Kaima Taira (平良 海馬, Taira Kaima; born November 15, 1999) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[2][3]
Taira was drafted by the Saitama Seibu Lions with the team's fourth selection in the 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft out of Yaeyama Commercial High School.[4] Taira spent the 2018 season with Seibu's farm team, posting a 5.40 ERA in 10 appearances.[5]
On July 19, 2019, Taira made his NPB debut. He finished this season with a 2–1 record and 3.38 ERA in 26 appearances. The following season, Taira played in 54 games for Seibu, posting a stellar 1.87 ERA in 53 innings of work.[5] Because of his efforts, Taira was named the 2020 Pacific League Rookie of the Year.[6]
On June 28, 2021, Taira tied the NPB record for consecutive mound appearances without giving up a run, with 38, a record also held by former Hanshin Tigers pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa.[7] On July 1, Taira passed Fujikawa and set a new NPB record by making his 39th consecutive mound appearance without giving up a run.[8] Taira's streak ended during his next appearance on July 6, when he allowed an RBI hit to Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters hitter Yuto Takahama.[9] In 2021, Taira was named an NPB All-Star for the first time in his career.
On April 18, 2025, Tatsuya Imai and Taira combined to no-hit the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at the Belluna Dome. Imai pitched the first eight innings, with Taira coming in the complete the no-hitter in the ninth inning.[10]
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