The Cincinnati Reds signed Shogo Akiyama to a three-year, $21 million contract on Monday. As a result, Akiyama will be the first Japanese-born player in franchise history as they were the only team in MLB without one.
Nikkan Sports put a full list of every Japanese-born player to appear in MLB for each team. One strict rule is only including MLB (ichi-gun) on their resume, as no minor leaguers (ni-gun) are included. For reference sake, I've translated the whole thing just to see where players have gone.
Keep in mind, some players will be listed more than once as they appeared for several MLB teams. As a bonus, I highlighted the most productive player for that MLB team, factoring only his stats with that respective club.
# - Player had no NPB experience
American League:
===
Boston Red Sox (7):
Daisuke Matsuzaka (2007-2012), Takashi Saito (2009), Hideki Okajima (2007-2011), Tomokazu Ohka (1999-2001), Hideo Nomo (2001), Koji Uehara (2013-2016), Junichi Tazawa (2009-2016)#
,
Uehara in four seasons: (14-13), 226 IP, 2.19 ERA, 192 ERA+, 79 SV, 2013 ALCS MVP, 2014 All-Star, Lowest WHIP in 2013 (.565), 230 games, Won World Series (2013), 7.4 WAR
===
New York Yankees (7):
Hideki Irabu (1997-1999), Hideki Matsui (2003-2009), Ichiro Suzuki (2012-2014), Kei Igawa (2007-2008), Hiroki Kuroda (2012-2014), Ryota Igarashi (2012), Masahiro Tanaka (2014-Present)
Matsui in seven seasons: .292/.370/.482 in 916 games. 123 OPS+, 2003-2004 All-star, 2009 World Series MVP, 20.4 WAR
Tanaka could pass Matsui with more time.
===
Toronto Blue Jays (5):
Tomokazu Ohka (2007), Ryota Igarashi (2012), Nori Aoki (2017), Munenori Kawasaki (2013-2015), Shun Yamaguchi (2020-present)
Kawasaki in three seasons: .242/.326/.301 in 201 games, 77 OPS+, 2.2 WAR
Baltimore Orioles (1):
Koji Uehara (2009-2011)
Uehara in three seasons: (4-7), 3.03 ERA, 157.2 IP, 13 SV, 144 ERA+, 4.6 WAR
Tampa Bay [Devil] Rays:
Hideo Nomo (2005), Hideki Matsui (2012), Akinori Iwamura (2007-2009), Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (2020-present)**
**Expected to play
Iwamura in three seasons: .281/.354/.393 in 344 games. 98 OPS+, 6.6 WAR
===
Detroit Tigers (2):
Masao Kida (1999-2000), Hideo Nomo (2000)
Nomo in one season: (8-12), 4.74 ERA, 99 ERA+ in 32 games, 190 IP, 2.6 WAR
Chicago White Sox (3):
Tadahito Iguchi (2005-2007), Shingo Takatsu (2004-2005), Kosuke Fukudome (2012)
Iguchi in three seasons: .273/.346/.419, 97 OPS+ in 363 games, 5.3 WAR. Won World Series (2005)
Minnesota Twins (2):
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (2011-2012), Kenta Maeda (2020-Present)
Nishioka in two seasons: .215/.267/.236, 41 OPS+ in 71 games, -2.3 WAR.
Cleveland Indians (6):
Tomokazu Ohka (2009), Kazuhito Tadano (2004-2005)#, Kosuke Fukudome (2011), Masahide Kobayashi (2008-2009), Toru Murata (2015)
Tadano in two seasons: (1-1), 4.47 ERA, 98 ERA+ in 54.1 IP, 15 games, 0.2 WAR.
Kansas City Royals (4):
Hideo Nomo (2008), Mac Suzuki (1999-2001, 2002)#, Yasuhiko Yabuta (2008-2009), Nori Aoki (2014)
Suzuki in four seasons: (12-20), 4.96 ERA, 101 ERA+ in 333.2 IP, 76 games, 2.5 WAR
Seattle Mariners (11):
Mac Suzuki (1996, 1998-1999)#, Shigetoshi Hasegawa (2002-2005), Masao Kida (2004-2005), Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000-2003), Ichiro Suzuki (2001-2012, 2018-2019), Kenji Johjima (2006-2009), Nori Aoki (2016), Munenori Kawasaki (2012), Hisashi Iwakuma (2012-2017), Yusei Kikuchi (2019-Present), Yoshihisa Hirano (2020-present)
Ichiro in 14 seasons: .321/.365/.416, 113 OPS+ in 1,861 games, 3,089 career hits, 2001 AL MVP, 2001 Rookie of the Year, 2001-2010 Gold Glove, Silver Slugger (2001, 2007, 2009), Batting champion (2001, 2004), Most hits in a single season (262 in 2004), Stolen Base champion (56 in 2001), 56.3 WAR
===
Oakland Athletics (4):
Hideki Matsui (2011), Keiichi Yabu (2005), Akinori Iwamura (2010), Hideki Okajima (2013)
Matsui in one season: .251/.321/.375, 93 OPS+, 0.5 WAR in 141 games
Los Angeles Angels (5):
Shigetoshi Hasegawa (1997-2001), Hideki Matsui (2010), Junichi Tazawa (2018)#, Hisanori Takahashi (2011-2012), Shohei Ohtani (2018-Present)
Hasegawa in five seasons: (30-27), 3.85 ERA, 124 ERA+ in 442.1 IP, 287 games, 6.7 WAR
Ohtani will likely pass this distinction once he has more years in MLB.
Texas Rangers (7):
Yu Darvish (2012-2017), Hideki Irabu (2002), Akinori Otsuka (2006-2007), Kazuo Fukumori (2008), Koji Uehara (2011-2012), Yoshinori Tateyama (2011-2012), Kyuji Fujikawa (2015)
Darvish in five seasons: (52-39), 3.42 ERA, 127 ERA+, 782.2 IP, 122 games, 18.3 WAR, 4x All-Star (2012-2014, 2017)
Houston Astros (2):
Kazuo Matsui (2008-2010), Nori Aoki (2017)
Matsui in three seasons: .259/.315/.370, 83 OPS+ in 255 games, 0.9 WAR
===
National League
New York Mets (13):
Hideo Nomo (1998), Takashi Kashiwada (1997), Masato Yoshii (1998-1999), Tsuyoshi Shinjo (2001, 2003), Satoru Komiyama (2002), Kazuhisa Ishii (2005), Kazuo Matsui (2004-2006), Shingo Takatsu (2005), Daisuke Matsuzaka (2013-2014), Ken Takahashi (2009), Hisanori Takahashi (2010), Ryota Igarashi (2010-2011), Nori Aoki (2017)
Yoshii in two seasons: (18-16), 4.17 ERA, 104 ERA+, 345.2 IP in 60 games, 4.5 WAR
Philadelphia Phillies (2):
So Taguchi (2008), Tadahito Iguchi (2007-2008)
Iguchi in two seasons: .303/.358/.441, 103 OPS+ in 49 games, 1.0 WAR, Won World Series ring in 2008, but appeared in no postseason games
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (3):
Hideki Irabu (2000-2001), Masato Yoshii (2001-2002), Tomokazu Ohka (2001-2005)
Ohka in five seasons: (31-34), 3.71 ERA, 118 ERA+ in 585 IP, 101 games, 9.3 WAR
Miami Marlins (2):
Ichiro Suzuki (2015-2017), Junichi Tazawa (2017-2018)#
Ichiro in three seasons: .256/.315/.325, 78 OPS+ in 432 games, 0.3 WAR
Atlanta Braves (2):
Kenshin Kawakami (2009-2010), Takashi Saito (2010)
Kawakami in two seasons: (8-22), 4.32 ERA, 94 ERA+ in 243.2 IP, 50 games, 1.2 WAR
===
Chicago Cubs (8):
Kosuke Fukudome (2008-2011), So Taguchi (2009), Yu Darvish (2018-present), Koji Uehara (2017), Hisanori Takahashi (2013), Munenori Kawasaki (2016), Kyuji Fujikawa (2013-2014), Tsuyoshi Wada (2014-2015)
Fukudome in four seasons: .262/.369/.403, 102 OPS+ in 513 games, 5.1 WAR, 2008 All-Star
Pittsburgh Pirates (3):
Masumi Kuwata (2007), Akinori Iwamura (2010), Hisanori Takahashi (2012)
Iwamura in one season: .182/.292/.267, 54 OPS+ in 54 games, -1.6 WAR
St. Louis Cardinals (1):
So Taguchi (2002-2007)
Taguchi in six seasons: .283/.336/.391, 89 OPS+ in 578 games, 2.5 WAR, World Series champion (2006)
Cincinnati Reds (1):
Shogo Akiyama (2020-Present)
Milwaukee Brewers (6):
Hideo Nomo (1999), Mac Suzuki (2001)#, Tomokazu Ohka (2005-2006), Takahito Nomura (2002), Takashi Saito (2011), Nori Aoki (2012-2013)
Aoki in two seasons: .287/.355/.399, 104 ERA+ in 306 games, 6.1 WAR
===
Los Angeles Dodgers (8):
Hideo Nomo (1995-1998, 2002-2004), Masao Kida (2003-2004), Kazuhisa Ishii (2002-2004), Norihiro Nakamura (2005), Takashi Saito (2006-2008), Hiroki Kuroda (2008-2011), Yu Darvish (2017), Kenta Maeda (2016-2019)
Nomo in seven seasons: (81-66), 3.74 ERA, 104 ERA+ in 1,217.2 IP, 191 games, 15.2 WAR, Rookie of the Year (1995), No-hitter (1996), All-star (1995), Strikeout leader (1995)
San Francisco Giants (5):
Masanori Murakami (1964-1965), Tsuyoshi Shinjo (2002), Keiichi Yabu (2008), Nori Aoki (2015), Kensuke Tanaka (2013)
Murakami in two seasons: 3.43 ERA, 106 ERA+, 9 SV in 89.1 IP, 54 games, 1.6 WAR, First Japanese-born player to play in MLB
Colorado Rockies (3):
Mac Suzuki (2001)#, Kazuo Matsui (2006-2007), Masato Yoshii (2000)
Matsui in two seasons: .300/.353/.426, 95 OPS+ in 136 games, 3.9 WAR
San Diego Padres (3):
Akinori Otsuka (2004-2005), Tadahito Iguchi (2008), Kazuhisa Makita (2018)
Otsuka in two seasons: (9-10), 2.57 ERA, 151 ERA+ in 140 IP, 139 games, 3.3 WAR
Arizona Diamondbacks (2):
Takashi Saito (2012), Yoshihisa Hirano (2018-2019)
Hirano in two seasons: (9-8), 3.47 ERA, 125 ERA+ in 119.1 IP, 137 games, 1.0 WAR
===
Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
No comments:
Post a Comment