Kazuhiro Sasaki
Kazuhiro Sasaki | |
---|---|
Sasaki with the Seattle Mariners in 2002 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Sendai City, Japan | February 22, 1968|
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 | |
Career highlights and awards | |
NPB
MLB
| |
Member of the Japanese | |
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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.[1][2][3]
Professional career
[edit]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.[4]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".[5]
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
[edit]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.[6]
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.[7]
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,[8]who won theVictoria Miletwice,[9]Vivlos,winner of theShūka Shoand of the 2017Dubai Turfrace onDubai World Cup Night,andCheval Grand,winner of the 2017Japan Cup.[10]
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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^“ホントに đại きい!” 『 đại ma thần カノン』 chủ diễn nữ ưu ・ lí cửu minh hữu quả, リアル đại ma thần ・ tá 々 mộc chủ hạo のデカさに khẩu あんぐり
- ^CR đại ma thần
- ^ダイマンCR tá 々 mộc hòa hoằng dã cầu フィギュア nhật bổn đại vinh hải thọ ソフビ
- ^Stone, Larry (February 2001)."Closing in Seattle: Kazuhiro Sasaki's exotic pitch finishes off foes".Baseball Digest.Archived fromthe originalon June 21, 2006.RetrievedJune 13,2007.
- ^Thiel, Art (July 6, 2006)."M's learning when to lose patience".Seattle Post-Intelligencer.RetrievedAugust 20,2020.
- ^http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/face/archive/news/2005/20050603p2g00m0dm002000c.html[dead link][dead link]
- ^"Đại ma thần ・ tá 々 mộc thị がスーパーGT tham chiến チーム tổng giam đốc に - モーター: Nhật khan スポーツ".nikkansports.com(in Japanese).RetrievedJanuary 5,2023.
- ^"ヴィルシーナV, tá 々 mộc thị “Dã cầu より khẩn trương” /クイーンC | cạnh mã ニュース ".netkeiba.com(in Japanese).RetrievedJanuary 5,2023.
- ^"ヴィルシーナ dẫn thối" đại ma thần "Tá 々 mộc thị sở hữu, ヴィクトリアM liên bá - スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル".スポニチ Sponichi Annex(in Japanese).RetrievedJanuary 5,2023.
- ^Kieckhefer, Bob (December 22, 2017)."Kitasan Black Swan Song in Arima Kinen".The Blood-Horse.RetrievedDecember 23,2017.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
- 1968 births
- American League All-Stars
- Everett AquaSox players
- Inland Empire 66ers players
- Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Japanese racehorse owners and breeders
- Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
- Living people
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from Japan
- Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners
- Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers
- Seattle Mariners players
- Baseball people from Sendai
- Tacoma Rainiers players
- Yokohama BayStars players
- Yokohama Taiyō Whales players