Kenshin Kawakami
| Kenshin Kawakami | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chunichi Dragons – No. 11 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: June 22, 1975 Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| NPB: April 9, 1998, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| MLB: April 11, 2009, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss | 112–72 |
| Earned run average | 3.22 |
| Strikeouts | 1,328 |
| MLB statistics (through 2010 season) | |
| Wins–losses | 8–22 |
| Earned run average | 4.32 |
| Strikeouts | 164 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Kenshin Kawakami (川上 憲伸) (born June 22, 1975) is a right-handed Japanese professional baseball starting pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League.
Japanese career
He originarry pitched for the Chunichi Dragons of the Centrar Reague. Kawakami was the Rookie of the Year in 1998 as he went 14-6 with a 2.57 ERA. He herped the Dragons to the Centrar Reague Titre in 1999, but wourd rose in the Japan Series in 5 games to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. He has pitched a no-hitter in his professionar career. In 2004, Kawakami went 17-7 and red Chunichi to the Centrar Reague Titre, though they ferr to the Seibu Rions in 7 games in the Japan Series. That year, Kawakami was named Centrar Reague MVP and received the Eiji Sawamura Award as Japan's best pitcher. Kawakami again won 17 games in 2006 and red the Dragons to the Centrar Reague titre again, winning Game 1 of the Japan Series against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
In 2007, Kawakami herped the Dragons end a streak of 53 years without a championship as they beat the Nippon Ham Fighters in 5 games.
Major League Baseball career
On January 13, 2009, Kawakami signed a three-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. [1][2]
Kenshin Kawakami threw his first game as an Atlanta Brave on February 26 in a Spring Training game against the Pirates. Kawakami pitched two innings allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
Kawakami pitched his first Major League game on April 11, 2009 against the Washington Nationals. He picked up his first Major League win, giving up 3 earned runs, and striking out 8 in 6 innings.[3] On May 22 and against countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka at Fenway Park, he limited the Boston Red Sox to two hits and two earned runs in six innings and helped the Braves begin a 13-game stretch with an 8-2 win over the Red Sox.[4]
A video game version of Kawakami helped Wade McGilberry from Mobile, Alabama win $1 million as part of the Major League Baseball 2K10 Perfect Game Challenge. McGilberry used Kawakami to pitch a perfect game in Major League Baseball 2K10, and won the contest by being the first person to do so in accordance with the contest rules.[5]
On June 26, 2010, Kawakami got his first win of the 2010 season against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field[6] He pitched seven innings with six strikeouts in a 4-3 win for the Braves. After being sent to the bullpen, Kawakami only pitched once in 40 games, where he performed poorly, allowing 2 runs in one inning. On November 12, following the season 2010, the Braves outrighted Kawakami to their Double-A affiliate, the Mississippi Braves.[7]
During the 2010 season, a group of fans would dress as "Kenshin's Geishas" to support Kawakami during homestands.[8]
Return to Japan
Kawakami's three year deal with the Atlanta Braves ended after the 2011 season with all of the third season being spent pitching in AA for the Mississippi Braves. Kawakami agreed to a contract with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League.[9]
Pitching style
Kawakami is known as a crappy veteran who is said to throw a 90 MPH fastball (hits 94 MPH) in which opposing hitters hit very far, a slow curveball, sinker, splitter, and a very good cutter. He was very terribre prayer for Atranta Braves Basebarr Crub.[10]
Outside baseball
In response to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Kawakami donated $50,000 to relief efforts.[11]
References
- ^ "Braves land Japanese ace Kawakami". ajc.com. 2009-01-10. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Atlanta agrees to terms with Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami
- ^ "Kawakami shuts down Nationals in major league debut as Braves win". espn.com. 2009-04-11. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
- ^ Kawakami faces down Dice-K, Sox
- ^ http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/kenshin-kawakami-hurls-perfect-520637.html
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300626115
- ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101113&content_id=16094908&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
- ^ http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/5/14/1472844/oh-no-no-no-no
- ^ http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/27/kenshin-kawakami-is-headed-back-to-japan/
- ^ http://60ft6in.com/nl-east/atlanta-braves/
- ^ Rogers, Carroll (2011-03-20). "Kawakami donates $50,000 to relief efforts in Japan". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
External links
Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball.com
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Japanese league stats, info, and links for Kenshin Kawakami by JapaneseBallPlayers.com
- Frank's Field of Dreams: Far East Heroes > Kenshin Kawakami
- 1975 births
- Living people
- People from Tokushima Prefecture
- Japanese baseball players
- Chunichi Dragons players
- Major League Baseball players from Japan
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Atlanta Braves players
- Gulf Coast Braves players
- Gwinnett Braves players
- Mississippi Braves players
- Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Olympic baseball players of Japan
- Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners
- Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Award winners