In 1998, he participated in the Tohto University Baseball League and went 6 for 12 against an American collegiate All-Star team, winning him the league's RBI title. He only homered twice in college. He was drafted in the sixth round of the '98 NPB draft by the Hiroshima Carp, the team he had followed as a kid.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
In 1999, Arai hit .221/.288/.484 for Hiroshima, but homered 7 times in 95 AB. He was involved in two bone-head plays in the course of a week. On September 14, he did not try to advance on a home run by Eddy Diaz because he thought it would be caught; Diaz passed him on the bases, resulting in an out. A week later, he lost count of the number of outs and threw away the ball after a double play, allowing a run to score.
Seeing an increase in playing time in 2000, he batted .245/.318/.505 with 16 HR in 208 AB. In '01, he was up to .284/.363/.495 with 18 homers in 313 AB. Finally entering the regular lineup at age 25, he split his time between first base and third in 2002 and batted .287/.342/.514 with 28 homers. He was one homer behind Tomoaki Kanemoto for the team lead and made his first All-Star team. He also led the league with 17 errors.
In 2003, Takahiro slipped to .236/.299/402 with 19 HR and a league-high 16 times grounding into double plays, while striking out 120 times as the primary 1B. His playing time was cut back in '04 but he bounced back to .263/.340/.424. Before the 2005 season, he spent four days and three nights at a Buddhist temple to help his focus, adjusting his swing and improved drastically, putting up a .305/.353/.603 line with 91 runs, 43 homers, 94 RBI and 326 total bases. He moved to third primarily, switching spots with Kenjiro Nomura. He was second in the Central League in slugging (behind Kanemoto) and led the loop in home runs and errors (23). He homered in six straight games, tying Rick Lancellotti's club record. He made his second All-Star team and his first Best Nine (at first instead of third, as Makoto Imaoka was picked there). His brother Ryota was drafted that off-season.
In 2006, Arai hit .299/.336/.479 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI. He was 6th in the Central League in RBI, was third in sacrifice flies (9, one behind co-leaders Alex Ramirez and Shuichi Murata) and 10th in slugging. The next year, he batted .290/.351/.480 with 28 HR and 102 RBI. He tied Seung-yeop Lee for 6th in runs (84), tied Tyrone Woods for second in RBI (behind Ramirez), was 10th in home runs, third in strikeouts (136) and tied for second in double plays ground into (17), one behind Norihiro Nakamura.
2006 World Baseball Classic/2007 Asian Championship
He played on Japan's team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts for the champion team. In the 2007 Asian Championship, Arai hit .500/.571/1.000 with 5 RBI in three games; he trailed tourney leader Chin-Feng Chen by one in RBI. Arai helped Japan win the title and clinch a spot in the 2008 Olympics with his performance.
2008 Beijing Olympics
In the 2008 Olympics, he batted .257/.289/.486 with 2 triples and 7 RBI in 9 games as Japan's starting first baseman despite battling injury. His 2-run homer off of Suk-min Yoon broke a scoreless duel against South Korea in the 6th inning but the Japanese staff blew the lead. With Japan down 5-2 in the 9th, Arai tripled against closer Hitoki Iwase and Shuichi Murata doubled Arai home. Japan got no further in the loss. South Korea would go on to an unbeaten record in Beijing. Arai was 10th in the preliminary round in slugging (.563)
In the opening round, Arai's 6 RBI tied Nate Schierholtz, Atsunori Inaba, Matthew Brown, Alexei Bell and Giorvis Duvergel for 4th, trailing Alfredo Despaigne, Dae-ho Lee and Michel Enríquez.
Arai became head of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association in 2008, replacing Shinya Miyamoto.
Arai moved to the Hanshin Tigers as a free agent for the 2008 season and spent 7 years with club. At the end of the 2014 season, following a lackluster year that would see a decrease in his 2015 salary, Arai informed the Hanshin management of his intention to exercise his free agent rights, signaling the end of his time with the club.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takahiro Arai.
Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball.com
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Career statistics - NPB.jp (in Japanese)
January 20, 2023
takahiro, arai, japanese, 新井, 貴浩, born, january, 1977, naka, hiroshima, japanese, professional, baseball, player, hiroshima, toyo, carp, japan, nippon, professional, baseball, arai, with, hiroshima, toyo, carphiroshima, toyo, carpfirst, baseman, third, baseman. Takahiro Arai Japanese 新井 貴浩 born January 30 1977 in Naka ku Hiroshima is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan s Nippon Professional Baseball Takahiro AraiArai with the Hiroshima Toyo CarpHiroshima Toyo CarpFirst baseman Third baseman ManagerBorn 1977 01 30 January 30 1977 age 45 Hiroshima JapanBats RightThrows RightNPB debutApril 3 1999 for the Hiroshima Toyo CarpNPB statistics through 2018 season Batting average 278Hits2203Home runs319RBI1303TeamsAs player Hiroshima Toyo Carp 1999 2007 Hanshin Tigers 2008 2014 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 2015 2018 As manager Hanshin Tigers 2019 present Career highlights and awardsCentral League MVP 2016 8 All Star 2002 2005 2007 2008 2013 2015 2017 1 Central League Leader of Home Run 2005 1 Central League Leader of RBI 2011 2 Central League Best Nine Award 2005 2016 1 Central League Golden Glove Award 2008 1 NPB All Star Game MVP 2013 Medals Men s baseballRepresenting JapanWorld Baseball Classic2006 San Diego TeamHis younger brother Ryota is also a professional baseball player currently playing for Hanshin Tigers Contents 1 College baseball career 2 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 3 2006 World Baseball Classic 2007 Asian Championship 4 2008 Beijing Olympics 5 Hanshin Tigers 6 See also 7 External linksCollege baseball career EditIn 1998 he participated in the Tohto University Baseball League and went 6 for 12 against an American collegiate All Star team winning him the league s RBI title He only homered twice in college He was drafted in the sixth round of the 98 NPB draft by the Hiroshima Carp the team he had followed as a kid Hiroshima Toyo Carp EditIn 1999 Arai hit 221 288 484 for Hiroshima but homered 7 times in 95 AB He was involved in two bone head plays in the course of a week On September 14 he did not try to advance on a home run by Eddy Diaz because he thought it would be caught Diaz passed him on the bases resulting in an out A week later he lost count of the number of outs and threw away the ball after a double play allowing a run to score Seeing an increase in playing time in 2000 he batted 245 318 505 with 16 HR in 208 AB In 01 he was up to 284 363 495 with 18 homers in 313 AB Finally entering the regular lineup at age 25 he split his time between first base and third in 2002 and batted 287 342 514 with 28 homers He was one homer behind Tomoaki Kanemoto for the team lead and made his first All Star team He also led the league with 17 errors In 2003 Takahiro slipped to 236 299 402 with 19 HR and a league high 16 times grounding into double plays while striking out 120 times as the primary 1B His playing time was cut back in 04 but he bounced back to 263 340 424 Before the 2005 season he spent four days and three nights at a Buddhist temple to help his focus adjusting his swing and improved drastically putting up a 305 353 603 line with 91 runs 43 homers 94 RBI and 326 total bases He moved to third primarily switching spots with Kenjiro Nomura He was second in the Central League in slugging behind Kanemoto and led the loop in home runs and errors 23 He homered in six straight games tying Rick Lancellotti s club record He made his second All Star team and his first Best Nine at first instead of third as Makoto Imaoka was picked there His brother Ryota was drafted that off season In 2006 Arai hit 299 336 479 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI He was 6th in the Central League in RBI was third in sacrifice flies 9 one behind co leaders Alex Ramirez and Shuichi Murata and 10th in slugging The next year he batted 290 351 480 with 28 HR and 102 RBI He tied Seung yeop Lee for 6th in runs 84 tied Tyrone Woods for second in RBI behind Ramirez was 10th in home runs third in strikeouts 136 and tied for second in double plays ground into 17 one behind Norihiro Nakamura 2006 World Baseball Classic 2007 Asian Championship EditHe played on Japan s team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts for the champion team In the 2007 Asian Championship Arai hit 500 571 1 000 with 5 RBI in three games he trailed tourney leader Chin Feng Chen by one in RBI Arai helped Japan win the title and clinch a spot in the 2008 Olympics with his performance 2008 Beijing Olympics EditIn the 2008 Olympics he batted 257 289 486 with 2 triples and 7 RBI in 9 games as Japan s starting first baseman despite battling injury His 2 run homer off of Suk min Yoon broke a scoreless duel against South Korea in the 6th inning but the Japanese staff blew the lead With Japan down 5 2 in the 9th Arai tripled against closer Hitoki Iwase and Shuichi Murata doubled Arai home Japan got no further in the loss South Korea would go on to an unbeaten record in Beijing Arai was 10th in the preliminary round in slugging 563 In the opening round Arai s 6 RBI tied Nate Schierholtz Atsunori Inaba Matthew Brown Alexei Bell and Giorvis Duvergel for 4th trailing Alfredo Despaigne Dae ho Lee and Michel Enriquez Arai became head of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association in 2008 replacing Shinya Miyamoto Hanshin Tigers Edit Arai playing for the Hanshin Tigers in 2009 Arai moved to the Hanshin Tigers as a free agent for the 2008 season and spent 7 years with club At the end of the 2014 season following a lackluster year that would see a decrease in his 2015 salary Arai informed the Hanshin management of his intention to exercise his free agent rights signaling the end of his time with the club See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takahiro Arai Tomoaki KanemotoExternal links EditNippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball com Career statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference Minors Career statistics NPB jp in Japanese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Takahiro Arai amp oldid 1121635869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
