Kazuhisa Makita #53

Kazuhisa Makita...son of Yoshiyuki (father) and Shigeko (mother)...has one older sister, Akeno...attended Heisei Kokusai University where he studied Business Law before being signed by the Nippon Express of the Japan Amateur Baseball Association, the same team that former Padres relief pitcher Akinori Otsuka played for...after playing in high school and college in Japan, many players go to the Japan Amateur Baseball Association, including current Padres advisor for baseball operations and former National League Rookie of the Year Hideo Nomo...Nippon Professional Baseball began timing pitchers at the beginning of the 2016 season and he averaged the quickest time to pitch after receiving the ball from the catcher in both 2016 and 2017...after his playing career, he would like to continue working in baseball, possibly as a coach...follows soccer worldwide and is interested in the National Football League, although he does not know NFL rules well yet...enjoys golfing and playing video games...is a fan of the Fast and the Furious series...his high school baseball coach, Mr. Yabuzaki, is the person who has influenced him the most.

2017

Worked exclusively in relief for the second consecutive season for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball in the Japan Pacific League, going 3-3 with a 2.30 ERA (16 ER, 62.2 IP) and 35 SO against five BB in a career-high 58 relief appearances... Earned his fourth career and second consecutive NPB All-Star selection... Began the season with 16 consecutive scoreless appearances... Among Pacific League relievers, he ranked fifth in innings pitched, sixth in ERA and holds (28) and tied for sixth in appearances.. Allowed just four home runs despite facing the fourth-most batters (248) among Pacific League relievers... His five walks allowed were the fewest free passes among Pacific League relievers who tossed at least 35 innings... Did not throw a wild pitch or balk for the second consecutive season, one of only three Pacific League relievers to accomplish the feat in 2017 (min. 35.0 IP)... Served as the closer for bronze-medal winning Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March, going 1-0 with two saves and a 3.00 ERA (2 ER, 6.0 IP) in five relief appearances.