Kazuhito Tadano
Encyclopedia
is a right-handed pitcher
for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
in Japan's Pacific League
. He had previously pitched in Major League Baseball
for the Cleveland Indians
.
led Yachiyo Shoin High School
to the National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien
) for the first time. He had been a highly regarded pitcher coming out of Rikkyo University
. He was expected to be a high draft pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball draft in 2002, but no Japanese team drafted him due to the gay porn video scandal, which forced him to leave Japan.
The Cleveland Indians signed Tadano as a free agent
in 2003, and he quickly rose through the Cleveland farm system, making his debut in . He made 14 appearances and four starts with a 4.65 ERA
in 50⅓ innings. In January 2004, it was widely reported in the U.S. that Tadano was featured in a gay porn video three years previous, with Tadano appearing at a press conference organized by the team. Tadano said "I was young, playing baseball, and going to college and my teammates and I needed money
" and "I'm not gay."
He was sidelined due to an injury early in the season, but recovered and was shuttled between Cleveland and the Buffalo Bisons
for the rest of the year.
On April 4, 2006, Tadano was traded to the Oakland Athletics
for outfielder
Ramon Alvarado.
In 2007, Tadano was sent down to Oakland's Double-A team, Midland
, after being invited to spring training
. He was eventually promoted back up to Triple-A and started off well, looking extremely sharp with a plus splitter
. Curiously, he ran into trouble in June. His ERA ballooned as he gave up 29 runs
over 5 games. He was moved to the bullpen
in July after Oakland demoted Colby Lewis
and Shane Komine
.
In 2008, he was the first-pick by the Nippon Ham Fighters
in the university/company player draft in 2007, he would become the last player in the Matsuzaka Generation
to start his NPB life. He missed the start of the 2008 season with an injury.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
in Japan's Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
. He had previously pitched in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
Biography
Tadano as the ace pitcherAce (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
led Yachiyo Shoin High School
Yachiyo Shoin Junior High School & Senior High School
Yachiyo Shoin Junior High School & Senior High School is private high school located in Yachiyo Chiba prefecture, Japan. Yachiyo Shoin Junior High School & Senior High School are coeducatinal school.-About Yachiyo Shoin High School:...
to the National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien
Koshien
Kōshien is a district of Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan.Kōshien also refers to:*Koshien Stadium, a baseball stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, which is the venue of the annual high school baseball tournaments:...
) for the first time. He had been a highly regarded pitcher coming out of Rikkyo University
Rikkyo University
, also known as Saint Paul's University, is a private university, based on Christian precepts, in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. There is a suburban campus in Niiza in nearby Saitama.It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by the motto -History:...
. He was expected to be a high draft pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball draft in 2002, but no Japanese team drafted him due to the gay porn video scandal, which forced him to leave Japan.
The Cleveland Indians signed Tadano as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2003, and he quickly rose through the Cleveland farm system, making his debut in . He made 14 appearances and four starts with a 4.65 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 50⅓ innings. In January 2004, it was widely reported in the U.S. that Tadano was featured in a gay porn video three years previous, with Tadano appearing at a press conference organized by the team. Tadano said "I was young, playing baseball, and going to college and my teammates and I needed money
Gay-for-pay
Gay-for-pay describes male or female actors, pornographic stars, or sex workers who self-identify as heterosexual but who are paid to act or perform as homosexual professionally. The term has also applied to other professions and even companies with the same core concerns and criticism in place...
" and "I'm not gay."
He was sidelined due to an injury early in the season, but recovered and was shuttled between Cleveland and the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
for the rest of the year.
On April 4, 2006, Tadano was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Ramon Alvarado.
In 2007, Tadano was sent down to Oakland's Double-A team, Midland
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
, after being invited to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He was eventually promoted back up to Triple-A and started off well, looking extremely sharp with a plus splitter
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
. Curiously, he ran into trouble in June. His ERA ballooned as he gave up 29 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
over 5 games. He was moved to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
in July after Oakland demoted Colby Lewis
Colby Lewis
Colby Preston Lewis is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Lewis was originally a first-round draft choice of the Texas Rangers in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut in...
and Shane Komine
Shane Komine
Shane Kenji Komine is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 30,...
.
In 2008, he was the first-pick by the Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
in the university/company player draft in 2007, he would become the last player in the Matsuzaka Generation
Matsuzaka Generation
The is a term used to collectively describe the baseball players that belong to current Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka's age group...
to start his NPB life. He missed the start of the 2008 season with an injury.