Kaima Taira hit 99 MPH on July 19, 2020, becoming one of only six Japanese players in NPB history to officially reach that insane velocity. That’s a serious cannon and it tells you everything you need to know about the drive of this right-hander, a guy the Mets have clearly got their eyes on as an international free agent. We’re talking about a player who started high school throwing roughly 80 MPH and ended up touching nearly triple digits. That’s not just a jump, that’s a whole new stratosphere.
From Outfield Fodder to Velocity King
Born in Ishigaki, Okinawa, Taira’s journey wasn’t some smooth, preordained path to stardom. He was a catcher in elementary school, then a pitcher in junior high. When he got to Okinawa Prefectural Yaeyama Commercial and Technical High School, he almost bounced, balking at how hard his manager pushed everyone. But he stuck it out, first as an outfielder, then back to the mound. It’s wild to think he started high school barely hitting 80 MPH. Seriously, his coach had him in the outfield because of it! But during his second year, Taira added a new weight training regimen focused on his hips and lower body, and that’s when the magic started. Scouts started trekking out to Okinawa for a high school senior hitting the mid-90s, even though his school never made it to summer Koshien during his three years there. That’s pure, raw talent and relentless work ethic right there.
Grinding His Way Up and Aiming for the Stars
Taira graduated in 2017 and a few months later, the Saitama Seibu Lions snagged him with their fourth draft pick. His professional debut in 2018 with their ni-gun minor league squad wasn’t exactly lights out, posting a 5.40 ERA in 16.2 innings, walking 17 while striking out 21. You know, sometimes you gotta grind. But the dude clearly learned from it. He stuck in the Eastern League for 2019, but flipped the script completely, dropping his ERA to a stellar 1.13 over 16.0 innings with 22 strikeouts. By late July, at just 19 years old, he earned the call-up to the main club. He ended up throwing in 26 games at Japan’s highest level, putting up a respectable 3.38 ERA in 24.0 innings. Coming into 2020, Taira had his sights set on transitioning to a starter, even changing his workout to build muscle for strength and endurance. But then came the gut punch: spring training told him he was still a reliever. Most guys might fold, but not Taira. When the season got delayed by the pandemic, he doubled down, switching his focus from endurance to pure strength, chasing that elusive 99 MPH fastball. And on July 19, 2020, he did it. He hit 99 MPH, etching his name into the record books.
That kind of unwavering commitment, from almost quitting to becoming a velocity outlier, that’s the kind of story that gets you hyped. This is a guy who sets a goal, puts in the work, and gets it done. You just know a player with that kind of fire has a serious future ahead of them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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