Former Yakult Swallows pitcher Hikaru Takano leaped to his death Sunday night from the window of his seventh-floor apartment in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, police said Monday.

Takano, 39, died instantly at around 11:45 p.m., after throwing aside his wife who tried to stop him and jumping out the window, according to police.

It is not immediately known why he killed himself, police said, adding no suicide note has been found.

After graduating from Tokai University, Takano joined the Tokyo-based Yakult Swallows in 1984 as the No. 1 pick in the amateur draft. He won 10 games his rookie season.

Takano went on to compile a 51-55 record with 13 saves before he retired in 1994 after moving to the Daiei Hawks earlier that year. He coached the Orix BlueWave between 1995 and 1998 and later served as a pitching coach for a pro team in Taiwan.