Koji Uehara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koji Uehara 上原 浩治
Uehara with the Yomiuri Giants in 2018
Pitcher
Born: (1975-04-03) April 3, 1975 (age 50) Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: March 29, 1999, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB: April 8, 2009, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB: September 2,
NPB statistics
Win–loss record	112–67
Earned run average	3.03
Strikeouts	1,410
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	22–26
Earned run average	2.66
Strikeouts	572
Saves	95
Teams
Yomiuri Giants (1999–2008) Baltimore Orioles (2009–2011) Texas Rangers (2011–2012) Boston Red Sox (2013–2016) Chicago Cubs (2017) Yomiuri Giants (2018–2019)
Career highlights and awards
NPB 9× All-Star (1999–2005, 2007, 2018) 2× Japan Series champion (2000, 2002) 2× Eiji Sawamura Award (1999, 2002) Triple Crown (1999) Central League Rookie of the Year (1999) 2× Golden Glove (1999, 2003) 2× Best Nine Award (1999, 2002) 2× NPB wins leader (1999, 2002) 2× NPB ERA leader (1999, 2004) 2× NPB strikeout leader (1999, 2003) MLB All-Star (2014) World Series champion (2013) ALCS MVP (2013)
Medals Men's baseball Representing JPN Intercontinental Cup Gold 1997 Barcelona Team Olympic Games Bronze 2004 Athens Team World Baseball Classic Gold 2006 San Diego Team

Koji Uehara (上原 浩治, Uehara Kōji, [ɯehara koːdʑi]; born April 3, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan and for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.

Uehara was a right-handed pitcher. He was known for striking out many batters and not walking many. In 2013, he won the MVP Award for the American League Championship Series (ALCS). He also closed the final game of the 2013 World Series, helping his team win. Uehara is one of only a few players to have won both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic.

Koji Uehara's Baseball Journey

Starting Out: Amateur Career

Koji Uehara went to the Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences. In 1998, he had a big decision to make. He turned down a large contract offer from the Anaheim Angels. Instead, he chose to sign with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. Many American teams were interested in him, but he decided to start his professional career in his home country.

Playing for the Yomiuri Giants

The Yomiuri Giants picked Uehara in the first round of the 1998 Japanese baseball draft. He had an amazing first year in 1999. He won 15 games in a row, which was a record for a rookie. He also won the Rookie of the Year Award and the Eiji Sawamura Award. He led the league in wins, earned run average (ERA), and strikeouts.

Uehara with the Yomiuri Giants in 2006

In 1999, during the last game of the season, Uehara was told to intentionally walk a batter. This was to help his teammate, Hideki Matsui, win the home run title. Uehara was very competitive and didn't like the order. He showed his frustration on the field, even shedding tears.

In 2002, Uehara had a great comeback season. He led his league in wins and won his second Sawamura Award. After that season, he played for Japan in a special series against Major League Baseball players. He famously struck out Barry Bonds three times in one game. This made many American teams notice him.

Before the 2007 season, Uehara got injured. When he returned, he became a closer for his team. He had a very good ERA and many saves. Even though he was good as a closer, he went back to being a starting pitcher in 2008. After that season, he became a free agent, which meant he could play in Major League Baseball.

Joining the Baltimore Orioles

Uehara pitching for the Baltimore Orioles in 2009

On January 13, 2009, Uehara signed a two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He started the 2009 season as a starting pitcher. He made his first Major League Baseball appearance on April 8 against the New York Yankees. Uehara won his first game, pitching five innings and allowing only one run.

His 2009 season was affected by injuries. In 2010, he became a relief pitcher in the bullpen. He finished that season with a good ERA and many strikeouts. In the first half of 2011, he continued to pitch very well as a reliever.

Moving to the Texas Rangers

Uehara with the Texas Rangers in 2012

On July 30, 2011, Uehara was traded to the Texas Rangers. He joined his old high school teammate, Yoshinori Tateyama, there. After a great start to the season with the Orioles, his performance with the Rangers was a bit tougher. He struggled in the postseason, giving up several home runs. Because of this, he was not on the roster for the World Series that year.

In 2012, Uehara stayed with the Rangers. He had a much better season, keeping his ERA very low. However, he was limited to fewer games because of a muscle injury. After the season, he became a free agent again.

Becoming a Boston Red Sox Star

On December 6, 2012, Uehara signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He became the team's closer after other players got injured.

Uehara with the Boston Red Sox in 2013

In 2013, Uehara had an amazing season. He set a record for pitchers with a very low WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched). He also retired 37 batters in a row, which was a team record. He finished the regular season with an excellent ERA and many saves.

Uehara was a key player in the 2013 ALCS (American League Championship Series). He pitched very well, allowing no walks and striking out many batters. He was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player. He then helped the Red Sox win their 13th American League pennant.

In the 2013 World Series, Uehara continued his great performance. In Game 4, he made a smart play to pick off a runner, ending the game. In Game 5, he got his seventh save of the postseason, tying a record. Uehara threw the final pitch of the World Series in Game 6, helping the Red Sox win the championship at Fenway Park. After the win, his teammate David Ortiz playfully lifted Uehara onto his shoulder.

In 2014, Uehara was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He signed a new contract with the Red Sox for two more years. In 2015, he returned as the closer but suffered a season-ending wrist injury. He finished 2015 with a good ERA and many saves. In 2016, he had another injury but still pitched well, helping his team reach the postseason. After 2016, he became a free agent.

Playing for the Chicago Cubs

Uehara pitching for the Chicago Cubs in 2017

On December 14, 2016, Uehara signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. He played for them in 2017 before becoming a free agent again.

Returning to the Yomiuri Giants

On March 9, 2018, Uehara signed a contract to return to the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. This was his first time playing in Japan since 2008. He was selected for the 2018 NPB All-Star game. On July 20, 2018, Uehara made history. He became only the second pitcher ever to have 100 wins, 100 holds, and 100 saves combined in both Japanese and Major League Baseball. He re-signed with the Giants for 2019.

Retirement from Baseball

After playing nine games for the Yomiuri Giants in 2019, Koji Uehara announced he was retiring from professional baseball at age 44. He had a long and successful career. He played in a combined 748 games in both MLB and NPB. He finished his career with a combined ERA of 2.93, 1,989 strikeouts, 134 wins, and 128 saves. He is known for having the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in MLB history for a relief pitcher.

Koji Uehara's International Play

Koji Uehara also represented Japan in many international baseball events. He played in the Olympic Games twice and the first World Baseball Classic. He has an impressive record of 12 wins and 2 saves without any losses in these international games.

He was part of the Japanese national baseball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. His team won the bronze medal.

In 2006, he joined Team Japan for the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Japan won the championship, and Uehara led the tournament with 16 strikeouts. He also played as a closer in the 2007 Asian Baseball Championships, earning his first international save against Korea.

Uehara was chosen for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He was expected to be a setup pitcher but ended up being a closer in some games. He earned his first Olympic save against Canada. Japan finished fourth in the Games. Uehara decided not to play in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Koji Uehara's Life Outside Baseball

Koji Uehara is friends with former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens. They first met when Clemens visited Japan in 2004.

Uehara married his wife, Miho, in 2004. During his time playing in Major League Baseball, Uehara lived with his family in Baltimore. He felt it offered good educational chances for his son, Kazuma.

See also

In Spanish: Koji Uehara para niños