Akinori Iwamura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Akinori Iwamura |
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Iwamura with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2013
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| Infielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: February 9, 1979 Uwajima, Ehime, Japan |
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| Professional debut | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB: May 19, 1998, for the Yakult Swallows | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB: April 2, 2007, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB: September 26, 2010, for the Oakland Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB: 2014, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .290 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 193 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 615 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .267 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 117 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Akinori Iwamura (岩村 明憲, Iwamura Akinori, born February 9, 1979) is a former Japanese baseball infielder. He is currently a manager for the Fukushima Red Hopes in Japan's Baseball Challenge League. He made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2007.
He earned the nickname Aki while playing in MLB. In Japan, his nickname is Gan-chan.
Contents
Akinori Iwamura's Early Life and Family
Akinori Iwamura was born on February 9, 1979, in Uwajima, Ehime, Japan. He went to Uwajima Higashi High School. During his high school years, he played for the Japan National high school baseball team in the Philippines.
His older brother, Takashi Iwamura, also played professional baseball. He spent two seasons in the Kintetsu Buffaloes' farm system. Both brothers were drafted into professional baseball in 1997.
On July 10, 2007, Iwamura and his wife, Misaki, welcomed their first son, Taiki.
Akinori Iwamura's Baseball Career Highlights
Playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Iwamura started his professional career as a third baseman for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Japan's Central League. He played with them from 1998 to 2006.
During his time in Japan, he won six Golden Glove awards for his excellent defense at third base. He was also a powerful hitter, hitting 106 home runs in his last three seasons there. In 2004, he had an amazing season, hitting 44 home runs and bringing in 103 RBI. He also had a .300 batting average that year.
Joining Major League Baseball (MLB)
After his success in Japan, Iwamura decided to try playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2006, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won the right to negotiate with him. They offered $4.5 million to sign him.
On December 15, 2006, Iwamura signed a three-year contract with the Rays. This was a big step in his career.
First Season in MLB (2007)
When Iwamura joined the Devil Rays, he brought gloves for five different positions. This showed he was ready to play wherever the team needed him. He eventually became the starting third baseman, his natural position.
He started the 2007 season very well, hitting .339 in April. However, he got hit in the eye during a play and had to miss some games. He finished his first MLB season with a .285 batting average, 7 home runs, and 34 RBI. He often batted first in the lineup.
Iwamura was known for his unique crocodile skin glove and a special bat made by Nike. In one game in September 2007, his bat was checked by officials because it looked unusual, but it was found to be fine.
Moving to Second Base (2008)
In 2008, the Rays had a talented young player named Evan Longoria who played third base. So, Iwamura moved to second base for the 2008 season. He quickly became a great teammate with shortstop Jason Bartlett. They formed one of the best double play teams in baseball.
Iwamura's strong play helped the Rays have their best season ever. They reached the American League Championship Series. In Game 7, Iwamura made the final out that sent the Rays to their first World Series. Although they lost the World Series, it was a huge moment for the team. In 2023, the Rays honored this moment with a statue of Iwamura outside their stadium.
On-Field Incidents
During a spring training game in 2008, a player from the New York Yankees slid hard into Iwamura. This caused a brief argument between the teams.
Later that year, in a game against the Boston Red Sox, there was another incident. Red Sox player Coco Crisp slid hard into Iwamura at second base. The next day, the Rays' pitcher threw a pitch that hit Crisp, leading to a bigger on-field disagreement. Iwamura was suspended for three games for his part in the event, but he appealed the decision.
The "Rayhawk" Hairstyle
In the middle of the 2008 season, Iwamura got a mohawk haircut. This unique style, nicknamed the "Rayhawk," became very popular. Many of his teammates and even the team's manager, Joe Maddon, got the same haircut. As the team kept winning and became American League Champions, many fans also started sporting the "Rayhawk."
Injuries and Return (2009)
In 2009, Iwamura was still a strong player for the Rays. However, on May 24, he was injured while trying to turn a double play. He had to leave the field. It was later announced that he had a torn ligament in his knee and ankle.
Doctors found that the tear was not as bad as first thought, so he didn't need major surgery. He had a smaller surgery and was able to return to play in August. He quickly made an impact, scoring runs and hitting his first home run of the season.
Playing for Other MLB Teams
After the 2009 season, Iwamura was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played for them in 2010, but his performance wasn't as strong. He later joined the Oakland Athletics for a short time in September 2010 before being released.
Return to Japan
After his time in MLB, Iwamura returned to Japan. He signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in November 2010. He was expected to be a key player for them, but he faced injuries and struggled during his two years with the team. He was released in 2012.
In December 2012, Iwamura signed with his original team, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, for a second time. He played with them until 2014.
After his playing career, Iwamura became a manager for the Fukushima Hopes in the Baseball Challenge League in 2016.
International Baseball Career
Iwamura proudly represented Japan in several international competitions. He played in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup and was part of the gold medal-winning teams in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Awards and Achievements
- Six-time Golden Glove winner (2000–2002, 2004–2006)
- Three-time NPB All-Star (2001, 2004, 2005)
- Two-time Best Nine (2002, 2006)
- Monthly MVP (August 2004)
- Japan Series Valuable Player (2001)
See also
In Spanish: Akinori Iwamura para niños
