Daisuke Matsuzaka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daisuke Matsuzaka 松坂 大輔
Matsuzaka with the New York Mets in 2014
Pitcher
Born: (1980-09-13) September 13, 1980 (age 44) Koto Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Professional debut
NPB: April 7, 1999, for the Seibu Lions
MLB: April 5, 2007, for the Boston Red Sox
Last appearance
MLB: September 25, 2014, for the New York Mets
NPB: October 19, 2021, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
NPB statistics
Win–loss record	114–65
Earned run average	3.04
Strikeouts	1,410
MLB statistics
Win-loss record	56–43
Earned run average	4.45
Strikeouts	720
Teams
Seibu Lions (1999–2006) Boston Red Sox (2007–2012) New York Mets (2013–2014) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2015–2016) Chunichi Dragons (2018–2019) Saitama Seibu Lions (2021)
Career highlights and awards
NPB 7× All-Star (1999–2001, 2004–2006, 2018) 2× Japan Series champion (2004, 2017) Eiji Sawamura Award (2001) Pacific League Rookie of the Year (1999) 7× Mitsui Golden Glove Award (1999–2001, 2003–2006) 3× Best Nine Award (1999–2001) Comeback Player of the Year (2018) 3× NPB wins leader (1999–2001) 2× NPB ERA leader (2003, 2004) 4× NPB strikeout leader (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005) MLB World Series champion (2007)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  Japan World Baseball Classic Gold 2006 San Diego Team Gold 2009 Los Angeles Team Olympic Games Bronze 2004 Athens Team Asian Baseball Championship Silver 1999 Seoul Team Gold 2003 Sapporo Team

Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大輔, Matsuzaka Daisuke, [matsɯꜜzaka daꜜisɯ̥ke]; born September 13, 1980) is a famous Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played baseball for 23 seasons. He spent 16 of those seasons in Japan's top league (NPB) and 7 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.

Today, Daisuke is a baseball color commentator, critic, reporter, and YouTuber. In Japan, he is known as "the Monster of the Heisei Era" (平成の怪物 (heisei no kaibutsu)). In the United States, he earned the nickname "Dice-K". He played for popular teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets in MLB. In Japan, he played for the Saitama Seibu Lions, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and Chunichi Dragons.

Matsuzaka was named the MVP of the first two World Baseball Classic tournaments in 2006 and 2009. He also won an Olympic bronze medal. He is the first player ever to win both a World Series (with the Red Sox in 2007) and a World Baseball Classic (with Team Japan in 2006).

Early Life and High School Baseball

Daisuke Matsuzaka was born on September 13, 1980, in Koto Ward, Tokyo, Japan. He was named after another famous Japanese high school pitcher, Daisuke Araki. When he was young, he studied kendo (a Japanese martial art) from age five to nine. He started playing organized baseball when he was in third grade.

Becoming a High School Star

Matsuzaka was very good at baseball in Little League and junior high. He was accepted into Yokohama High School in 1996, which was known for its strong baseball team. By his second year, he became the team's best pitcher.

In 1998, Matsuzaka led his school to win the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament. He then aimed for the 1998 Summer Koshien and helped his team win that championship too.

Amazing Koshien Performances

During the 1998 Summer Koshien, Matsuzaka had some incredible games.

• In the quarterfinal, he threw 250 pitches over 17 innings in one game. The day before, he had pitched a complete game shutout with 148 pitches.
• In the next game, his team was losing badly but made an amazing comeback. Matsuzaka came in as a reliever and helped them win.
• In the final game, he pitched a no-hitter. This was only the second no-hitter ever in a Koshien final!

His amazing performances caught the eye of many baseball scouts. Many players from his high school era became successful professionals. Because of this, baseball players born around 1980 are called the "Matsuzaka Generation" in Japan.

Professional Baseball Career

Playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions (1999–2006)

After high school, Matsuzaka was the first pick in the 1998 draft by the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team, the Saitama Seibu Lions. Even though some US Major League teams like the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks wanted him, he chose to play in Japan.

Rookie Season Success

Matsuzaka won his first professional game in 1999 against the Nippon Ham Fighters. He struck out his first batter with a fastball that was 96 miles per hour! In his rookie year, he had 16 wins and only 5 losses. He was named the Rookie of the Year.

In 1999, Matsuzaka faced Ichiro Suzuki, a famous player for the Orix Bluewave. Matsuzaka struck out Ichiro three times in a row. Matsuzaka said this game made him feel like he truly belonged in professional baseball. He was also chosen to start in the All-Star game as a rookie.

He continued to be a top pitcher for the Lions.

• In 2000, he had 14 wins and 7 losses.
• In 2001, he won the Eiji Sawamura Award, which is given to the best pitcher in Japan.

Japan Series and Injuries

In 2002, Matsuzaka spent time on the disabled list due to injury. He struggled in the 2002 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants. In one game, he even batted and hit poorly, and gave up two important home runs. The Lions were swept by the Giants in that series.

By 2003, he was back in form with 16 wins and 7 losses. He also led the Pacific League with the best ERA (2.83). He was selected for the NPB All-Star Game multiple times and was even named MVP of the 2004 All-Star game.

Moving to the Boston Red Sox (2007–2012)

In 2006, Matsuzaka decided he wanted to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Boston Red Sox won the rights to negotiate with him by bidding over $51 million. This was a huge amount of money! After some negotiations, Matsuzaka signed a six-year, $52 million contract with the Red Sox.

Matsuzaka in 2007 spring training

First MLB Season (2007)

Matsuzaka wore number 18, which is a special number for ace pitchers in Japan. He made his first MLB start on April 5, 2007, against the Kansas City Royals. He pitched very well, striking out ten batters and earning his first MLB win.

He pitched his first complete game in MLB on May 14, 2007, a 7–1 win over the Detroit Tigers. He had pitched 72 complete games in Japan!

Matsuzaka finished his first MLB season with a record of 15 wins and 12 losses. He also set a Red Sox rookie record with 201 strikeouts.

Winning the World Series

In the 2007 playoffs, Matsuzaka helped the Red Sox reach the 2007 World Series. On October 27, 2007, he started Game 3 of the World Series against the Colorado Rockies. He pitched well and also got his first MLB hit, a two-run single! The Red Sox won that game 10–5. The very next day, the Red Sox won the World Series in Game 4. Matsuzaka became the first Japanese pitcher to start and win a World Series game.

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitching for the Red Sox in 2008

Strong 2008 Season

Matsuzaka started the 2008 season with eight wins in a row without any losses. He finished the season with an impressive 18 wins and only 3 losses. His 18 wins set a new record for Japanese pitchers in MLB, passing Hideo Nomo. He also had a very good ERA of 2.90.

Even though he sometimes struggled with control (walking many batters), he was good at getting out of tough situations. He was a strong candidate for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league.

Injuries and Challenges (2009-2012)

In 2009, Matsuzaka played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic again and helped Japan win their second title. He was named MVP for the second time. However, this seemed to affect his health for the MLB season.

Matsuzaka pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox, a minor league team, in 2009

He struggled with injuries and spent a lot of time on the disabled list. He later said he had injured his hip while training for the World Baseball Classic. He apologized to Red Sox fans and promised to do better.

In 2011, Matsuzaka had to have Tommy John surgery, a major operation on his elbow, which kept him out for the rest of the season. He returned in 2012 but struggled to get back to his top form. After the 2012 season, he became a free agent.

Playing for the New York Mets (2013–2014)

In 2013, Matsuzaka signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians, reuniting with his former Red Sox manager. However, he was later released.

On August 22, 2013, Matsuzaka joined the New York Mets. He pitched well in his time with the Mets in 2013, with a record of 3 wins and 3 losses. He stayed with the Mets for the 2014 season. He even earned his second career save (a special stat for relief pitchers) in a game. He also made a few starts for the Mets, getting a win in one of them.

Return to Japan: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2015–2017)

In December 2014, Matsuzaka returned to Japan to play for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. However, injuries continued to bother him. He only pitched in one game for the Hawks' minor league team in 2015. In 2016, he pitched in his first NPB game in 10 years, but only for one inning. He was released by the Hawks in 2017.

Chunichi Dragons (2018–2019)

In 2018, Matsuzaka signed with the Chunichi Dragons. He made his first start in Japan in 12 years on April 5. He was selected for the 2018 NPB All-Star game. After the season, he won "The Best Comeback Prize" for his good performance (6 wins and 4 losses). He left the Dragons in 2019.

Final Years and Retirement with Saitama Seibu Lions (2020–2021)

In 2019, Matsuzaka signed a one-year contract to return to his first team, the Saitama Seibu Lions. He missed the 2020 season due to neck surgery.

In 2021, he re-signed with the Lions. On July 6, 2021, Matsuzaka announced he would retire at the end of the season. He said he had lost feeling in his fingers and didn't want to cause his team any more trouble. He pitched one last time for the Lions in October 2021.

On December 3, 2021, Matsuzaka officially announced his retirement in a ceremony. His former rival and friend, Ichiro Suzuki, made a surprise appearance at the ceremony.

International Baseball Career

Daisuke Matsuzaka has represented Japan in several international baseball tournaments.

2004 Olympic Games

He played for Japan in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. His team lost in the semifinal game but later won against Canada to earn the bronze medal for Japan.

2006 World Baseball Classic

In 2006, Matsuzaka pitched for Japan in the first-ever 2006 World Baseball Classic. He was named the MVP of the tournament after Japan defeated Cuba 10–6 in the finals. Matsuzaka pitched 13 innings in the tournament, finishing with 3 wins and no losses. His performance in this tournament made many MLB teams very interested in him.

2009 World Baseball Classic

Matsuzaka was also part of the Japanese team that won the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He played a very important role in helping Japan win their second title in a row. He won his second World Baseball Classic MVP award, with a record of 3 wins and 0 losses.

2013 World Baseball Classic

Daisuke chose not to play for the Japanese team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The team reached the semifinal round but lost to Puerto Rico, so they didn't win their third championship in a row.

How He Played

Pitching Style

Matsuzaka was a right-handed pitcher. He threw many different types of pitches:

• A four-seam fastball that was usually 90–94 miles per hour (and sometimes up to 97 mph).
• A two-seam fastball.
• A cutter.
• A rare gyroball.
• A changeup.

Batting Skills

Matsuzaka was also a good hitter in high school. He got his first professional hit in his very first at-bat in Japan. He even hit his first professional home run in 2006.

In MLB, he also showed his batting skills. He got his first hit with the Red Sox in 2010. In the 2007 World Series, he drove in two runs with a single, helping the Red Sox win that game.

Personal Life

Daisuke Matsuzaka is married to television journalist Tomoyo Shibata. They have a daughter, born in 2005, and a son, born in 2008.

In 2011, after a big earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Daisuke donated $1 million to the Japanese Red Cross. He said, "Our efforts on the field are dedicated to all who are suffering from this catastrophe. We are in this together, so we must overcome tragedy together." He also helped collect donations from fans at Red Sox games.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players from Japan
• List of World Series starting pitchers
• Eiji Sawamura Award
• Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award

Images for kids

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  In Spanish: Daisuke Matsuzaka para niños