Kohei Arihara

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #11 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Arihara was one of Japan’s top college pitchers at Waseda University and won the Pacific League rookie of the year award in 2015 pitching in the same Nippon Ham rotation as Shohei Ohtani. Arihara was more solid than spectacular over the next five seasons, including going 8-9, 3.46 in 2020. The Fighters posted him after the 2020 season and he signed with the Rangers for two years and $6.2 million.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Arihara’s fastball velocity has dropped over the years from the mid 90s at his peak to 90-94, but he has the command and varied pitch mix to succeed even at his lower velocity. He shows average command on his worst days and plus command on his best, and fills the strike zone with five pitches. Arihara’s changeup and splitter are both above-average pitches and tunnel well off each other. His changeup moves late to his arm side and his splitter plunges with late downward movement. He mainly throws his changeup to lefties and his splitter to righties, but he can use either effectively in any situation. Arihara also has a curveball and slider that are both fringy. Arihara doesn't miss many bats, but he is durable and efficient.
  
  THE FUTURE: Arihara projects as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter for the Rangers. He is 28 years old and still has a few years left in his prime.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Arihara was one of Japan’s top college pitchers at Waseda University and won the Pacific League rookie of the year award in 2015 pitching in the same Nippon Ham rotation as Shohei Ohtani. Arihara was more solid than spectacular over the next five seasons, including going 8-9, 3.46 in 2020. The Fighters posted him after the 2020 season and he signed with the Rangers for two years and $6.2 million.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Arihara’s fastball velocity has dropped over the years from the mid 90s at his peak to 90-94, but he has the command and varied pitch mix to succeed even at his lower velocity. He shows average command on his worst days and plus command on his best, and fills the strike zone with five pitches. Arihara’s changeup and splitter are both above-average pitches and tunnel well off each other. His changeup moves late to his arm side and his splitter plunges with late downward movement. He mainly throws his changeup to lefties and his splitter to righties, but he can use either effectively in any situation. Arihara also has a curveball and slider that are both fringy. Arihara doesn't miss many bats, but he is durable and efficient.
  
  THE FUTURE: Arihara projects as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter for the Rangers. He is 28 years old and still has a few years left in his prime.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Arihara was one of Japan’s top college pitchers at Waseda University and won the Pacific League rookie of the year award in 2015 pitching in the same Nippon Ham rotation as Shohei Ohtani. Arihara was more solid than spectacular over the next five seasons, including going 8-9, 3.46 in 2020. The Fighters posted him after the 2020 season and he signed with the Rangers for two years and $6.2 million.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Arihara’s fastball velocity has dropped over the years from the mid 90s at his peak to 90-94, but he has the command and varied pitch mix to succeed even at his lower velocity. He shows average command on his worst days and plus command on his best, and fills the strike zone with five pitches. Arihara’s changeup and splitter are both above-average pitches and tunnel well off each other. His changeup moves late to his arm side and his splitter plunges with late downward movement. He mainly throws his changeup to lefties and his splitter to righties, but he can use either effectively in any situation. Arihara also has a curveball and slider that are both fringy. Arihara doesn't miss many bats, but he is durable and efficient.
  
  THE FUTURE: Arihara projects as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter for the Rangers. He is 28 years old and still has a few years left in his prime.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Arihara was one of Japan’s top college pitchers at Waseda University and won the Pacific League rookie of the year award in 2015 pitching in the Nippon Ham rotation with Shohei Ohtani. Arihara had some ups and downs over the next five seasons, but was solid with a 8-9, 3.46 mark in 2020. The Fighters posted him after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Arihara’s fastball ranges from 90-94 mph, but he has the command and varied pitch mix to succeed with average velocity. He shows average command on his worst days and plus command on his best, and fills the strike zone with five distinct pitches in addition to the ability to manipulate his fastball. Arihara’s changeup and splitter are both above-average pitches and tunnel well off each other. His changeup moves late to his arm side and his splitter plunges with late downward movement. Arihara mainly throws his changeup to lefties and his splitter to righties, but he can use either effectively in any situation. He also has a curveball and slider that are both fringy. Arihara lacks a plus pitch and doesn't miss many bats as a result, but he knows how to pitch and is durable and efficient.
  
  The Future: Arihara projects as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter. He will be 28 years old most of the 2021 season and still has a few years left in his prime.