Micheal Nakamura
Micheal Nakamura | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Nara, Japan | September 9, 1976|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: June 7, 2003, for the Minnesota Twins | |
NPB: March 29, 2005, for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters | |
Last appearance | |
July 31, 2004, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 0–3 |
Earned run average | 7.51 |
Strikeouts | 38 |
NPB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 14–9 |
Earned run average | 2.61 |
Strikeouts | 294 |
Teams | |
Micheal Yoshihide Nakamura (マイケル中村, Maikeru Nakamura, born September 6, 1976) is a Japanese-Australian former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Yomiuri Giants, and Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
He was educated at The Knox School and Wesley College, Melbourne.
Biography
Nakamura was born to a Japanese father and Australian mother.[1] The family moved to Australia when he was 3 years old, and Micheal later moved to the United States after signing with the Minnesota Twins in 1997. Despite having participated on the Australian Olympic baseball team in 1996 and 2000,[1] Nakamura was not successful in Major League Baseball; he pitched in only 31 games from 2003 to 2004, and never recorded a win. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004, and was not re-signed for the next season. On July 27, 2004, Nakamura surrendered Gary Sheffield's 400th career home run.[2]
After being cut from the majors, Nakamura sought opportunities in Japan and was drafted in the 4th round of the 2004 draft by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, and he debuted against the Seibu Lions on March 29, 2005. He was injured halfway through the year, but ended with a record of 3-0 and a 2.31 ERA over 32 games. He struck out more batters than innings pitched, and did not give up a single run in the second half of the season.
In his second year Nakamura made 39 saves, setting a new Pacific League single-season record, and the Fighters won the Japanese championship series. Nakamura pitched in 4 Japanese championship series games, and did not give up a single hit. He has since been traded from the Fighters and signed for the Yomiuri Giants.
Nakamura retired as a member of the Saitama Seibu Lions after the conclusion of the 2012 season.
Nakamura represented Australia at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Michael had 4 appearances out of the bullpen in Atlanta and 3 appearances in Sydney games. [3]
Pitching Style
Nakamura throws sidearm and relies mostly on two types of curves and a fastball around 90 mph. One of his curves has movement resembling a slider (some commentators have called it a slurve), while the other has a wide break.
References
- ^ a b Stockman, Jennifer (2004-12-14). "Michael Nakamura Signs with Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan". Australian Baseball Federation. Archived from the original on 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ "Olympic Statistics Michael Nakamura".
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
- Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball.com
- 1976 births
- Australian expatriate baseball players in Canada
- Australian expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Australian people of Japanese descent
- Baseball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Baseball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Edmonton Trappers players
- Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters players
- Japanese Christians
- Japanese baseball players
- Japanese expatriate baseball players in Canada
- Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Japanese emigrants to Australia
- Japanese people of Australian descent
- Living people
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from Australia
- Major League Baseball players from Japan
- Minnesota Twins players
- Olympic baseball players of Australia
- People educated at Wesley College (Victoria)
- Saitama Seibu Lions players
- Sportspeople from Nara Prefecture
- Toronto Blue Jays players
- Yomiuri Giants players