Kazuhisa Makita
A Japanese pitching craftsman who baffled hitters for years with a unique submarine delivery before bringing his artistry to America's MLB.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Japanese baseball player·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Kazuhisa Makita threw a slow curveball dubbed the 'shuuto' that danced and dipped, paralyzing hitters in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. For a decade with the Saitama Seibu Lions, the right-hander used a near-underhand submarine slot that made baseballs seem to defy physics. He relied on surgical precision and deception rather than overpowering velocity. His success earned him a move to Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres in 2018, where his unorthodox style contrasted with the power-pitching norm. His MLB stint was brief. Makita's career proves that creativity from the mound has a global language.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kazuhisa was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kazuhisa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kazuhisa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched for 10 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), primarily with the Saitama Seibu Lions, posting a 3.13 ERA.
- Selected to the NPB All-Star team twice, in 2011 and 2014.
- Made the transition to MLB in 2018, pitching for the San Diego Padres.
- Recorded a stellar 1.93 ERA over 60 appearances for the Seibu Lions in the 2014 season.
Did You Know?
He is known for an extremely slow curveball that sometimes dipped below 70 mph, a huge contrast to his fastball.
He began his professional career as an infielder before converting to a submarine pitcher.
After his playing career, he returned to Japan to become a pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
He wore uniform number 99 with the San Diego Padres, an unusual number for a pitcher.
“My submarine arm angle makes the baseball do strange things.”
