Origins and Golden Age of Submarine Pitching
The submarine pitching style has existed since baseball's earliest days; in 19th-century America, underhand delivery was the norm. In NPB, Hisashi Yamada elevated the style to its pinnacle. Yamada played for the Hankyu Braves for 20 years from 1969 to 1988, compiling a dominant record of 284 wins, 166 losses, and a 3.18 ERA. He won three consecutive MVP awards (1976-1978) and recorded 11 Japan Series victories. His pitches traced a trajectory that appeared to rise from near ground level, creating the illusion for batters that the ball was approaching from below. Contemporaries such as Mitsuhiro Adachi (Hankyu) and Mutsuo Minagawa (Nankai) also thrived with submarine deliveries, making the 1970s the golden age of underhand pitching in Japan.
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Shunsuke Watanabe and Proof on the World Stage
Shunsuke Watanabe joined the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2001 and pitched from an astonishingly low release point of approximately 50 centimeters above the ground. Considering that a typical pitcher's release point is around 180 centimeters, batters faced an entirely different angle of approach. Watanabe contributed to Lotte's 2005 Japan Series championship and represented Japan in the inaugural 2006 WBC, pitching in two games. Against South Korea, he threw three scoreless innings, demonstrating that international hitters could not adjust to submarine pitching. His career record of 60 wins, 62 losses, and a 3.77 ERA may not match Yamada's win total, but his achievement in proving the submarine style's effectiveness on the world stage is significant. After retirement, Watanabe has worked as a coach in independent leagues, dedicated to developing the next generation of submarine pitchers.
Structural Factors Behind the Decline
The number of submarine pitchers in NPB has declined sharply in recent years. In the 2024 season, fewer than five pure submarine pitchers were on first-team rosters. Multiple structural factors underlie this decline. First, velocity-focused development philosophies have taken hold, with young players increasingly encouraged to convert to overhand deliveries at the youth and amateur levels. Second, coaches capable of systematically teaching submarine mechanics are extremely scarce. After Hisashi Yamada stepped down as Chunichi Dragons manager in 2003, there were periods when virtually no first-team coaches in NPB had submarine pitching experience. Third, advances in data analytics have enabled detailed breakdowns of submarine pitchers' patterns, making it easier for opponents to prepare countermeasures. Paradoxically, however, the value of submarine pitching being effective precisely because batters are unfamiliar with it only increases as the style becomes rarer.
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The Future of Submarine Pitching
Submarine pitchers hold high tactical value due to their rarity. When a submarine pitcher enters after batters have adjusted to overhand pitchers, the dramatic change in eye level disrupts timing. Kazuhisa Makita recorded 57 career saves with the Seibu Lions before signing with the San Diego Padres in 2018 to challenge MLB. Although his MLB results were modest, the move drew international attention to submarine pitching. Among active players, Rei Takahashi (SoftBank) won the 2019 Rookie of the Year award, demonstrating the style's continued viability. Biomechanics research indicates that the submarine delivery reduces shoulder joint stress to approximately 60% of overhand levels, and this lower injury risk is a significant advantage for long-term career sustainability. Submarine pitchers will continue to exist in small numbers in NPB, valued as tactical wildcards for their unique ability to disrupt opposing lineups.