Japanese relief pitcher Keiji Takahashi caught some attention during the World Baseball Classic with an unusual habit—pulling his jersey over his glove during his set position. It’s not a fluke or wardrobe issue. It’s an intentional move, and he does it repeatedly throughout his delivery. The idea seems to be hiding grip changes or preventing batters from getting a read on his pitches. This technique isn’t new for him either. Footage shows he did the same thing while playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Japan’s NPB.
After some digging through Japanese baseball forums, it turns out Takahashi isn’t alone. Other Swallows pitchers do the same thing, reportedly after pitching coach instruction. One former pitcher, Igawa, was apparently the first to do it and even threw a no-hitter using that method. When asked about it, Takahashi admitted the glove-hiding move started for strategic reasons and became part of his routine. Side-by-side footage shows his old form without the jersey cover and his current form with it very clearly shielding his grip, especially in the thumb area.
During the game against Australia, Takahashi mixed in a fastball, curveball, and slider with solid control. Despite the elaborate wind-up and routine, he stayed consistent and effective. Japan led 7–0, and Takahashi’s performance helped maintain that cushion. His fastball topped the zone, the curveball created groundouts, and the defense backed him up with clean play. It’s rare to see a guy blend deliberate deception into his delivery like this, which makes Takahashi’s style stand out on the international stage.