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List of Major League Baseball players from Japan

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Ichiro Suzuki (left) and Shohei Ohtani are first and only two Japanese players who received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award

A total of 71 Japanese-born[1][2] players have played in at least one Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Of these players, twelve are on existing MLB rosters. The first instance of a Japanese 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 his talent and on September 1, 1964, Murakami was promoted, thus becoming the first Japanese player to play in MLB, as well as being the first Asian player.[3] 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.[4][5]

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 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.[6] 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 posting system.[7] Since its inception 22 Japanese players have been signed through the system, however one of these players, Shinji Mori, did not play in a single MLB game due to an injury. NPB players who have nine or more years of playing service with NPB can become international free agents and do not need to enter MLB through the posting system.[8] The remaining Japanese players that have played in MLB have either signed as free agents or signed as amateur players. Mac Suzuki, Kazuhito Tadano, and Junichi Tazawa are the only Japanese players to have debuted in MLB without previously playing in NPB.[9][10][11] All 30 MLB teams have had at least one Japanese player on their roster.

Japanese players have had a range of success in MLB. Twelve players have been selected to participate in the All-Star Game; Ichiro Suzuki has made the most appearances with ten. In addition to these selections, Ichiro has won several prestigious MLB awards including the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2001, the All-Star Game MVP Award in 2007 and multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. Ichiro also holds the MLB record for the recording the most hits in a single season. Hideo Nomo was the only Japanese pitcher to throw a no-hitter until Hisashi Iwakuma accomplished the feat on August 12, 2015. Nomo threw two in total; the first came in 1996 and the last occurred in 2001.

Currently, Shohei Ohtani is the only player in MLB history to win the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award twice unanimously in 2021 and 2023, the first player in MLB history with 10 wins and 40 home runs in a season,[12] and the first player in MLB history to be named to both first teams for the 2023 All-MLB Team in the same season (as a designated hitter and starting pitcher respectively).[13] Ohtani is also the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, the first Japanese-born player to win a major league home run title, leading the American League with 44 home runs[14] the first Japanese-born player to win the AL Hank Aaron Award,[15] and the first Japanese player to have the most popular Major League Baseball jersey sales.[16] In addition, Ohtani has also won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, two Silver Slugger Awards, and multiple Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Awards.[17] Ohtani also signed the largest contract in professional sports history, a 10-year $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[18] while Yoshinobu Yamamoto received the most guaranteed dollars ever given to a pitcher, signing a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers.[19]

Thirteen Japanese players have played in the World Series. Of these players, So Taguchi has won the most with two and Hideki Matsui is the only one to win the World Series MVP Award. The 2007 World Series had the most Japanese players, with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima pitching for the Boston Red Sox, and Kazuo Matsui playing for the Colorado Rockies.

Table key

[edit]
Key to symbols in player table
*
Signed with a Major League Baseball team via the posting system
§
Signed with a Major League Baseball team without first playing for a Nippon Professional Baseball team
Inducted into the Meikyukai (Golden Players Club)
Inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame

Players

[edit]
Players from Japan on existing Major League Baseball rosters
Player Position MLB Debut Games* Team(s) Status Notes
Yu Darvish* SP April 9, 2012 266 Texas Rangers (2012–2017)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2017)
Chicago Cubs (2018–2020)
San Diego Padres (2021–)
Active [20][21]
Kenta Maeda* SP April 6, 2016 202 Los Angeles Dodgers (2016–2019)
Minnesota Twins (2020–2023)

Detroit Tigers (2024–)

Active [22][23]
Shohei Ohtani* TWP March 29, 2018 716 Los Angeles Angels (2018–2023)

Los Angeles Dodgers (2024–)

Active [24][25]
Yusei Kikuchi* SP March 21, 2019 134 Seattle Mariners (2019–2021)
Toronto Blue Jays (2022–2024)

Houston Astros (2024–)

Active [26][27]
Seiya Suzuki* RF April 7, 2022 249 Chicago Cubs (2022–) Active [28][29]
Masataka Yoshida* LF March 30, 2023 140 Boston Red Sox (2023–) Active [30][31]
Shintaro Fujinami* RP April 1, 2023 64 Oakland Athletics (2023)
Baltimore Orioles (2023)
New York Mets (2024–)
Active [32][33]
Kodai Senga SP April 2, 2023 29 New York Mets (2023–) Active [34][35]
Yoshinobu Yamamoto* SP March 20, 2024 0 Los Angeles Dodgers (2024–) Active [36][37]
Yuki Matsui RP March 20, 2024 0 San Diego Padres (2024–) Active [38]
Shota Imanaga* SP April 1, 2024 0 Chicago Cubs (2024–) Active [39]
Naoyuki Uwasawa* RP May 2, 2024 0 Boston Red Sox (2024–) Active [40]
* Games played through the 2023 regular season.

Former players

[edit]
Players from Japan that formerly appeared on Major League Baseball rosters
Player Position MLB debut Final MLB game Games Former MLB Team(s) League/status Team Notes
Masanori Murakami P September 1, 1964 October 1, 1965 54 San Francisco Giants (1964–1965) Retired [41]
Hideo Nomo P May 2, 1995 April 18, 2008 324 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
(Special Advisor)
San Diego Padres [42][43]
Mac Suzuki§ P July 7, 1996 June 28, 2002 117 Seattle Mariners (1996, 1998–1999)
Kansas City Royals (1999–2001, 2002)
Colorado Rockies (2001)
Milwaukee Brewers (2001)
Retired [44]
Shigetoshi Hasegawa P April 5, 1997 September 28, 2005 517 Anaheim Angels (1997–2001)
Seattle Mariners (2002–2005)
Retired [45]
Takashi Kashiwada P May 1, 1997 September 18, 1997 35 New York Mets (1997) Retired [46]
Hideki Irabu P July 10, 1997 July 12, 2002 126 New York Yankees (1997–1999)
Montreal Expos (2000–2001)
Texas Rangers (2002)
Deceased
(July 27, 2011)
[47]
Masato Yoshii P April 5, 1998 September 11, 2002 162 New York Mets (1998–1999)
Colorado Rockies (2000)
Montreal Expos (2001–2002)
Retired
(Manager)
Chiba Lotte Marines [48]
Masao Kida P April 5, 1999 August 3, 2005 65 Detroit Tigers (1999–2000)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2003–2004)
Seattle Mariners (2004–2005)
Retired
(Manager)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters farm team [49]
Tomokazu Ohka P July 19, 1999 October 4, 2009 204 Boston Red Sox (1999–2001)
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2001–2005)
Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006)
Toronto Blue Jays (2007)
Cleveland Indians (2009)
Retired
(Pitching Coach)
Yokohama DeNA BayStars farm team [50]
Kazuhiro Sasaki P April 5, 2000 September 28, 2003 228 Seattle Mariners (2000–2003) Retired [51]
Ichiro Suzuki* OF April 2, 2001 March 21, 2019 2,653 Seattle Mariners (2001–2012, 2018–2019)
New York Yankees (2012–2014)
Miami Marlins (2015–2017)
Retired
(Special Assistant to the chairman)
Seattle Mariners [52][53]
Tsuyoshi Shinjo OF April 3, 2001 June 27, 2003 303 New York Mets (2001, 2003)
San Francisco Giants (2002)
Retired
(Manager)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [54]
Takahito Nomura P April 3, 2002 May 15, 2002 21 Milwaukee Brewers (2002) Retired [55]
Satoru Komiyama P April 4, 2002 September 11, 2002 25 New York Mets (2002) Retired
(Manager)
Waseda University [56]
Kazuhisa Ishii* P April 6, 2002 September 28, 2005 105 Los Angeles Dodgers (2002–2004)
New York Mets (2005)
Retired
(General Manager/Manager)
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles [57]
So Taguchi OF June 10, 2002 October 4, 2009 672 St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2007)
Philadelphia Phillies (2008)
Chicago Cubs (2009)
Retired
(Outfield/Baserunning Coach)
Orix Buffaloes [58]
Hideki Matsui OF March 31, 2003 July 22, 2012 1,236 New York Yankees (2003–2009)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2010)
Oakland Athletics (2011)
Tampa Bay Rays (2012)
Retired
(Special Advisor to the General Manager)
New York Yankees [59][60]
Kazuo Matsui IF April 6, 2004 May 18, 2010 630 New York Mets (2004–2006)
Colorado Rockies (2006–2007)
Houston Astros (2008–2010)
Retired
(Manager)
Saitama Seibu Lions [61]
Akinori Otsuka* P April 6, 2004 July 1, 2007 236 San Diego Padres (2004–2005)
Texas Rangers (2006–2007)
Retired
(Pitching Coach)
Chunichi Dragons [62]
Shingo Takatsu P April 9, 2004 October 2, 2005 99 Chicago White Sox (2004–2005)
New York Mets (2005)
Retired
(Manager)
Tokyo Yakult Swallows [63][64]
Kazuhito Tadano§ P April 27, 2004 July 16, 2005 15 Cleveland Indians (2004–2005) Retired [65]
Tadahito Iguchi IF April 4, 2005 September 28, 2008 493 Chicago White Sox (2005–2007)
Philadelphia Phillies (2007, 2008)
San Diego Padres (2008)
Retired [66]
Keiichi Yabu P April 9, 2005 September 27, 2008 100 Oakland Athletics (2005)
San Francisco Giants (2008)
Retired [67]
Norihiro Nakamura* IF April 10, 2005 May 6, 2005 17 Los Angeles Dodgers (2005) Retired
(Hitting Coach)
Chunichi Dragons farm team [68]
Kenji Johjima C April 3, 2006 October 3, 2009 462 Seattle Mariners (2006–2009) Retired
(Special Advisor to the chairman)
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks [69]
Takashi Saito P April 9, 2006 September 30, 2012 338 Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2008)
Boston Red Sox (2009)
Atlanta Braves (2010)
Milwaukee Brewers (2011)
Arizona Diamondbacks (2012)
Retired
(Pitching Coach)
Yokohama DeNA BayStars [70]
Akinori Iwamura* IF April 2, 2007 September 26, 2010 408 Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays (2007–2009)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2010)
Oakland Athletics (2010)
Retired
(Manager)
Fukushima Red Hopes [71]
Hideki Okajima P April 2, 2007 June 13, 2013 266 Boston Red Sox (2007–2011)
Oakland Athletics (2013)
Retired [72]
Daisuke Matsuzaka* P April 5, 2007 September 25, 2014 158 Boston Red Sox (2007–2012)
New York Mets (2013–2014)
Retired [73][74]
Kei Igawa* P April 7, 2007 June 27, 2008 16 New York Yankees (2007–2008) Retired [75]
Masumi Kuwata P June 10, 2007 August 13, 2007 19 Pittsburgh Pirates (2007) Retired
(Manager)
Yomiuri Giants farm team [76]
Kosuke Fukudome OF March 31, 2008 June 3, 2012 596 Chicago Cubs (2008–2011)
Cleveland Indians (2011)
Chicago White Sox (2012)
Retired [77][78]
Kazuo Fukumori P March 31, 2008 April 24, 2008 4 Texas Rangers (2008) Retired [79]
Masahide Kobayashi P April 2, 2008 May 7, 2009 67 Cleveland Indians (2008–2009) Retired [80]
Hiroki Kuroda P April 4, 2008 September 25, 2014 212 Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2011)
New York Yankees (2012–2014)
Retired
(Team Advisor)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp [81]
Yasuhiko Yabuta P April 5, 2008 October 4, 2009 43 Kansas City Royals (2008–2009) Retired [82]
Koji Uehara P April 8, 2009 September 2, 2017 436 Baltimore Orioles (2009–2011)
Texas Rangers (2011–2012)
Boston Red Sox (2013–2016)
Chicago Cubs (2017)
Retired [83]
Kenshin Kawakami P April 11, 2009 September 9, 2010 52 Atlanta Braves (2009–2010) Retired [84]
Ken Takahashi P May 2, 2009 September 25, 2009 28 New York Mets (2009) Retired
(Pitching Coach)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp farm team [85][86]
Junichi Tazawa§ P August 7, 2009 September 30, 2018 388 Boston Red Sox (2009–2016)
Miami Marlins (2017–2018)
Los Angeles Angels (2018)
Amateur League ENEOS [87][88]
Hisanori Takahashi P April 7, 2010 April 11, 2013 168 New York Mets (2010)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2011–2012)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2012)
Chicago Cubs (2013)
Retired [89][90]
Ryota Igarashi P April 8, 2010 August 12, 2012 83 New York Mets (2010–2011)
Toronto Blue Jays (2012)
New York Yankees (2012)
Retired [91][92]
Tsuyoshi Nishioka* IF April 1, 2011 August 8, 2012 71 Minnesota Twins (2011–2012) KAL
(Player-Manager)
Fukuoka Kitakyushu Phoenix [93][94]
Yoshinori Tateyama P May 24, 2011 September 26, 2012 53 Texas Rangers (2011–2012) Retired
(Pitching Coach)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters [95][96]
Nori Aoki* OF April 6, 2012 October 1, 2017 759 Milwaukee Brewers (2012–2013)
Kansas City Royals (2014)
San Francisco Giants (2015)
Seattle Mariners (2016)
Houston Astros (2017)
Toronto Blue Jays (2017)
New York Mets (2017)
NPB/CL Tokyo Yakult Swallows [97][98][99]
Munenori Kawasaki IF April 7, 2012 October 2, 2016 276 Seattle Mariners (2012)
Toronto Blue Jays (2013–2015)
Chicago Cubs (2016)
BCL Tochigi Golden Braves [100][101]
Hisashi Iwakuma P April 20, 2012 May 3, 2017 150 Seattle Mariners (2012–2017) Retired
(Special Assignment Coordinator)
Seattle Mariners [102][103]
Kyuji Fujikawa P April 1, 2013 May 15, 2015 29 Chicago Cubs (2013–2014)
Texas Rangers (2015)
Retired
(Special Assistant)
Hanshin Tigers [104][105]
Kensuke Tanaka OF July 9, 2013 July 28, 2013 15 San Francisco Giants (2013) Retired [106][107]
Masahiro Tanaka* P April 4, 2014 September 23, 2020 174 New York Yankees (2014–2020) NPB/PL Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles [108][109][110]
Tsuyoshi Wada P July 8, 2014 September 4, 2015 21 Chicago Cubs (2014–2015) NPB/PL Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks [111][112][113]
Toru Murata P June 28, 2015 June 28, 2015 1 Cleveland Indians (2015) Bundesliga Bonn Capitals [114][115]
Yoshihisa Hirano P March 29, 2018 September 27, 2020 150 Arizona Diamondbacks (2018–2019)
Seattle Mariners (2020)
NPB/PL Orix Buffaloes [116][117][118]
Kazuhisa Makita* P March 30, 2018 September 29, 2018 27 San Diego Padres (2018) Retired [119][120]
Yoshi Tsutsugo* IF July 24, 2020 July 31, 2022 182 Tampa Bay Rays (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2021)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2021–2022)
MiLB/EL Richmond Flying Squirrels [121][122][123]
Shogo Akiyama OF July 24, 2020 September 16, 2021 142 Cincinnati Reds (2020–2021) NPB/CL Hiroshima Toyo Carp [124][125][126]
Shun Yamaguchi* P July 26, 2020 September 27, 2020 17 Toronto Blue Jays (2020) Retired [127][128][129]
Hirokazu Sawamura P April 2, 2021 August 28, 2022 104 Boston Red Sox (2021–2022) NPB/PL Chiba Lotte Marines [130][131]
Kohei Arihara* P April 3, 2021 September 10, 2022 15 Texas Rangers (2021–2022) NPB/PL Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks [132][133]

Awards, records and notable accomplishments

[edit]

Awards and accolades

[edit]

Hitting

[edit]
  • Most hits in a single season: Ichiro Suzuki, 262 (2004) MLB Record[143]
  • Most career interleague hits: Ichiro Suzuki, 367 MLB Record
  • Most consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits: Ichiro Suzuki, 10 (2001–2010) MLB Record
  • Most seasons with 200 or more hits: Ichiro Suzuki, 10 (2001–2010) MLB Record (tie)
  • Most games with five or more hits in a season: Ichiro Suzuki, 4 (2004) MLB Record (tie)
  • Most pinch-hit plate appearances in a season: Ichiro Suzuki, 109 (2017) MLB Record
  • Most pinch-hit at-bats in a season: Ichiro Suzuki, 100 (2017) MLB Record
  • Batting titles: Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 (.350 Avg) and 2004 (.372 Avg)[144]
  • Home run title: Shohei Ohtani, 2023 AL (44 Home runs)[14]
  • Only inside-the-park home run in All-Star game history: Ichiro Suzuki, July 10, 2007, AT&T Park, hitting leadoff for the American League
  • Only MLB player to hit a home run in his first plate appearance of his first three seasons: Kazuo Matsui, 2004 (First pitch), 2005, 2006 (Inside-the-park home run)
  • First Japanese player to play in the World Series: Tsuyoshi Shinjo, October 19, 2002, Giants vs. Angels, Edison Field, hitting 9th in the lineup as the Designated hitter
  • First Japanese player to hit a home run: Hideo Nomo, April 28, 1998, Dodgers vs. Brewers, Dodger Stadium
  • First Japanese player to hit a grand slam: Tsuyoshi Shinjo, May 17, 2002, Giants vs. Marlins, AT&T Park
  • First Japanese player to hit a walk-off hit: Tsuyoshi Shinjo, May 20, 2001, Mets vs. Dodgers, Shea Stadium
  • First Japanese player to hit a walk-off home run: Hideki Matsui, July 17, 2003, Yankees vs. Indians, Yankee Stadium
  • First Japanese player to hit a home run in the postseason: Hideki Matsui, October 4, 2003, Yankees vs. Twins, Metrodome
  • First Japanese player to hit a home run in the World Series: Hideki Matsui, October 19, 2003, Yankees vs. Marlins, Yankee Stadium
  • First Japanese player to hit for the cycle: Shohei Ohtani, June 13, 2019, Angels vs. Rays, Tropicana Field (Home run (1st), Double (3rd), Triple (5th), Single (7th))
  • 3,000 hit club: Ichiro Suzuki; entered August 7, 2016
  • Most walks in a 3-game span: Shohei Ohtani, September 22–24, 2021 (11) AL Record, MLB Record (tie)
  • Highest home run hit in the Statcast era: Shohei Ohtani, 162 feet, April 30, 2023, Angels vs. Brewers, American Family Field, Top of 3rd, 2 outs, 1st pitch off Colin Rea
  • Fastest exit velocity by a left-handed hitter in the Statcast era: Shohei Ohtani, 119.1 mph. April 10, 2022, Angels vs. Astros, Angel Stadium. Bottom of 3rd, 1 out, 3-2 count, 7th pitch off José Urquidy (Ground rule double)

Baserunning

[edit]

Pitching

[edit]

All-Star Game selections

[edit]
Players from Japan that have been selected to participate in a Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Player League Selections Year(s) Notes
Ichiro Suzuki AL 10 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Inside-the-park home run, All-Star Game MVP (2007)[149]
Yu Darvish AL, NL 5 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021 Selected as the winner of the Final Vote but did not play (2012)[150][151]
Selected but did not play (2013)[152]
Selected but did not play (2017)
Selected but did not play due to being on the injured list (2021)
Shohei Ohtani AL 3 2021, 2022, 2023 Recorded a win as the starting pitcher (2021)
First player in history to be selected as both designated hitter and starting pitcher (2021)[153]
Selected as both the designated hitter and a starting pitcher, but did not pitch (2022)
Selected as both the designated hitter and a starting pitcher. Automatic selection as the starting DH by leading the AL in votes (2023)[154]
Kazuhiro Sasaki AL 2 2001, 2002 Closed and recorded a save (2001)[155]
Hideki Matsui AL 2 2003, 2004 Selected as the winner of the Final Vote (2004)[156]
Masahiro Tanaka AL 2 2014, 2019 Selected but did not play due to being on the disabled list (2014)
Selected in place of injured Marcus Stroman (2019)
First Yankee pitcher to win an All-Star Game in 71 years (2019)[157]
Hideo Nomo NL 1 1995 Starting pitcher[158]
Shigetoshi Hasegawa AL 1 2003
Hideki Okajima AL 1 2007 Selected as the winner of the Final Vote, but did not play[149][159]
Takashi Saito NL 1 2007
Kosuke Fukudome NL 1 2008
Hisashi Iwakuma AL 1 2013 Selected but did not play[160]
Koji Uehara AL 1 2014 Selected in place of injured Masahiro Tanaka[161]
Yusei Kikuchi AL 1 2021 Selected but did not play[162]
Kodai Senga NL 1 2023 Selected in place of Marcus Stroman, but did not play[163]
Bold indicates the player was selected to the starting roster

World Series appearances

[edit]
Players from Japan that have been a part of a Major League Baseball World Series
Player World Series
championships
World Series
appearances
Year(s) 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[164][165][166]
Hideki Matsui 1 2 2003 Yankees
2009 Yankees
World Series MVP (2009)[167][168]
Tadahito Iguchi 1 1 2005 White Sox First Japanese player to win a World Series[169]
Hideki Okajima 1 1 2007 Red Sox First Japanese pitcher to appear in a World Series. With Matsuzaka, first Japanese pitcher to win the World Series. The 2007 World Series was the first in which Japanese players appeared for both teams.[170]
Daisuke Matsuzaka 1 1 2007 Red Sox First Japanese pitcher to both start and win a World Series game and first Japanese pitcher to win an MLB playoff game during the 2007 postseason. With Okajima, first Japanese pitcher to win the World Series. The 2007 World Series was the first in which Japanese players appeared for both teams.[170]
Junichi Tazawa 1 1 2013 Red Sox [171]
Koji Uehara 1 1 2013 Red Sox First Japanese pitcher to record a save in a World Series game[171]
Kenta Maeda 0 2 2017 Dodgers
2018 Dodgers
First Japanese player to play in consecutive World Series[172]
Tsuyoshi Shinjo 0 1 2002 Giants First Japanese player to play in a World Series game[173]
Kazuo Matsui 0 1 2007 Rockies The 2007 World Series was the first in which Japanese players appeared for both teams.[170]
Akinori Iwamura 0 1 2008 Rays [174]
Nori Aoki 0 1 2014 Royals [175]
Yu Darvish 0 1 2017 Dodgers [176]
Yoshi Tsutsugo 0 1 2020 Rays [177]
Bold indicates that the team won the World Series that year

Notes

[edit]
General
  • "Players by birthplace : Japan Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
Inline citations
  1. ^ "Players by birthplace : Japan Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  2. ^ This list does not include players that were born in Japan to American parents or players with Japanese ancestry who grew up abroad (such as Lars Nootbaar, Steven Kwan, Gosuke Katoh, Keston Hiura, Kurt Suzuki, Dave Roberts and Micheal Nakamura).
  3. ^ Kleinberg, Alexander (December 24, 2001). "Where have you gone, Masanori Murakami?". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on August 18, 2002. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  4. ^ Whiting 2004, pp. 75–80
  5. ^ Singer, Tom (November 14, 2006). "Matsuzaka posting system's latest gem". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  6. ^ Whiting 2004, pp. 102–112
  7. ^ Price, S.L. (July 8, 2002). "The Ichiro Paradox". Time. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  8. ^ "NPB, players to revise free-agency system". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 26, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  9. ^ Allen, Jim (September 12, 2008). "Amateur Tazawa bypassing Japan leagues for MLB". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  10. ^ Schwarz, Alan (November 19, 2008). "Japanese Are Irked by U.S. Interest in Pitcher". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  11. ^ Browne, Ian (December 4, 2008). "Tazawa officially in fold for Red Sox". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  12. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (August 9, 2023). "Ohtani throws more zeros, makes more history". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  13. ^ Paul, Casella (2023-12-16). "Here are your 2023 All-MLB First and Second Team winners". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  14. ^ a b "Ohtani becomes first Japanese MLB home-run champion". The Japan Times. October 2, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Paul, Casella (2023-12-16). "Ohtani, Acuña pad trophy cases with Hank Aaron Awards". MLB.com.
  16. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (29 September 2023). "Another 1st for Ohtani: Most popular MLB jersey in '23". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  17. ^ Rhett, Bollinger (2023-11-30). "Three-peat! Ohtani wins Outstanding DH Award again". MLB.com.
  18. ^ Wexler, Sarah (December 11, 2023). "$700M stunner: Ohtani to Dodgers on biggest deal in sports history". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  19. ^ "It's official: Yamamoto joins Dodgers on 12-year deal". MLB.com.
  20. ^ "Yu Darvish Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  21. ^ "Yu Darvish Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "Kenta Maeda Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "Kenta Maeda Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  24. ^ "Shohei Ohtani Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  25. ^ "Shohei Ohtani Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  26. ^ "Yusei Kikuchi Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  27. ^ "Yusei Kikuchi Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  28. ^ "Seiya Suzuki Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  29. ^ "Seiya Suzuki Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  30. ^ "Masataka Yoshida Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  31. ^ "Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox agree to deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  32. ^ "Shintaro Fujinami Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "Shintaro Fujinami agrees to deal with Athletics". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  34. ^ "Kodai Senga Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
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References

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