Carp Rookie Haruya Akagi Impresses in Koshien Debut With Two Scoreless Innings

Hiroshima Carp rookie pitcher Haruya Akagi made a memorable Koshien debut on September 17, throwing two scoreless innings against the Hanshin Tigers.

Akagi entered the game in the fifth inning as the second pitcher for Hiroshima, with the Carp already trailing 7-1.

The fifth inning initially became a test of his composure. After allowing a hit and committing a wild pitch of his own, Akagi found himself with two outs and a runner on third.

He responded by striking out Yuki Chikamoto swinging, escaping the inning without allowing a run.

Akagi returned for the sixth and was even more impressive. He retired the side in order, including a called third strike against Shota Morishita, one of Hanshin's most dangerous hitters.

After the game, the rookie said the experience could become an important source of confidence.

"Being able to get hitters who represent the baseball world out is definitely a positive. I hope I can turn this into confidence going forward."

The outing was particularly meaningful because of Akagi's background.

Born in Osaka Prefecture, Akagi grew up in the Kansai region before attending Tenri High School in Nara and Bukkyo University in Kyoto. Hiroshima selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NPB Draft.

Growing up in Osaka meant that the Hanshin Tigers were a constant presence in his life.

"My family home is in the Kansai area, so whenever I turned on the TV, there would be a Tigers game on."

Now, instead of watching the Tigers on television, Akagi found himself standing on the mound at Koshien and facing them as a professional pitcher.

"It was my first time pitching here, and it really made me feel like I was finally playing professional baseball."

The appearance was also Akagi's first game since being promoted back to the first team on September 13, ending roughly a month away from the top level.

He made the most of his first opportunity after returning, keeping Hanshin off the scoreboard for two innings despite Hiroshima's large deficit.

With just 16 games remaining in the regular season, Akagi is now looking ahead rather than dwelling on the significance of his debut.

"I want to keep throwing with everything I've got, make sure I hold the opposition scoreless, and contribute something positive to the team."

For the fifth-round rookie, his first appearance at Koshien provided both a memorable homecoming of sorts and a valuable step forward in his development.

The Carp may be out of contention for the league title, but Akagi's two scoreless innings gave Hiroshima another reason to look toward the future.