The Seibu Lions have approved Kosuke Takahashi's challenge to MLB through the posting system. Takahashi admits, "It has been a dream since childhood."

NPB’s Seibu Lions declared on December 5th that they have consented to pitcher Kosuke Takahashi using the posting system to challenge Major League Baseball. Following this, the player will formally start contract talks with MLB teams that have shown interest.

Takahashi expressed in a team statement: "I will do everything I can to demonstrate that this decision is the right one. This has been a wish I have conveyed to the team management for a long time, and it is the dream stage I have aspired to since childhood. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity."

It is reported that Takahashi had hoped to enter MLB through the posting system right after the 2023 season ended, but the team did not approve it at that time.

This pitcher, who hails from Maebashi Ikuei High School in Gunma Prefecture, led his alma mater to its first-ever championship as the ace during the 2013 Summer Koshien tournament. He was selected by the Seibu Lions in the first round of the 2014 draft to join professional baseball. While playing for Seibu, he achieved double-digit wins for three consecutive seasons from 2021 to 2023.

In the 2024 season, Takahashi’s performance fluctuated, finishing with a record of 0 wins and 11 losses, setting both a personal and team record for the longest 13-game losing streak. However, he regained form this season with 8 wins. Over his 11-year career in NPB, he has appeared in 196 games, accumulating a record of 73 wins and 77 losses, with an ERA of 3.39.