Kaima Taira

Kaima Taira (平良 海馬)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 209 lb.

• High School Yaeyama Shoko High School

• Born November 15, 1999 in Ishigaki, Okinawa Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Kaima Taira has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Taira was a 4th-round pick of the Seibu Lions in the 2017 NPB draft, the scout was Hisashi Takayama. He was wild in the minors in 2018 (17 BB, 21 K, 11 R, 10 ER in 16 2/3 IP). In 2019, he was 2-1 with a save and a 3.38 ERA in 26 games, making his Pacific League debut. He blossomed in 2020, going 1-0 with 33 holds, a save and a 1.87 ERA, allowing only 22 hits in 53 innings while fanning 62. He walked 29 and hit 8 batters. He tied Naoya Masuda for the PL lead in appearances (54) in the COVID-19-shortened season, and he was 5 holds behind leader Livan Moinelo. He got 144 votes for the 2020 Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award, edging Hiroto Kobukata's 125 to take the honor.

The Okinawa native had a gorgeous season in 2021. He broke Hideki Okajima's NPB record as he didn't allow a run for 27 consecutive games to start a season, and he was named Seibu's closer when Reed Garrett struggled. Taira then broke Kyuji Fujikawa's NPB record of 39 straight appearances without allowing a run, and it was still the PL record as of 2025. Taira was voted into the 2021 NPB All-Star Game, and he finished a shutout inning in Game 1. He made it onto Japan's roster for the 2020 Olympics, and he relieved Koyo Aoyagi in the 7th inning against the Dominican Republic. He retired Emilio Bonifácio, and Yasuaki Yamasaki succeeded him. Taira then replaced Hiromi Itoh in the 8th inning versus Mexico, but he walked Isaac Rodríguez then gave up a 2-run shot to Joey Meneses. Japan won Gold in the event. Taira ended up collecting 21 holds and 20 saves with a 0.90 ERA in 62 appearances, and he was 10th in holds, 5th in saves (between Yuki Matsui and Yuito Mori) and 3rd in appearances (between Chia-Hao Sung and Garrett). Taira was the first PL player to get 20 saves and 20 holds in a season , and he won a vote in MVP voting.

Tatsushi Masuda was Seibu's closer in 2022, and Taira was the most prominent setup man of the year. He notched 34 holds and 9 saves with a 1.56 ERA in 61 relief outings, and he won the NPB Most Valuable Setup Pitcher Award. Taira led the league in appearances and holds, and he tied Koki Kitayama for 7th in saves. He was also voted into the 2022 NPB All-Star Game, and he completed a shutout inning with 2 strikeouts, against Tetsuto Yamada and Yusuke Ohyama. He was turned into a starter in 2023, and he went 11-7 with a 2.40 ERA. Taira was selected into the 2023 NPB All-Star Game, and he completed 2 shutout innings in Game 2. He ranked 2nd in wins (tied with Sachiya Yamasaki, 5 behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto), 3rd in strikeouts (153, between Atsuki Taneichi and Roki Sasaki) and 4th in ERA (between Hiroya Miyagi and Takahiro Norimoto).

Taira suffered from a right hand injury in 2024, so he only pitched 22 games with 9 holds and a 1.66 ERA. He was selected into the 2025 NPB All-Star Game, and he relieved Seigi Tanaka in the 7th inning of Game 2. However, he gave up a single to Shota Morishita and a double to Naoki Yoshikawa, then Shota Morishita drove in 2 runs with a double. Taira retired Teruaki Sato and Yusuke Ohyama, but Keita Sano then hit a RBI single and Taira finally retired Yuki Okabayashi to end the inning. He was named Seibu's new closer in 2025, and he collected 31 saves with a 1.71 ERA in 54 relief outings. On April 18, he completed a combined no-hitter with Tatsuya Imai against the Softbank Hawks. Taira led the league in saves, and he tied Ren Kajiya for 6th in appearances. He made it onto Japan's preliminary roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but he had a right calf strain and he withdrew prior to the event.

His fastball has topped 99 mph.