Hisanori Takahashi #21

Hisanori signed a minor league deal with Chicago in January of 2013 and joins the organization as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training ... has three major league seasons under his belt with the Mets (2010), Angels (2011-12) and Pirates (2012) following 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese Central League. ...Is 14-12 with 10 saves and a 3.97 ERA (106 ER/240.1 IP) in 165 major league games, including 12 starts. ...Went 79-66 with 21 complete games, eight shutouts, 15 saves and a 3.70 ERA (530 ER/1,289.0 IP) in 245 games (202 starts) in the Japan League. ...Struck out 1,032 batters compared to 359 walks. ...Came to the U.S. when he agreed to a minor league deal with the Mets on February 11, 2010 ... went on to pitch in 53 games (12 starts), and posted a 10-6 record with eight saves and a 3.61 ERA (49 ER/122.0 IP). ...Helped the Yomiuri Giants to the Japanese League championship in 2000, 2002 and 2009 ... his 2008 club won the Central League title. ...In 2007, led the Central League with a 2.75 ERA and was named to the League's "Best Nine," emblematic of the best player at his position. ...Selected by the Yomiuri Giants in the first round of the 1999 draft. ...Graduated from Syutoku High School and Komazawa University.

2012

Combined to go 0-3 with a 5.54 ERA (31 ER/50.1 IP) in 51 relief appearances between the Angels and Pirates ... walked 14 compared to 52 strikeouts. ...Began the campaign with the Angels, and was 0-3 with a 4.93 ERA (23 ER/42.0 IP) in 42 games before he was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, August 19. ...Pitched in one game with Salt Lake, then was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh, August 24. ...Posted a 3.14 ERA (10 ER/28.2 IP) in 27 games from April 18-July 19, striking out 30 compared to six walks ... held batters to a .190 average. ...With Pittsburgh, posted an 8.64 ERA (8 ER/8.1 IP) in nine relief appearances. ...Struck out a season-high three batters four times, most recently September 3 at Houston. ...Tossed a season-high 2.1 innings, June 4 vs. Seattle, while with the Angels.

2011

Signed a two-year contract with the Angels, Dec. 2, 2010...Third Japanese-born player in Angels history, following fellow countrymen Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Hideki Matsui...Finished season appearing in a career high 61 games, registering a 4-3 record with a 3.44 ERA (68.0 IP - 26 ER)...Recorded first victory as a Halo, April 13 over Cleveland (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 SO)...On July 22, became fourth Angel reliever to record a save in 2011 (Rodney, Walden, & Kohn)... Marked first save by a Japanese pitcher in an Angel uniform since Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Sept. 7, 2000 at Detroit... Struck out four hitters in two separate appearances (June 6, July 16)...Four strikeouts in a single appearance tied the most by an Angels' reliever during season...Four earned runs allowed August 15 vs. Texas marked most in a relief appearance in MLB career...His eight intentional walks were tops on the Angels and more than double the next Angel reliever (Walden, 3)...Posted a 0.75 ERA in June (12.0 IP - 1 ER), a 2.38 ERA in July (11.1 IP - 3 ER), a 8.38 ERA in August (9.2 IP - 9 ER), and a 0.71 ERA in September ( 12.2 IP - 1 ER).

2010

In first Major League season, posted a 10-6 record with eight saves and a 3.61 ERA (122 IP - 49 ER) in 53 games (12 starts) with the Mets...Allowed 116 hits (13 HR) while walking 43 batters and striking out 114...Converted all eight save opportunities...Became the first Mets pitcher since Roger McDowell in 1986 to post double-digit wins and record eight or more saves in the same season...Became the first Major League pitcher to record double-digit wins and eight saves in the same season since Francisco Cordero in 2006 with the Brewers and Rangers and the first major league rookie to accomplish that feat since Scott Williamson with the Reds in 1999...With his 10 wins, he became the first Mets rookie to win double-digit games since Rick Aguilera in 1985...Began the season pitching out of the bullpen, posting a 3.12 ERA (26 IP - 9 ER) and a 3-1 record in his first 15 games...For the season, he went 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA (57.1 IP - 13 ER) in 41 games out of the bullpen...Finished 4-4 with a 5.01 ERA (64.2 IP - 36 ER) as a starter...Struck out seven in three innings, April 23rd vs. Atlanta...Only two other pitchers in Mets' team history have recorded seven or more strikeouts while pitching three or fewer innings in a game: Galen Cisco, May 25, 1965 and Skip Lockwood, September 19, 1976...Made first career start, May 21st vs. Yankees, throwing six scoreless innings... Did the same on June 18th, becoming only the fourth pitcher in the live ball era (since 1920) to throw six or more scoreless innings in each of first two starts against the Yanks: Sidney Ponson (1998), Scott Sanderson (1990) and Ray Culp (1968)...Became the first Mets pitcher in team history to begin his Major League career with six shutout innings in each of his first two starts...Picked up the 500th win by a Japanese-born player when he beat the Phillies, May 26th at Citi Field...Started on July 22nd at Los Angeles, a 2-0 loss to the Dodgers, tying a season-high with seven innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs...Walked two and struck out five in the match-up with fellow countryman Hiroki Kuroda, the sixth meeting between Japanese-born starters in Major League history...Struck out a career-best 10 hitters in a 5-4 win, July 31st vs. Arizona...Collected first career save with a perfect inning, August 16th at Houston...Compiled a season-long 13.1-inning scoreless streak from August 15th-September 13th.

2009

In 2009, spent his 10th season with the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League, going 10-6 with one complete game and a 2.94 ERA (144 IP - 47 ER) in 25 starts...Posted his second-lowest single-season ERA (2.94), which ranked sixth in the league...Helped lead Giants to the Japanese Championship...Allowed three or fewer earned runs in 22 of his 25 starts.

2008

In 2008, went 8-5 with a 4.13 ERA (122 IP - 56 ER) in 23 games (22 starts)...Helped Yomiuri capture the Central League Championship.

2007

In 2007, posted a 14-4 record with two shutouts and a 2.75 ERA (186.2 IP - 57 ER) in 28 games (27 starts)... Led the League with a 2.75 ERA and was named "Best Nine" emblematic of the best player at his position... Posted a career-best 14 wins, including two complete-game shutouts...Notched 141 strikeouts in a career-best 186.2 innings, the second-most of his career.

2006

In 2006, went 2-6 with a 4.94 ERA (62 IP - 34 ER) in 35 games (four starts)...Pitched in relief and saved 15 games...Suffered a broken cheek bone after being struck by a line drive...Missed six weeks...His 35 outings were a career-high.

2005

In 2005, compiled an 8-12 record with a 4.47 ERA (163 IP - 81 ER) in 27 games (26 starts)...Registered a career-best four complete games, also notched two shutouts.

2004

In 2004, saw limited action due to time on the disabled list with a sprained ankle...Finished the season 5-10 with three complete games, one shutout, and a 5.44 ERA (91 IP - 55 ER) in 16 starts.

2003

In 2003, registered a 4-4 record with a 3.84 ERA (86.2 IP - 37 ER) in 13 starts...Missed part of the season with left arm stiffness.

2002

In 2002, compiled double digit wins for first time in his career, going 10-4 with two complete games and a 3.09 ERA (163.1 IP - 56 ER) in 24 games (23 starts)...Notched a career-best 145 strikeouts...Helped lead Yomiuri to the Japanese League Championship.

2001

In 2001, went 9-9 in his second season with Yomiuri, compiling a 3.94 ERA (134.2 IP - 59 ER) in 30 games (23 starts).

2000

In 2000, won nine games in rookie season and was a member of the Japanese League Championship squad... Finished season 9-6 with three complete games, two shutouts, and a 3.18 ERA (135.2 IP - 48 ER).