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Pacific League pitching titles decided; Kitayama and Espinoza share most wins
Коротко
Nippon Ham's Koki Kitayama and Orix's Anderson Espinoza were confirmed on Oct. 5 as joint leaders in wins in Japan's Pacific League, each with 13, both taking the title for the first time. Kitayama, at 13 wins and 3 losses, also secured the best winning percentage, while Lotte's Rikuto Yokoyama took his first most-saves title and Seibu's Kaiba Taira won the ERA title with 1.36. The Pacific League season ended on Oct. 6.
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Nippon Ham's Koki Kitayama and Orix's Anderson Espinoza were confirmed on Oct. 5 as the Pacific League's joint most-wins pitchers, each with 13 victories and each taking the title for the first time, according to Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei. [ 1 , 2 ]
The two outlets, which carried the same report, said that with one game left in the Pacific League season no other pitcher could surpass 13 wins. Kitayama, at 13 wins and 3 losses, also secured the best winning percentage title, at .813. Lotte's Rikuto Yokoyama took his first most-saves title with 35 saves, and Seibu's Kaiba Taira won the best ERA title for the first time with 1.36. [ 1 , 2 ]
Mynavi News, reporting on Oct. 6, said the Pacific League's full schedule ended that day and that Kitayama had won both the most-wins and best-winning-percentage titles. It quoted two commentators from the Fuji TV ONE programme “Pro Baseball News 2026”. Kenji Tatokoro said Kitayama “never lost two in a row in his starts” and had built up a surplus of 10 wins, while Toshiaki Imae said Kitayama “pitches in a way that brings wins”, citing his pace and his range of pitches that get strikes, adding that fielders and batters can settle into a rhythm behind him. [ 3 ]
Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei reported the confirmation on the evening of Oct. 5, while Mynavi News reported the following evening alongside the end of the league schedule. Neither Sankei nor Nikkei specified where the confirmation was recorded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Почему это важно
The decisions settle the Pacific League's pitching awards, a standard part of the Japanese professional baseball calendar. With the season complete, the titles carry into postseason and contract discussions, though the documents describe only the awards themselves.
Ключевые факты
- Nippon Ham pitcher Koki Kitayama and Orix pitcher Anderson Espinoza both won the Pacific League most-wins title for the first time, tied at 13 wins. [ 1 , 2 ]
- With one game left in the Pacific League season, no other pitcher could overtake them. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kitayama finished 13-3 and also took the best winning percentage title, at .813. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Lotte's Rikuto Yokoyama, with 35 saves, secured his first most-saves title. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Seibu's Kaiba Taira won the best ERA title for the first time with 1.36. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Pacific League's full schedule ended on Oct. 6. [ 3 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- Kitayama and Espinoza were confirmed as joint most-wins leaders with 13 wins each, the first such title for both. [ 1 , 2 ]
- No other pitcher could pass 13 wins with one game remaining in the Pacific League season. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kitayama also took the best winning percentage title with a 13-3 record. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Yokoyama's 35 saves gave him his first most-saves title, and Taira's 1.36 ERA gave him his first best-ERA title. [ 1 , 2 ]
Пока неясно
- Whether all pitching titles were formally finalised on Oct. 5 or on Oct. 6. Sankei and Nikkei say the titles were confirmed on Oct. 5 with one game remaining; Mynavi News says the Pacific League's full schedule ended on Oct. 6, and neither source explains the difference.
- Where the title decisions were announced or recorded. No document names a city or venue.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- Sankei Shimbun reports that Kitayama and Espinoza have been confirmed as joint Pacific League most-wins leaders. [ 1 ]
- Nikkei publishes the same confirmation, citing Kyodo. [ 2 ]
- The Pacific League's full schedule ends, per Mynavi News. [ 3 ]
- Mynavi News reports Kitayama's double title and quotes television commentary on his season. [ 3 ]