Micheal Nakamura
Encyclopedia
is a former Major League Baseball
player who currently plays in the Japanese professional leagues. He pitched as the closer for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
.
He was educated at The Knox School and Wesley College, Melbourne.
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
, Nakamura was not successful in Major League Baseball; he pitched in only 31 games from 1997 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.
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 is also proud of his Christian-faith, even creating bracelets featuring the acrostic A.S.K. (Ask, Seek, and Knock) based on Matthew 7:7 from the Bible.
), while the other has a wide break.
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...
player who currently plays in the Japanese professional leagues. He pitched as the closer 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,...
.
He was educated at The Knox School and Wesley College, Melbourne.
Biography
Nakamura was born to a Japanese father and Australian mother. The family moved to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
when he was 3 years old, and Micheal later moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after signing with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1997. Despite having participated on the Australian Olympic baseball team
Australia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. They are ranked as the top team in Oceania, and are the Oceanian Champions, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand withdrew from the Oceania Baseball Championship. They...
in 1996
Baseball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Baseball had its second appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, with games played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Eight nations competed, with the preliminary phase consisting of each team playing every other team. Playoffs were then held,...
and 2000
Baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the third time an Olympic baseball tournament had been held as a full medal sport, and the ninth time it had been part of the Summer Olympic Games in any capacity. It was held in Sydney, Australia from 17 September through to the bronze and gold medal games...
, Nakamura was not successful in Major League Baseball; he pitched in only 31 games from 1997 to 2004, and never recorded a win. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in 2004, and was not re-signed for the next season.
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
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,...
, and he debuted against the Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
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
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...
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 is also proud of his Christian-faith, even creating bracelets featuring the acrostic A.S.K. (Ask, Seek, and Knock) based on Matthew 7:7 from the Bible.
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 slurveSlurve
The slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".-History:...
), while the other has a wide break.