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|align="center"| <ref>{{cite news |title=Rangers Sign Japanese reliever Yoshinori Tateyama |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/30/rangers-sign-japanese-reliever-yoshinori-tateyama/|work=[[NBC Sports]]|date=November 30, 2010|accessdate=December 3, 2010}}</ref>
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Revision as of 12:53, 3 December 2010

A total of 43 Japanese-born[1] players have played in at least one Major League Baseball (MLB) game through the 2010 season. The first instance of a Japanese-born player playing in MLB occurred in 1964, when the Nankai Hawks, a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team, sent three exchange prospects to the United States to gain experience in MLB's Minor League system. One of the players, pitcher Masanori Murakami, was named the California League Rookie of the Year while playing for the Fresno Giants (the San Francisco Giants' Class-A team). Giants executives were impressed with this talent and on September 1, 1964 Murakami was promoted, thus becoming the first Japanese player to play in MLB.[2] After Murakami put up good pitching statistics as a reliever, Giants executives sought to exercise a clause in their contract with the Hawks that, they claimed, allowed them to buy up an exchange prospect's contract. NPB officials objected, stating that they had no intention of selling Murakami's contract to the Giants and telling them that Murakami was merely on loan for the 1964 season. After a two-month stalemate the Giants eventually agreed to send Murakami back to the Hawks after the 1965 season. This affair led to the 1967 United States – Japanese Player Contract Agreement, also known as the "Working Agreement", between MLB and NPB, which was basically a hands-off policy.[3][4]

For thirty years Murakami was the only Japanese player to appear in an MLB game. Pitcher Hideo Nomo, with the help of agent Don Nomura, became the second Japanese-born player to play in MLB in 1995. Nomo, who was not yet eligible for free agency in Japan, was advised by Nomura that a "voluntary retirement" clause in the Working Agreement did not specify that a player wishing to play again after retiring must return to NPB. Nomo utilized this loophole to void his NPB contract with the Kintetsu Buffaloes and play in MLB. He announced his retirement from NPB in late 1994 and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 1995.[5] Nomo's maneuver and Hideki Irabu's later MLB contractual complications were contributing factors to a major revision of the Working Agreement in 1998 that created the current posting system. Since the its creation, seven Japanese-born players have entered MLB through the system.

Table key

†
 Currently on a Minor League Baseball team roster
   §   
 Played in Major League Baseball without first playing in Nippon Professional Baseball
*
 Signed with a Major League team via the posting system

Active players

Player Position Debut Team(s) Notes
Ichiro Suzuki* OF April 2, 2001 Seattle Mariners (2001–present) [6]
Hideki Matsui OF/DH March 31, 2003 New York Yankees (2003–2009)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2010) 		[7]
Takashi Saito P April 9, 2006 Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2008)
Boston Red Sox (2009)
Atlanta Braves (2010) 		[8]
Hideki Okajima P April 2, 2007 Boston Red Sox (2007–present) [9]
Daisuke Matsuzaka* P April 5, 2007 Boston Red Sox (2007–present) [10]
Kosuke Fukudome OF March 31, 2008 Chicago Cubs (2008–present) [11]
Hiroki Kuroda P April 4, 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–present) [12]
Koji Uehara P April 8, 2009 Baltimore Orioles (2009–2010) [13]
Kenshin Kawakami P April 11, 2009 Atlanta Braves (2009–present) [14]
Junichi Tazawa§ P August 7, 2009 Boston Red Sox (2009–present) [15]
Hisanori Takahashi P April 7, 2010 New York Mets (2010) [16]
Ryota Igarashi P April 8, 2010 New York Mets (2010–present) [17]
Yoshinori Tateyama P 2011 Texas Rangers (2011–present) [18]

Former players

Name Position MLB debut Final MLB game Former MLB team(s) Current
league 		Current
team 		Notes
Masanori Murakami P September 1, 1964 October 1, 1965 San Francisco Giants (1964–1965) Retired — [19]
Hideo Nomo P May 2, 1995 April 18, 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers (1995–1998, 2002–2004)
New York Mets (1998)
Milwaukee Brewers (1999)
Detroit Tigers (2000)
Boston Red Sox (2001)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005)
Kansas City Royals (2008) 		Retired — [20]
Mac Suzuki§ P July 7, 1996 June 28, 2002 Seattle Mariners (1996, 1998–1999)
Kansas City Royals (1999–2001, 2002)
Colorado Rockies (2001)
Milwaukee Brewers (2001) 		Free agent — [21][22]
Shigetoshi Hasegawa P April 5, 1997 September 28, 2005 Anaheim Angels (1997–2001)
Seattle Mariners (2002–2005) 		Retired — [23]
Takashi Kashiwada P May 1, 1997 September 18, 1997 New York Mets (1997) Retired — [24]
Hideki Irabu P July 10, 1997 July 12, 2002 New York Yankees (1997–1999)
Montreal Expos (2000–2001)
Texas Rangers (2002) 		Retired — [25]
Masato Yoshii P April 5, 1998 September 11, 2002 New York Mets (1998–1999)
Colorado Rockies (2000)
Montreal Expos (2001–2002) 		Retired — [26]
Masao Kida P April 5, 1999 August 3, 2005 Detroit Tigers (1999–2000)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2003–2004)
Seattle Mariners (2004–2005) 		NPB Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [27][28]
Tomokazu Ohka P July 19, 1999 October 4, 2009 Boston Red Sox (1999–2001)
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2001–2005)
Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006)
Toronto Blue Jays (2007)
Cleveland Indians (2009) 		NPB Yokohama BayStars [29]
Kazuhiro Sasaki P April 5, 2000 September 28, 2003 Seattle Mariners (2000–2003) Retired — [30]
Tsuyoshi Shinjo OF April 3, 2001 June 27, 2003 New York Mets (2001, 2003)
San Francisco Giants (2002) 		Retired — [31]
Takahito Nomura P April 3, 2002 May 15, 2002 Milwaukee Brewers (2002) Retired — [32]
Satoru Komiyama P April 4, 2002 September 11, 2002 New York Mets (2002) Retired — [33][34]
Kazuhisa Ishii* P April 6, 2002 September 28, 2005 Los Angeles Dodgers (2002–2004)
New York Mets (2005) 		NPB Saitama Seibu Lions [35][36]
So Taguchi OF June 10, 2002 October 4, 2009 St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2007)
Philadelphia Phillies (2008)
Chicago Cubs (2009) 		NPB Orix Buffaloes [37]
Kazuo Matsui 2B April 6, 2004 May 18, 2010 New York Mets (2004–2006)
Colorado Rockies (2006–2007)
Houston Astros (2008–2010) 		NPB Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles [38]
Akinori Otsuka* P April 6, 2004 July 1, 2007 San Diego Padres (2004–2005)
Texas Rangers (2006–2007) 		Free agent — [39]
Shingo Takatsu P April 9, 2004 October 2, 2005 Chicago White Sox (2004–2005)
New York Mets (2005) 		CPBL Sinon Bulls [40][41]
Kazuhito Tadano§ P April 27, 2004 July 16, 2005 Cleveland Indians (2004–2005) Free agent — [42][43]
Tadahito Iguchi 2B April 4, 2005 September 28, 2008 Chicago White Sox (2005–2007)
Philadelphia Phillies (2007, 2008)
San Diego Padres (2008) 		NPB Chiba Lotte Marines [44][45]
Keiichi Yabu P April 9, 2005 September 27, 2008 Oakland Athletics (2005)
San Francisco Giants (2008) 		Free agent — [46]
Norihiro Nakamura* 3B April 10, 2005 May 6, 2005 Los Angeles Dodgers (2005) Free agent — [47][48]
Kenji Johjima C April 3, 2006 October 3, 2009 Seattle Mariners (2006–2009) NPB Hanshin Tigers [49][50]
Akinori Iwamura* 2B April 2, 2007 September 26, 2010 Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays (2007–2009)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2010)
Oakland Athletics (2010) 		NPB Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles [51]
Kei Igawa*† P April 7, 2007 June 27, 2008 New York Yankees (2007–2008) AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees [52][53]
Micheal Nakamura P June 7, 2003 July 31, 2004 Minnesota Twins (2003)
Toronto Blue Jays (2004) 		NPB Yomiuri Giants [54][55]
Masumi Kuwata P June 10, 2007 August 13, 2007 Pittsburgh Pirates (2007) Retired — [56]
Kazuo Fukumori P March 31, 2008 April 24, 2008 Texas Rangers (2008) Retired — [57][58]
Masahide Kobayashi P April 2, 2008 May 7, 2009 Cleveland Indians (2008–2009) NPB Orix Buffaloes [59]
Yasuhiko Yabuta P April 5, 2008 October 4, 2009 Kansas City Royals (2008–2009) NPB Chiba Lotte Marines [60]
Ken Takahashi P May 2, 2009 September 25, 2009 New York Mets (2009) Retired — [61]

Active Minor League players

Players signed to a Major League affiliate team that have yet to make their Major League debut

Name Position MiBL team MLB affiliate Notes
Ryohei Shimabukuro 1B GCL Braves (2007–2008)
Danville Braves (2009–present) 		Atlanta Braves [62]
Ikko Sumi C DSL Angels (2007)
AZL Angels (2008)
Salt Lake Bees (2009)
Arkansas Travelers (2009)
Orem Owlz (2009–present) 		Los Angeles Angels [63]
Robert Boothe P Ogden Raptors (2008)
Great Lakes Loons (2009–present) 		Los Angeles Dodgers [64]
Fumimasa Ishibashi C Great Lakes Loons (2008–present) Los Angeles Dodgers [65]
Kenta Suda P AZL Mariners (2008, 2009)
Everett AquaSox (2008)
Pulaski Mariners (2009–present) 		Seattle Mariners [66]
Ryohei Tanaka P Bowie Baysox (2009–present) Baltimore Orioles [67]
Taiki Kawasaki P TBD (2010) New York Mets
Takafumi Nakamura P Mahoning Valley Scrappers (2010) Cleveland Indians
Yoshinori Yamarin P TBD (2010) Atlanta Braves [68][69]

Awards and notable accomplishments

Offense

  • Hits in a single season: Ichiro Suzuki, 2004 (262 Hits) MLB Record
  • Consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits: Ichiro Suzuki, 2001-2010 (10 Seasons) MLB Record
  • Most seasons with 200 or more hits: Ichiro Suzuki, 2001-2010 (10 Seasons) MLB Record (tie)
  • Batting titles: Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 (.350 Avg) and 2004 AL (.372 Avg)
  • Stolen bases champion: Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL (56 Stolen Bases)
  • Only Inside-the-park home run in All-Star game history: Ichiro Suzuki, 2007

Pitching

  • No-hitters: Hideo Nomo, with two no-hitter games, is the only Japanese pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Major League Baseball. Nomo is one of only five players that have ever pitched at least one no-hitter game in both the National League and American League in Major League Baseball history.
    • No-hitter #1: September 17th, 1996 at Coors Field in Denver. Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies. The only no-hitter to date at Coors Field.
    • No-hitter #2: April 4th, 2001 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Pitching for the Boston Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles. Walked three and struck out 11. Also the only no-hitter to date at Camden Yards.
  • Strikeout champion: Hideo Nomo, 1995 NL (236 Strikeouts) & 2001 AL (220 Strikeouts)
  • Strikeouts in a single inning: Kazuhiro Sasaki, April 4, 2003 (4 strikeouts in the 9th Inning) MLB Record (tie)

All-star selection

Player League # of years Years Notes
Ichiro Suzuki AL 10 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 [6]
Kazuhiro Sasaki AL 2 2002, 2003 [30]
Hideki Matsui AL 2 2003, 2004 [7]
Hideo Nomo NL 1 1995 [20]
Shigetoshi Hasegawa AL 1 2003 [23]
Hideki Okajima AL 1 2007 [9]
Takashi Saito NL 1 2007 [8]
Kosuke Fukudome NL 1 2008 [11]

World Series appearances

Player World Series
championships 		World Series
appearances 		Years Notes
So Taguchi 2 3 2004 Cardinals
2006 Cardinals
2008 Phillies 		Did not play in the 2008 World Series, despite being on the Phillies' active roster
Hideki Matsui 1 2 2003 Yankees
2009 Yankees 		2009 World Series MVP
Tadahito Iguchi 1 1 2005 White Sox
Daisuke Matsuzaka 1 1 2007 Red Sox First Japanese pitcher to both start and win a World Series game
Hideki Okajima 1 1 2007 Red Sox
Tsuyoshi Shinjo 0 1 2002 Giants
Kazuo Matsui 0 1 2007 Rockies
Akinori Iwamura 0 1 2008 Rays

Notes

  1. ^ This list does not include players that were born in Japan to American parents or players with Japanese ancestry who grew up in the United States (such as Dave Roberts).
  2. ^ Kleinberg, Alexander (December 24, 2001). "Where have you gone, Masanori Murakami?". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 24, 2003. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  3. ^ Whiting 2004, pp. 75–80
  4. ^ Singer, Tom (November 14, 2006). "Matsuzaka posting system's latest gem". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  5. ^ Whiting 2004, pp. 102–112
  6. ^ a b "Ichiro Suzuki Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Hideki Matsui Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Takashi Saito Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Hideki Okajima Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  10. ^ "Daisuke Matsuzaka Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  11. ^ a b "Kosuke Fukudome Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  12. ^ "Hiroki Kuroda Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  13. ^ "Koji Uehara Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  14. ^ "Kenshin Kawakami Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  15. ^ "Junichi Tazawa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  16. ^ "Takahashi on opening-day roster". The Japan Times. April 5, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  17. ^ Hubbuch, Bart (December 17, 2009). "Mets Land Igarashi". New York Post. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  18. ^ "Rangers Sign Japanese reliever Yoshinori Tateyama". NBC Sports. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  19. ^ "Masanori Murakami Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Hideo Nomo Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  21. ^ "Mac Suzuki Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  22. ^ "Roster". Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Professional Baseball Club. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  23. ^ a b "Shigetoshi Hasegawa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  24. ^ "Takashi Kashiwada Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  25. ^ "Hideki Irabu Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  26. ^ "Masato Yoshii Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  27. ^ "Masao Kida Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  28. ^ "Kida, Masao". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  29. ^ "Tomokazu Ohka Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  30. ^ a b "Kazuhiro Sasaki Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  31. ^ "Tsuyoshi Shinjo Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  32. ^ "Takahito Nomura Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  33. ^ "Satoru Komiyama Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  34. ^ "Komiyama, Satoru". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  35. ^ "Kazuhisa Ishii Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  36. ^ "Ishii, Kazuhisa". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  37. ^ "So Taguchi Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  38. ^ "Kazuo Matsui Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  39. ^ "Akinori Otsuka Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  40. ^ "Shingo Takatsu Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  41. ^ "Shingo Takatsu Stats". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  42. ^ "Kazuhito Tadano Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  43. ^ "Tadano, Kazuhito". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  44. ^ "Tadahito Iguchi Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  45. ^ "Iguchi, Tadahito". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  46. ^ "Keiichi Yabu Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  47. ^ "Norihiro Nakamura Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  48. ^ "Nakamura, Norihiro". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  49. ^ "Kenji Johjima Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  50. ^ "Veteran Johjima accepts four-year offer from Tigers". The Japan Times. October 28, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  51. ^ "Akinori Iwamura Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  52. ^ "Kei Igawa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  53. ^ "Kei Igawa Statistics". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  54. ^ "Mike Nakamura Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  55. ^ "Nakamura, Micheal". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  56. ^ "Masumi Kuwata Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  57. ^ "Kazuo Fukumori Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  58. ^ "Fukumori, Kazuo". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  59. ^ "Masahide Kobayashi Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  60. ^ "Yasuhiko Yabuta Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  61. ^ "Ken Takahashi Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  62. ^ "Ryohei Shimabukuro Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  63. ^ "Ikko Sumi Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  64. ^ "Robert Boothe Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  65. ^ "Fumimasa Ishibashi Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  66. ^ "Kenta Suda Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  67. ^ "Ryohei Tanaka Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  68. ^ "Ryohei Tanaka Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  69. ^ "Braves sign teen pitcher for minors". The Japan Times. January 27, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.

References

  • Rains, Rob. Baseball Samurais: Ichiro Suzuki and the Asian Invasion. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2001. ISBN 0-312-98257-7.
  • Whiting, Robert (2004). The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime. Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-53192-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
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