Kazuhiro Sasaki

Kazuhiro Sasaki
Sasaki with the Seattle Mariners in 2002
Pitcher
Born:(1968-02-22)February 22, 1968 Sendai City, Japan
Batted:Right Threw:Right
Professional debut
NPB:April 7, 1990, for the Yokohama Taiyō Whales
MLB:April 5, 2000, for the Seattle Mariners
Last appearance
MLB:September 28, 2003, for the Seattle Mariners
NPB:August 9, 2005, for the Yokohama BayStars
NPB statistics
Win–loss record	43–38
Earned run average	2.41
Strikeouts	851
Saves	252
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	7–16
Earned run average	3.14
Strikeouts	242
Saves	129
Teams
Yokohama Taiyō Whales / Yokohama BayStars(1990–1999) Seattle Mariners(2000–2003) Yokohama BayStars(2004–2005)
Career highlights and awards
NPB Central League MVP(1998) MLB 2×All-Star(2001,2002) AL Rookie of the Year(2000)
Member of the Japanese
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2014

Kazuhiro Sasaki( tá 々 mộc chủ hạoSasaki Kazuhiro,born February 22, 1968) is a Japanese formerprofessional baseballrelief pitcher.He played his entireNippon Professional Baseball(NPB) career with theYokohama Taiyō Whales / Yokohama BayStars(1990–1999; 2004–2005), and played his entireMajor League Baseball(MLB) career with theSeattle Mariners(2000–2003). His nickname "Daimajin"was named after thetokusatsucharacter of the same name,and Sasaki has participated in advertisements and several collaborations with the franchise.

Professional career

After playing college baseball forTohoku Fukushi University,Sasaki was drafted in the first round of the 1989 draft by the Yokohama Taiyō Whales (now namedYokohama DeNA BayStars) in Japan'sCentral League.He played for them from 1990 to 1999, before joining theSeattle Marinersin 2000, on a 2-year, $9 million contract with a club option for 2002. He joined a bullpen that had been one of the worst in the major leagues, and during his rookie year won the closer job from a flounderingJosé Mesa.Sasaki's out pitch, a devastatingsplit-fingered fastballthat drops when arriving at home plate, was nicknamed "The Fang" by Mariners radio announcers.He complemented it with a four-seam fastball that topped out at mid-90s. Sasaki maintained a rigorous throwing program, sometimes at odds with club management, that saw him throw up to 100 pitches following games in which he did not appear.

Sasaki's transition to American baseball began with his being namedAmerican League Rookie of the Year,in a season where had 3.16 ERA in 63 games with 37 saves. For the next three years, along withJeff NelsonandArthur Rhodes,Sasaki was an integral member of the back of Seattle's bullpen. In 2001, Sasaki had 45 saves, with 3.24 ERA in 69 games, and earned his first All-Star nod, as well as received down-ballot MVP votes. The 2002 season was to be his final season before free agency, but Sasaki instead signed an extension that keep him under contract until 2004, with a 2005 club option. In that year, Sasaki again made the All-Star team, pitching in 61 games, with a 2.52 ERA and 37 saves. In what would be his final MLB season, the 2003 season was a struggle for Sasaki, as he appeared in only 35 games, while dealing with injuries to his lower back and ribcage, he had a career-worst 4.05 ERA and only 10 saves. Following that season, he decided to leave the Mariners before the last year of his contract in 2004, giving up $8 million, citing his desire to be with his family in Japan. According to theSeattle Post-Intelligencer,however, Sasaki's real reason for returning to Japan was pressure from ownership, due to his "indiscreet philandering".

Sasaki resumed his career with the BayStars upon returning to Japan, where he pitched for another year. But in his second year back, nagging knee and elbow injuries resulted in his release from Yokohama and subsequent retirement. His last official appearance came as a cameo against theYomiuri Giantson August 9, 2005, as he struck out his longtime friend and rivalKazuhiro Kiyoharain a game played atFullcast Stadium Miyagiin his hometown.

In addition to his Rookie of the Year award, Sasaki set several Japanese professional baseball records, including saves (45) and save opportunities (46) for a single season in 1998; he was twice selected to play in theAll-Star game,and was selected to eight All-Star teams in Japan. Sasaki's 37 saves in his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners remained a Major League Baseball record for saves by a rookie, untilNeftalí Felizbroke it in 2010 with 40.

Personal life

In 1991, Sasaki married formeridol singerKaori Shimizu. Together they had two children.

After returning to Japan in 2005, Sasaki continued his affair with actressKanako Enomoto,who was 13 years his junior. When Enomoto became pregnant, Shimizu divorced Sasaki on March 18, 2005. Enomoto gave birth prematurely on April 29, 2005.

Sasaki's interest in sports extends outside baseball. In 2002 and 2003, he lent his name to a team inFormula Nippon,anauto racingseries in Japan. His Team 22 won two races in that time. He is currently the general representative of D'Station Racing in theSuper GTseries.

Sasaki is also a successful race horse owner, with many of his horses being a dam ofHalwa Sweet.Notable horses Sasaki has owned includeVerxina,named by Enomoto,who won theVictoria Miletwice,Vivlos,winner of theShūka Shoand of the 2017Dubai Turfrace onDubai World Cup Night,andCheval Grand,winner of the 2017Japan Cup.

Sasaki has appeared as a judge on theIron Cheftelevision program. He had a side recording career, with an album of his vocals over techno beats.

Sasaki chose 22 for his uniform number because he was born at 2:22 on February 22 (2/22). The BayStars have permanentlyhonored his number.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet