Kenta Tanigawara
Tanigawara with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 45
Catcher
Born: (1997-04-16) April 16, 1997
Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
NPB debut
June 19, 2021, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.206
Home runs1
RBI16
Hits32
Stolen base4
Sacrifice bunt3
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kenta Tanigawara (谷川原 健太, Tanigawara Kenta, born April 16, 1997) is a Japanese professional baseball Catcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Professional career

On October 22, 2015, Tanigawara was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2015 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

In 2016–2020 season, he played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues and played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams.

In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, he was selected as the Japan Series roster.[2]

On June 19, 2021, Tanigawara debuted in the Pacific League against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and recorded his first Home run.[3] In 2021 season, he played 59 games and was used primarily as a substitute and defensive lineman.

In 2022 season, Tanigawara contributed to the team primarily as an outfield defender and substitute, finishing the season with a .234 batting average and eight runs batted in in 75 games. However, while COVID-19 caused the team's main players to be eliminated from the Player registration one after another, he went 4 hits-for-4 at bats　with four RBI against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on August 23.[4]　He was a member of the "Chikugo Hawks" and supported the team until the main players returned. (a nickname given to the younger reserve players. Chikugo is the name of the place where the Hawks farm team is located.)[5]

Tanigawara mainly contributed to the team as a reserve player in the late stages of games by playing catcher and outfield defense, but he appeared as a starter for the first time in a match against the Chiba Lotte Marines on July 29, 2023.[6] In 2023 season, he played 61 games, and finished the season with a .233 batting average, 3 stolen bases, and a 3 RBIs.

References

  1. ↑ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク3位谷川原、高橋純平とバッテリー希望". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 27, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2020 出場資格者名簿(福岡ソフトバンクホークス)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク打線の起爆剤だ 谷川原 初出場初安打初アーチに「最高の形」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 【動画】愛称はゴンゾー　柳田悠岐のバットで4安打「師匠が乗り移った」谷川原健太の活躍にファン驚き". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). August 23, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【ソフトバンク】"筑後ホークス"大暴れ　野村大樹、谷川原健太、増田珠で初回4点」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). August 25, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク藤本監督、谷川原健太にプロ初スタメンマスクを託した理由「どんどん勉強していけばいい」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 29, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
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