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Koji Uehara

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Koji Uehara
上原 浩治
Uehara with the Red Sox in 2013
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1975-04-03) April 3, 1975 (age 49)
Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: March 29, 1999, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB: April 8, 2009, for the Baltimore Orioles
NPB statistics
Win–loss record112–62
Earned run average3.01
Strikeouts1,376
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record19–22
Earned run average2.53
Strikeouts522
Saves93
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB

MLB

World Baseball Classic

Medal record
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens Team competition
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2006 San Diego Team competition

Koji Uehara (上原 浩治, Uehara Kōji, born April 3, 1975) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Yomiuri Giants and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.

A right-handed pitcher, Uehara has a solid career strikeout rate, with 10.6 K/9 and an excellent walk rate at 1.2 BB/9 (until 2014 season). Through the 2014 season, his career 8.96 K/BB is the best in MLB history for a player with at least 100 innings pitched.[1] Uehara won the 2013 ALCS MVP Award, and closed the final game of the 2013 World Series. With his World Series win, Uehara became one of four players in history to have won both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic.

Japanese baseball

Uehara with the Yomiuri Giants in 2006

Uehara graduated from the Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, and was drafted with the first pick by the Yomiuri Giants in 1998. He had a successful rookie year in 1999, with 15 consecutive wins that broke the all-time rookie record, claimed the Rookie of the Year, Eiji Sawamura Award, and led in wins, ERA, strikeouts and winning percentage.

In 2001 he finished with a 4.02 ERA, the highest of his career. However, in 2002 he rebounded leading the Central League in wins and collected his second Sawamura Award.

He was injured before the 2007 season which made him a late appearance, and in that season, he became a closer instead, recorded an 1.74 ERA with 4 wins, 3 losses and 32 saves. Though showing a good ability both starting and closing, he returned as a starting pitcher in the 2008 season. He left the Giants after that season becoming a free agent and allowing him to play in Major League Baseball.

Uehara is renowned for his performance in international competition. He participated in international events since he was in University, he also participated in Olympic Games twice, as well as the first World Baseball Classic, and participated in Asian Baseball Championships. He has 12 wins and 2 saves, without a loss in his 25 appearances from the above events.

He was a member of the Japanese national baseball team which competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The team eventually won the bronze medal.

In 2006 he joined Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic and earned 2 wins, improving his unbeaten record in international competition (including amateur appearances) to 12 wins in 21 appearances. In the World Baseball Classic, Japan beat Cuba to win the championship; Uehara led the tournament with 16 strikeouts. He was a closer in 2007 Asian Baseball Championships, played in two games and earned his first international save against Korea.

Uehara moved to another team in April 2008. He remained in the 39-out-of-77 men candidate list towards the Beijing Olympics in late June, and was selected to the final 24-men list in mid-July. He was expected to be a setup pitcher before the Olympic Games, but he appeared as a closer in his first appearance against Chinese Taipei, pitching a shutout inning without yielding a hit, as his team won 6–1. He earned his first Olympic save against Canada, holding a 1–0 victory two days later. Japan finished fourth in the Games. Uehara chose not to participate in the World Baseball Classic in 2009.

Inclination for MLB

In 1998, Uehara rejected a contract worth $3 million from the then-Anaheim Angels and signed with Yomiuri. The Angels had expressed their continued interest in Uehara, as scouting director Eddie Bane had stated that acquiring either Uehara or Daisuke Matsuzaka was a top priority for the team. However, many other teams, including the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Orioles had shown interest in bidding for Uehara if and when he were to become available.

Uehara asserted his preference in public to be transferred to a Major League Baseball team through the posting system. His efforts had been rebuffed by the Yomiuri Giants front office. He was expected to be eligible for free agency in 2007 (but that was postponed to 2008 due to injury). He became eligible for free agency in April 2008.[2]

In 2002, he represented Japan in the Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series and on November 11 became the first pitcher in over a year to strike out Barry Bonds three consecutive times in one game. This achievement raised his profile in American Major League Baseball.

He is also a friend of Roger Clemens after Clemens visited Japan in 2004 as a member of the MLB All-Star team. MLB.com showed a video in which Clemens gave Uehara his game-used black glove with autograph.[3]

MLB career

Uehara during his tenure with the Baltimore Orioles in 2011
Uehara pitching for the Texas Rangers in 2012

Baltimore Orioles (2009-2011)

On January 13, 2009, Uehara signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He started the 2009 season as the number two starter behind Jeremy Guthrie.[4] Uehara made his big league debut on April 8 against the New York Yankees. Uehara earned the win, going five innings and allowing one run. His second outing resulted in a win against the Texas Rangers.

On September 10, 2009, it was announced that Uehara would be out for the remainder of the season. He started the 2010 season as a setup reliever in the bullpen. He finished the season 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 44 innings, and 13 saves.

In the first half of the 2011 season, he was 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched.

Texas Rangers (2011-2012)

On July 30, 2011, Uehara was traded to the Texas Rangers for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. The move re-united him with his old high school team-mate Yoshinori Tateyama.[5] In 2011, he was 2–3, with a 2.35 ERA, between the two teams.[6]

In 2012, Uehara's option vested and remained with the Rangers. He would have a successful campaign with a 1.75 ERA but was limited to 37 games with 36 innings pitched and recorded 43 strikeouts after spending some time on the disabled list due to a strained lateral muscle.

Boston Red Sox

On December 6, 2012, Uehara agreed to a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.[7] Uehara transitioned his role from setup man to closer after season-ending injuries to Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan.[8]

Uehara's 2013 season was one of the most dominant by any relief pitcher in baseball history. His 2013 WHIP of 0.57 in 74.1 innings set the record for a pitcher with 50 or more innings pitched. Between July 9 and September 17, Uehara retired 37 consecutive batters, exceeding the previous franchise record of 32, and nearing Bobby Jenks' MLB record of 41 for consecutive outs by a reliever.[9][10] Uehara finished the regular season with a 1.09 ERA, a 2.08 xFIP, and struck out 38.1% of batters he faced. He was ranked by Fangraphs as the number one reliever of 2013 in Wins Above Replacement.[11]

Uehara pitched in five games of the 2013 ALCS, and was named ALCS Most Valuable Player.[12] In the series he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 4 hits and no walks; and collected 9 strikeouts. He recorded a save in Game 6 to win the Red Sox their 13th AL pennant.

In Game 4 of the World Series, Uehara picked off St. Louis Cardinals pinch runner Kolten Wong for the last out of a 4–2 Red Sox win. In Game 5, he recorded his seventh save of the postseason, tying the record for most saves in a single postseason. (The next year Greg Holland matched his record for saves in the playoffs, tying John Wetteland, Robb Nen, Troy Percival, and Brad Lidge).[13] Uehara threw the final pitch of the 2013 World Series, closing out a 6–1 win in Game 6.

On July 9, 2014, Uehara was named to his first career All Star Game, replacing injured New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. He struggled near the end of the 2014 regular season and was removed from the closer role on September 5.[14] He signed a two-year extension with the Red Sox on October 30, 2014.[15] Uehara returned to the closer position in the 2015 season, but on August 7, he suffered a season-ending injury when a batted ball struck his right wrist.[16] He ended his 2016 season with a 3.45 ERA.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Major League leaderboards for [..] pitchers with custom statistics". Fangraphs.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "時事ドットコム". Jiji.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ "Orioles sign pitcher Koji Uehara to two-year contract". Baltimore.orioles.mlb.com. January 13, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "Yoshinori Tateyama". Baseball-Reference.com:8080. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  6. ^ "Koji Uehara Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  7. ^ Edes, Gordon (December 7, 2012). "Source: Koji Uehara to Red Sox". ESPN. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  8. ^ [2]
  9. ^ Lauber, Scott (September 12, 2013). "Koji Uehara makes history, Mike Carp is grand in Red Sox' 10-inning win". Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  10. ^ Benbow, Julian (September 18, 2013). "Koji Uehara loses streak as Red Sox falter in ninth". Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  11. ^ "Koji Uehara". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "Koji Uehara is your ALCS MVP". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  13. ^ Speier, Alex. "WEII.com". Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  14. ^ Brasseur, Kyle (September 5, 2014). "Koji Uehara out as Red Sox closer". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  15. ^ "Red Sox sign Uehara to two-year deal". MLB.com. October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  16. ^ "Koji Uehara injury: Red Sox closer (wrist fracture) to miss rest of season". SI.com. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  17. ^ "Koji Uehara Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
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