Takahiro Mahara

Takahiro Mahara

Mahara with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

Pitcher

Born: December 8, 1981 (age 42)
Kumamoto, Japan

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

NPB debut

March 30, 2004, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks

Last appearance

May 1, 2015, for the Orix Buffaloes

NPB statistics
(through 2015)

23-31

2.83

455

182

Teams

Fukuoka Daiei Hawks/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2004–2012)
Orix Buffaloes (2013–2015)

Career highlights and awards

Pacific League Saves Champion (2007)
3× NPB All-Star (2006, 2007, 2010)

Medals

Representing Japan

Men's Baseball
World Baseball Classic
	2006 San Diego	Team
	2009 Los Angeles	Team

Takahiro Mahara (馬原孝浩, Mahara Takahiro, born December 8, 1981 in Kumamoto, Kumamoto) is a right-handed pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Originally a starter, Mahara was converted to a closer partway through 2005 season and has been an efficient closer since then.

His best season was in 2007, when Mahara broke the team record for saves by recording 38 and also recording a 1.47 ERA. The previous record-holder was Rodney Pedraza, who had 35 saves in 2000. Mahara did not blow a save until late in the season, when Orix Buffaloes slugger Tuffy Rhodes cracked a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th at Skymark Stadium.

With the exception of the 2008 season when he missed half the season due to injury, Mahara has recorded at least 22 saves each year since 2005.

In 2011, he was in a slump and become losing pitcher in two games in Nippon Series. In 2012, he was injured and he didn't play any games. He was traded to Orix Buffaloes in the off season.