 0 wins, 1 loss, 4 innings, 3 hits allowed, 2 strikeouts, ERA 2.25
Summer Koshien (regional qualifying): 5 games, 17 innings, 12 hits allowed, 19 strikeouts, ERA 2.65
Summer Koshien: 6 games, 22 2/3 innings, ERA 0.40
13th BFA U-18 Asian Championship: 3 games, 4 innings, 3 hits allowed, 7 strikeouts, ERA 2.25

*The information in this article is current as of the time of publication (December 2024).