Masumi Kuwata
Encyclopedia
Masumi Kuwata is a former Japanese
right-handed pitcher
. He was formerly with the Yomiuri Giants
of the Central League
. He pitched 21 seasons with the Giants, beginning in 1986. In December 2006 Masumi signed a minor league deal with the Pirates. Despite interest from the Boston Red Sox
and the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Masumi chose Pittsburgh because he predicted he would have the best chance of breaking in the main club as a starter with the Pirates.
Kuwata participated in spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, but injured his right ankle, ending hopes of getting on a major league roster at the start of the season. The Pirates did not release Kuwata, but placed him on their Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
roster as a disabled player, giving him a chance to work his way up to the majors. He made his major league debut for the Pirates in June 2007.
. He and his teammate Kazuhiro Kiyohara
immediately became stars in high school baseball
. Kuwata led his team to five Koshien tournaments, winning the tournament twice. He won 20 games at Koshien, which is the highest record except Masao Yoshida
's 23 wins.
The Yomiuri Giants
drafted Kuwata in the 1st round in 1985. The draft generated some controversy, since Kuwata had repeatedly expressed a desire to enter Waseda University
, prompting other teams to refrain from picking him in the draft. Kuwata reversed his previous statements and immediately signed with the Yomiuri Giants
, founding rumors that he had conspired with the Giants to avoid being picked by other teams.
played for the Giants in 1988–1989, and befriended Kuwata. Gullickson named his son Craig Kuwata Gullickson after Kuwata, and gave much advice to the Japanese pitcher. Kuwata has said his dream of playing in the Major Leagues came from Gullickson. However, many obstacles kept him from realizing this dream. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award (the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award
) the same year, and won over ten games for six consecutive seasons starting in 1992. No other modern player (with the exception of Daisuke Matsuzaka
) that entered the professional leagues from high school has been so immediately effective in the Japanese professional leagues. Kuwata suffered a severe injury to his right elbow while attempting to catch a pop fly in June, 1995, ending his season. Kuwata had surgery in the U.S., and spent the rest of 1995 and all of 1996 in rehab. He made a comeback in 1997, winning 10 games, and 16 games in 1998, but his pitching had noticeably deteriorated compared to the years before his injury. As he became more and more hitable, he was relegated to relief and closing duties, where he was mostly unsuccessful. Kuwata decided to retire during the 2001 off-season, but Giants general manager Tatsunori Hara
convinced him to remain on the team. On April 19, 2002, he aroused the public's notice for defeating Kei Igawa
by scores of 1-0. Kuwata gave a brilliant performance in 2002, posting a 2.22 ERA (lowest in the league), and winning over 10 games for the first time in four years. However, he once again dipped into mediocrity in the 2003 season and did not win a single game in 2005. Kuwata has 118 complete games in Japan.
as a 38-year-old rookie, ending his 21-year stay with the Yomiuri Giants. On June 9, 2007, Kuwata was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates after reliever Salomon Torres
was placed on the disabled list. He is the first Japanese player in team history. He made his Major League debut June 10, 2007 in a game against the New York Yankees
. At that time he was 39 years old, which was the oldest debut with the exception of Satchel Paige
and Diomedes Olivo
in the post-World War II era. He gave up 2 runs in 2 innings on a home run to third baseman Alex Rodriguez
.
On August 14, the Pirates designated Kuwata for assignment. The Pirates outrighted Kuwata to Triple-A on August 17 but Kuwata refused the assignment. Afterwards, Kuwata returned home to Japan.
In December 2007, Kuwata signed a minor league contract with the Pirates for the 2008 season. The contract included an invitation to the Spring Training with the team.
On January 28, 2008, at age 40, he was accepted into his dream school, Waseda University, as a graduate student.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
right-handed pitcher
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...
. He was formerly with the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
of the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
. He pitched 21 seasons with the Giants, beginning in 1986. In December 2006 Masumi signed a minor league deal with the Pirates. Despite interest from the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Masumi chose Pittsburgh because he predicted he would have the best chance of breaking in the main club as a starter with the Pirates.
Kuwata participated in spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, but injured his right ankle, ending hopes of getting on a major league roster at the start of the season. The Pirates did not release Kuwata, but placed him on their Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
roster as a disabled player, giving him a chance to work his way up to the majors. He made his major league debut for the Pirates in June 2007.
High school
Kuwata entered the prestigious PL (Perfect Liberty) High School in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. He and his teammate Kazuhiro Kiyohara
Kazuhiro Kiyohara
is a former professional baseball player in Japan, having played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league for 23 seasons. He retired following the 2008 season.-Biography:...
immediately became stars in high school baseball
High school baseball in Japan
In Japan, high school baseball generally refers to the two annual baseball tournaments played by high schools nationwide culminating at a final showdown at Hanshin Kōshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan...
. Kuwata led his team to five Koshien tournaments, winning the tournament twice. He won 20 games at Koshien, which is the highest record except Masao Yoshida
Masao Yoshida
was a Japanese amateur pitcher originally from Ichinomiya, Aichi. He had 23 wins at Spring and Summer Koshien. In the National High School Baseball Championship between 1931 and 1933, he won 14 consecutive games at Koshien Stadium and he became the only pitcher to win three consecutive...
's 23 wins.
The Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
drafted Kuwata in the 1st round in 1985. The draft generated some controversy, since Kuwata had repeatedly expressed a desire to enter Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
, prompting other teams to refrain from picking him in the draft. Kuwata reversed his previous statements and immediately signed with the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
, founding rumors that he had conspired with the Giants to avoid being picked by other teams.
Japan
Kuwata quickly established his presence in the professional leagues, winning 15 games in his second year (1987) with a 2.17 ERA, the lowest in the league. Major League pitcher Bill GullicksonBill Gullickson
William Lee Gullickson is a former major league baseball pitcher who played for six different major-league teams, in Canada, the U.S...
played for the Giants in 1988–1989, and befriended Kuwata. Gullickson named his son Craig Kuwata Gullickson after Kuwata, and gave much advice to the Japanese pitcher. Kuwata has said his dream of playing in the Major Leagues came from Gullickson. However, many obstacles kept him from realizing this dream. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award (the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
) the same year, and won over ten games for six consecutive seasons starting in 1992. No other modern player (with the exception of Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
) that entered the professional leagues from high school has been so immediately effective in the Japanese professional leagues. Kuwata suffered a severe injury to his right elbow while attempting to catch a pop fly in June, 1995, ending his season. Kuwata had surgery in the U.S., and spent the rest of 1995 and all of 1996 in rehab. He made a comeback in 1997, winning 10 games, and 16 games in 1998, but his pitching had noticeably deteriorated compared to the years before his injury. As he became more and more hitable, he was relegated to relief and closing duties, where he was mostly unsuccessful. Kuwata decided to retire during the 2001 off-season, but Giants general manager Tatsunori Hara
Tatsunori Hara
is the current manager for the Yomiuri Giants baseball team in Nippon Professional Baseball. He also played for the Yomiuri Giants during his professional baseball career from to . Hara led the Japan national baseball team to victory in the final of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.- External links :...
convinced him to remain on the team. On April 19, 2002, he aroused the public's notice for defeating Kei Igawa
Kei Igawa
is a Japanese left-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent, originally from Ōarai, Ibaraki, Japan. He played for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball from to . He led all pitchers in the Central League for strikeouts in , and 2006...
by scores of 1-0. Kuwata gave a brilliant performance in 2002, posting a 2.22 ERA (lowest in the league), and winning over 10 games for the first time in four years. However, he once again dipped into mediocrity in the 2003 season and did not win a single game in 2005. Kuwata has 118 complete games in Japan.
Major League Baseball
At the end of the 2006, Kuwata surprised fans by announcing his intent to play in the Major Leagues. Kuwata signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
as a 38-year-old rookie, ending his 21-year stay with the Yomiuri Giants. On June 9, 2007, Kuwata was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates after reliever Salomon Torres
Salomón Torres
Salomón Torres Ramirez is a former Major League Baseball player. He began his career in with the San Francisco Giants, and also played for the Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers.-San Francisco Giants:Torres is best known for starting the last game of the...
was placed on the disabled list. He is the first Japanese player in team history. He made his Major League debut June 10, 2007 in a game against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. At that time he was 39 years old, which was the oldest debut with the exception of Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
and Diomedes Olivo
Diomedes Olivo
Diomedes Antonio Olivo Maldonado was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of three seasons in the majors, between and , for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals...
in the post-World War II era. He gave up 2 runs in 2 innings on a home run to third baseman Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
.
On August 14, the Pirates designated Kuwata for assignment. The Pirates outrighted Kuwata to Triple-A on August 17 but Kuwata refused the assignment. Afterwards, Kuwata returned home to Japan.
In December 2007, Kuwata signed a minor league contract with the Pirates for the 2008 season. The contract included an invitation to the Spring Training with the team.
Retirement
He announced his retirement from baseball on March 26, 2008 after not making the team out of Spring Training. Upon announcing his retirement, the Pittsburgh Pirates offered Kuwata a coaching position with the club, but he declined.On January 28, 2008, at age 40, he was accepted into his dream school, Waseda University, as a graduate student.