Shunsuke Kasaya

Shunsuke Kasaya
Kasaya with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Yokohama DeNA BayStars – No. 199
Pitcher
Born: (1997-03-17) March 17, 1997 (age 27) Ōita, Ōita, Japan
Bats: Left Throws: Left
NPB debut
August 23, 2017, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics (through 2023 season)
Win–loss record	7-9
ERA	3.93
Holds	1
Saves	0
Strikeouts	172
Teams
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2015–2024)
Career highlights and awards
2× Japan Series champion (2017, 2020)

Shunsuke Kasaya (笠谷 俊介, Kasaya Shunsuke, born March 17, 1997 in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture) is a Japanese Professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Early baseball career

Kasaya participated in the 2rd grade summer 95th Japanese High School Baseball Championship as an ace pitcher at the Ōita Prefectural Ōita Commercial High School with Hikaru Kawase and Masato Morishita.^[1][2]

Professional career

On October 23, 2014, Kasaya was drafted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.^[3]

In 2015 season, he played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues and played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams.

He spent the 2016 season on left elbow rehabilitation.^[4]

On August 23, 2017, he debuted in the Pacific League against the Saitama Seibu Lions.^[5] he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2017 Japan Series.^[6]

From 2017 season to 2019 season, he recorded with a 14 Games pitched, a 0–1 Win–loss record, a 5.63 ERA, a one Holds, a 16 strikeouts in 16 innings.

On July 17, 2020, Kasaya pitched in relief against the Orix Buffaloes and became his first Winning pitcher.^[7] And he became the winning pitcher on August 27 as the starting pitcher.^[8] In 2020 season, Kasaya recorded with a 20 Games pitched, a 4–4 Win–loss record, a 2.84 ERA, a 67 strikeouts in 57 innings. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, he was selected as the Japan Series roster.^[9]

In 2021 season, Kasaya pitched a good game against the Orix Buffaloes on March 30 as a starting pitcher, allowing one run in six innings, but after that his pitching continued to suffer and he was reassigned to relief pitching in May 4.^[10][11] However, because he pitched well as a relief pitcher, he was used as a starting pitcher at the end of the season and finished the season with 16Games pitched, a 3-4 record, a 4.27 earned run average, and 67 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched.^[12][13]

In 2022 season, he finished the regular season with a 16 Games pitched, a 0–0 Win–loss record, a 6.35 ERA, and a 14 strikeouts in 17 innings.

In 2023 season, Kasaya developed inflammation in his left elbow in May and spent a month in rehabilitation.^[14] As a result, he only pitched in eight games, but posted an ERA of 1.59.^[15]

References

1. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 大分商・笠谷「涙流さず、また甲子園に」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 9, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
2. "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) ３年前エースだった兄の分まで…大分商の大型ショート森下、明豊にリベンジへ／夏の高校野球 大分大会". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 21, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
3. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) 鷹４位笠谷、工藤新監督超え宣言！". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 21, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
4. "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) 笠谷１年ぶり復帰で快投 師匠・和田、心遣いで陰からお忍び観戦". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
5. "Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ソフトＢ ３年目笠谷 １軍デビュー 工藤監督「３６年前を思い出したよ」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). August 23, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
6. "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) ソフトＢ笠谷 筒香との対戦熱望". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
7. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク笠谷プロ初勝利「悔しい時期があった」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 17, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
8. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク笠谷が先発で初勝利「5回の壁」越えた". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 27, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
9. "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 December 22, 2020.
10. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 今季初勝利のソフトバンク笠谷、2人から登板前に強烈なエール「週アタマは大事だぞ！」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). March 30, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
11. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 工藤監督「考えたい」笠谷の配置転換を検討". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 4, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
12. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 今季初リリーフの笠谷が快投　納得の2回0封5奪三振」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). May 13, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
13. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 笠谷が3月以来の先発白星 工藤監督は来季飛躍へのポイント語る". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). October 24, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
14. "Nishinippon Sports baseball news 左肘炎症から復帰の笠谷俊介2軍戦で1回無失点「いいものを徐々に出せている」". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 13, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
15. "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ソフトバンク】笠谷俊介が100万円減、プロ10年目の来季に向け「先発にこだわる」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 29, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Career statistics - NPB.jp
• 67 Shunsuke Kasaya - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site