Japan to Start Takemaru Against South Korea
Rookie left-hander Kazuyuki Takemaru has been selected by Japan to start against South Korea in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship at Tokyo Dome.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Baseball
Japan has selected Yomiuri Giants rookie Kazuyuki Takemaru to start against South Korea in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship. The game is scheduled for November 13 at Tokyo Dome, after South Korea's national team departed for Japan on November 9.
Why it matters
Takemaru will face right-handed hitters for the first time in this matchup, making preparation against them a key factor. Overcoming him is considered essential for South Korea to surpass Japan in the tournament.
Takemaru's fastball reaches up to 153 km/h, and he allowed 14 home runs, all to right-handed hitters, this season. Opponents hit .218 against him from left-handed batters compared with .275 from right-handed batters.
The players
Kazuyuki Takemaru
A 2002-born left-handed pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants who was selected first overall in the 2025 rookie draft.
Kim Do-yeong
A South Korean slugger who recorded 45 home runs in the KBO League this year.
The details
South Korea's national team departed for Japan on November 9, and all four of its games will be played in four days without a rest day. South Korea opens against Australia on November 12 before facing Japan the following day.
Timeline
November 9: South Korea's national team departs for Japan.
November 12: South Korea opens the APBC against Australia.
November 13: Japan and South Korea meet at Tokyo Dome.
Season Trajectory
The selection of a rookie for an international decider echoes Yomiuri's 1962 opening-day rookie start, a precedent 64 years old. It positions the tournament's pitching staff around a young arm whose season numbers remain untested against the South Korean lineup.
The Japan-South Korea game on November 13 at Tokyo Dome is the decisive matchup for the tournament standings. Fantasy and roster watchers should track whether Takemaru's left-handed splits hold against South Korea's right-handed hitters.
The takeaway
Pitching matchups in international tournaments often hinge on how a young starter handles unfamiliar hitter profiles. Takemaru's split numbers will be tested directly when he faces right-handed hitters for the first time in this tournament.
Further reading
For more on the tournament, see Baseball coverage.
