Hisashi Iwakuma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hisashi Iwakuma岩隈 久志 |
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Iwakuma with the Seattle Mariners in 2013
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| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: April 12, 1981 Higashiyamato, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Professional debut | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB: May 29, 2001, for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB: April 20, 2012, for the Seattle Mariners | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB: May 3, 2017, for the Seattle Mariners | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB: 2019, for the Yomiuri Giants | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NPB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 107–69 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 1,175 | |||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 63–39 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.42 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 714 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Hisashi Iwakuma (岩隈 久志, Iwakuma Hisashi, born April 12, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Japan's top league, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (2000–2004), Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2005–2011), and Yomiuri Giants (2019). He also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2012 to 2017.
Iwakuma started his professional career with the Buffaloes in 2000. He was named an NPB All-Star in 2003 and 2004. He also played in the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2005, he joined the Eagles. As their top pitcher, Iwakuma won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 2008. This award is given to the best pitcher in NPB. He also played for the Japanese national team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
After the 2011 season, Iwakuma signed with the Seattle Mariners. He became an MLB All-Star in 2013. He also finished third for the 2013 American League Cy Young Award, which honors the best pitcher. On August 12, 2015, Iwakuma made history by pitching a no-hitter for the Mariners. He retired from baseball in 2020 because of ongoing shoulder problems.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Hisashi Iwakuma was born in Higashiyamato, Tokyo, Japan. He started playing baseball when he was in the first grade. He went to Horikoshi High School in Nakano. Iwakuma wanted to become a pitcher because he admired Hisanobu Watanabe. Watanabe was a famous pitcher for the Seibu Lions.
Even though Iwakuma's high school team never reached a national tournament, he led them far. In 1999, as a senior, he helped his team reach the semi-finals of the West Tokyo Tournament.
Professional Baseball Career
Playing for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
The Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes picked Hisashi Iwakuma in the fifth round of the 1999 NPB draft.
Starting Out: 2000–2003
Iwakuma spent his first year, 2000, with the Buffaloes' nigun team. This is like a minor league team in Japan. He only played in two games that year.
In 2001, Iwakuma played his first game at the ichigun (major league) level. He earned his first professional win on May 29. On September 18, he threw his first complete game shutout against the Seibu Lions. He finished that year with a 4–2 record. He helped the Buffaloes win their league title.
By 2002, Iwakuma became a regular starting pitcher. He had an 8–7 record with a 3.69 ERA. In 2003, he had a great year, winning 15 games and striking out 149 batters. He also led the league with 11 complete games.
A Big Year in 2004
Iwakuma started the 2004 season with an amazing 12–0 record. This set a new team record for most wins to start a season. Fans voted him to the NPB All-Star Game. He also played for the Japanese national team in the 2004 Athens Olympics in August.
He finished 2004 with a 15–2 record. He led the league in both wins and winning percentage. After the season, his team, the Buffaloes, merged with another team. Iwakuma was first assigned to the new team, the Orix Buffaloes. However, he refused to join them and was later traded to the new Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles team.
Time with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Dealing with Injuries: 2005–2007
Iwakuma was the Eagles' opening day pitcher in 2005. He helped the new team get their first-ever win on March 26. But he had shoulder pain throughout the year. He finished with a 9-15 record and a high ERA of 4.99.
His injury problems continued in 2006. He missed the start of the season and spent time recovering. He only made six starts that year, finishing with a 1–2 record. In 2007, he again started the season as the opening pitcher. But he had more injuries, including a back stiffness and a muscle strain. He finished the season with a 5–5 record. In October, he had surgery on his right elbow.
Amazing 2008 Season
In 2008, Iwakuma was chosen to start the season opener for the fourth time in his career. On March 27, he threw his first complete game shutout with the Eagles. By June 15, he had won 10 games, his best since 2003.
On September 22, Iwakuma became the first pitcher in the Pacific League to win 20 games since 2003. He won one more game on October 5, becoming the first 21-game winner in 23 years. He also led the league in ERA with 1.87.
Iwakuma finished 2008 with an incredible 21–4 record. He led the league in wins, ERA, and winning percentage. He won almost one-third of the Eagles' total games that season. He received the Sawamura Award, Most Valuable Player, and Best Nine awards. This was a rare achievement for a player on a fifth-place team.
Later Years in Japan: 2009–2011
Iwakuma started the 2009 season as the Eagles' opening pitcher for the third year in a row. He won his first game on April 3.
In October 2010, the Golden Eagles allowed Iwakuma to try playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Oakland Athletics won the chance to sign him, but they could not agree on a contract.
Playing for the Seattle Mariners
Iwakuma signed with the Seattle Mariners before the 2012 Major League Baseball season. He started the season in the Mariners' bullpen, pitching as a relief pitcher. He later became a very good part of the Mariners' pitching staff. He played in 30 games, with 16 starts, and finished with a 9–5 record and a 3.16 earned run average.
In November 2012, Iwakuma signed a two-year contract extension with the Mariners. He was chosen to represent the Mariners at the 2013 MLB All-Star Game along with Félix Hernández.
Iwakuma finished third in the 2013 American League Cy Young Award voting. He was third in the league in ERA and innings pitched. His 2013 season ended with a 14–6 record and a 2.66 ERA.
In February 2014, Iwakuma had a finger injury. He returned to play on May 3. In 2014, he made 28 starts and finished with a 15–9 record and a 3.52 ERA.
On August 12, 2015, Iwakuma pitched a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field. This was the fifth no-hitter in Mariners history and his first complete game in MLB. He won the American League Player of the Week Award for this amazing performance. In 2015, he finished with a 9–5 record and a 3.54 ERA.
In December 2015, Iwakuma re-signed with the Mariners. He had tried to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they had concerns after his physical exam.
In May 2017, Iwakuma was placed on the disabled list due to shoulder inflammation. He became a free agent in November 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Mariners again, but in September 2018, he announced he would return to Japan to play.
Return to Japan with the Yomiuri Giants
On December 19, 2018, Hisashi Iwakuma signed with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's NPB.
On October 19, 2020, Iwakuma announced his retirement from baseball.
International Baseball Career
2004 Athens Olympics
Iwakuma played for the Japanese national team in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He pitched in the second game against the Netherlands on August 16. He struggled in that game, giving up three runs. Japan won the game, but Iwakuma did not pitch again in the tournament.
2009 World Baseball Classic
Iwakuma was chosen to play in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He pitched in the first round against South Korea on March 9. He gave up only one run but lost the game. In his second start against Cuba on March 18, he pitched six shutout innings and earned his first win of the tournament.
His great pitching convinced the manager to choose him to start the championship game against South Korea. Iwakuma pitched very well, giving up only two runs. Japan won the game and their second straight title. Iwakuma finished the tournament with the lowest ERA (1.35) among pitchers who threw 15 or more innings. He was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Pitching Style
How He Pitches
Iwakuma is a 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pound right-handed pitcher. He uses a three-quarters delivery. Early in his career, he had a unique pitching motion. However, in 2005, the NPB changed its rules on pitching motions. This forced him to change to a more standard way of throwing. In 2008, he also changed his arm slot slightly to make his pitches move more.
Types of Pitches
Iwakuma's four-seam fastball used to be very fast, up to 95 miles per hour. After his shoulder injury, it usually stayed around 88–92 mph. He also threw an excellent splitter (84–87 mph), a slider (80–82 mph), and sometimes a curveball (71–73 mph). He also used a shuuto (two-seamer/sinker, 87–91 mph). He often used his splitter to get batters out. Iwakuma was known for his great control, meaning he rarely walked batters.
Coaching Career
On January 12, 2021, Hisashi Iwakuma was hired by his former team, the Seattle Mariners. He became a special assignment coach for them.
Personal Life
Hisashi Iwakuma's wife, Madoka, and their two children, Towa and Uta, moved with him to Seattle when he joined the Mariners. Iwakuma's wife is the daughter of Koju Hirohashi, a former coach for the Seibu Lions. Iwakuma practices Nichiren Buddhism and is a member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist group. He and his wife support different charities for children. These include orphanages and groups that help children with disabilities.
