Hong-Chih Kuo
Encyclopedia
Hong-Chih Kuo ' onMouseout='HidePop("7138")' href="/topics/Taiwan">Taiwan
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
. When Kuo made his debut in , he became the fourth MLB player from Taiwan (after Chin-Feng Chen
, Chin-hui Tsao
, and Chien-Ming Wang
).
Kuo pitched for Taiwan
in the Asian Games
and in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
, allowing three earned runs in two games.
in and , respectively. It wasn't until 2005 that Kuo was able to pitch again on a consistent basis. That year, he pitched 11 games for the Vero Beach Dodgers and 17 games for the Jacksonville Suns
before coming out of the bullpen for his Major League debut on September 2, 2005 against the Colorado Rockies
.
. That May and June in AAA he posted a 3.75 ERA in Las Vegas in 12 innings, striking out 18, but walking eight. He was called up by the Dodgers in June. Over June and July 2006, Kuo had a miserable 5.74 ERA in 14.1 IP.
Back in Las Vegas for most of July, the Dodgers decided to start Kuo rather than have him work out of the bullpen, hoping that the increased innings would give him a chance to improve his control, and that ample rest between appearances would protect his fragile elbow. His ERA in July was 5.19, with 17 Ks and eight BB in 17.1 IP. However, in his last start of the month, he had his longest appearance in several years, pitching five shutout innings. Kuo built upon that with a 1.14 ERA in five August starts, striking out 28 in 23.2 innings.
On September 8, 2006, Kuo made his first start in the major leagues after more than 30 relief appearances. In his debut, he tossed six shutout innings and led the Dodgers to a 5–0 victory over the New York Mets
. His next three starts were largely successful, and Kuo ended the season with a 2.59 ERA as a starter.
On June 12, 2007, Kuo hit a 412-foot home run
and became the first Taiwanese
player to hit a home run in MLB.
The Dodgers won 4 – 1 in that game. Kuo picked up his first win of the season with that game.
for the fifth starter spot in the Dodgers rotation. Off-season elbow surgery raised doubts about his endurance, so Kuo was made a long-reliever by manager Joe Torre. He has excelled in that role as well as serving in middle relief and set-up.
A particular pitching performance of note came against the New York Mets on May 6. Kuo came in during the fourth inning in relief of Hiroki Kuroda, and pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings without giving up a hit, striking out 8 of the 12 batters he faced, and securing his second victory of the year. Kuo recorded his first career save on August 14 against the Phillies when he pitched two scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
Kuo finished the 2008 season with a 5–3 record, appeared in 42 games, three games as a starter and 39 games in relief, and accumulated an overall ERA
of 2.14 with 96 strikeouts in 80 innings. Kuo led all National League relievers with an ERA of 1.69. In his 39 relief appearances, he allowed only 49 hits in 69⅓ innings, striking out 86 batters, while limiting the opposition to a .204 average.
A tricep injury forced him to miss the last 15 games of the regular season, but he recovered in time for the National League Championship series and was activated on October 9. He appeared in three games during the Championship series, logging three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, while striking out three.
Kuo was named the 2008 Setup Man of the Year, voted by the fans on MLB.com as part of the website's This Year in Baseball Awards.
as a replacement for Jason Heyward
, thus becoming the first Taiwanese-born player to be so honored. In the second half of the season Kuo replaced Jonathan Broxton
as the Dodgers closer after Broxton struggled in the role.
On October 3, 2010, Kuo pitched a scoreless 9th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium, earning his 12th save of the season while setting a new Dodgers franchise record finishing the season with an ERA of 1.20, the record for minimum of 50 innings pitched. Eric Gagne held the previous record at 1.202.
Kuo finished the 2010 season with a 3–2 record, led all Major League relievers with a 1.20 ERA. In 56 appearances out of the bullpen, he pitched 60.0 innings, struck out 73 walking just 18 (4.05 Strikeout to walk ratio) while converting 12 saves in 13 chances.
said he did not know when Kuo would be able to pitch again. He did eventually rejoin the Dodgers on August 10 but continued to pitch poorly down the stretch. Kuo finished the season 1-2 with a career high ERA of 9.00 in 27 innings pitched. At the end of the season, he remarked that he was undecided about if he wanted to continue playing.
Following the season, Kuo developed soreness in his left elbow while preparing to play in an exhibition series against the Taiwan National Team and had to undergo his fifth operation on the elbow.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. When Kuo made his debut in , he became the fourth MLB player from Taiwan (after Chin-Feng Chen
Chin-Feng Chen
Chin-Feng Chen is a baseball outfielder who was the first player born in Taiwan to play in Major League Baseball.He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers during - season, but only sparingly. In 2005, Chen was reluctant to accept the designate for assignment back to Dodgers' Las Vegas 51s AAA team,...
, Chin-hui Tsao
Chin-hui Tsao
Chin-Hui Tsao is a former Major League Baseball and CPBL pitcher. He is the second major league player and the first major league pitcher of Republic of China nationality, and like the first, former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Chin-Feng Chen, he is a Taiwanese aborigine...
, and Chien-Ming Wang
Chien-Ming Wang
Chien-Ming Wang is a Taiwanese Major League Baseball pitcher. He was initially signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees for the 2000 season, and played for the Staten Island Yankees...
).
Kuo pitched for Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
and in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
, allowing three earned runs in two games.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Kuo was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers on June 19, 1999 for a bonus of $1.25 million, but elbow problems prevented him from participating with the team. He underwent two Tommy John surgeriesTommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
in and , respectively. It wasn't until 2005 that Kuo was able to pitch again on a consistent basis. That year, he pitched 11 games for the Vero Beach Dodgers and 17 games for the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
before coming out of the bullpen for his Major League debut on September 2, 2005 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
2006 season
Kuo started the 2006 season as a relief pitcher. After giving up eight earned runs on 15 walks in only 13 innings pitched in April, he was sent down to the Dodger's AAA affiliate, the Las Vegas 51sLas Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. That May and June in AAA he posted a 3.75 ERA in Las Vegas in 12 innings, striking out 18, but walking eight. He was called up by the Dodgers in June. Over June and July 2006, Kuo had a miserable 5.74 ERA in 14.1 IP.
Back in Las Vegas for most of July, the Dodgers decided to start Kuo rather than have him work out of the bullpen, hoping that the increased innings would give him a chance to improve his control, and that ample rest between appearances would protect his fragile elbow. His ERA in July was 5.19, with 17 Ks and eight BB in 17.1 IP. However, in his last start of the month, he had his longest appearance in several years, pitching five shutout innings. Kuo built upon that with a 1.14 ERA in five August starts, striking out 28 in 23.2 innings.
On September 8, 2006, Kuo made his first start in the major leagues after more than 30 relief appearances. In his debut, he tossed six shutout innings and led the Dodgers to a 5–0 victory over the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. His next three starts were largely successful, and Kuo ended the season with a 2.59 ERA as a starter.
2007 season
A spring training injury kept Kuo from starting the 2007 season in the Dodgers' rotation, but he eventually reclaimed his starting pitcher role.On June 12, 2007, Kuo hit a 412-foot home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and became the first Taiwanese
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
player to hit a home run in MLB.
The Dodgers won 4 – 1 in that game. Kuo picked up his first win of the season with that game.
2008 season
Kuo started the season competing with Esteban LoaizaEsteban Loaiza
Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
for the fifth starter spot in the Dodgers rotation. Off-season elbow surgery raised doubts about his endurance, so Kuo was made a long-reliever by manager Joe Torre. He has excelled in that role as well as serving in middle relief and set-up.
A particular pitching performance of note came against the New York Mets on May 6. Kuo came in during the fourth inning in relief of Hiroki Kuroda, and pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings without giving up a hit, striking out 8 of the 12 batters he faced, and securing his second victory of the year. Kuo recorded his first career save on August 14 against the Phillies when he pitched two scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
Kuo finished the 2008 season with a 5–3 record, appeared in 42 games, three games as a starter and 39 games in relief, and accumulated an overall ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.14 with 96 strikeouts in 80 innings. Kuo led all National League relievers with an ERA of 1.69. In his 39 relief appearances, he allowed only 49 hits in 69⅓ innings, striking out 86 batters, while limiting the opposition to a .204 average.
A tricep injury forced him to miss the last 15 games of the regular season, but he recovered in time for the National League Championship series and was activated on October 9. He appeared in three games during the Championship series, logging three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, while striking out three.
Kuo was named the 2008 Setup Man of the Year, voted by the fans on MLB.com as part of the website's This Year in Baseball Awards.
2009 season
Kuo began the 2009 season in the Dodgers bullpen but injured his elbow and was placed on the disabled list on May 2. He did not rejoin the team until July 27 but returned to form and pitched in 35 games for the Dodgers bullpen, ending with an ERA of 3.00.2010 season
Kuo had an outstanding first half pitching in middle relief, breaking the record giving 0 hits for 36 consecutive left bats. The performance earned him a spot in the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 81st midseason exhibition between the All-Stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
as a replacement for Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward
Jason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
, thus becoming the first Taiwanese-born player to be so honored. In the second half of the season Kuo replaced Jonathan Broxton
Jonathan Broxton
Jonathan Roy Broxton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball...
as the Dodgers closer after Broxton struggled in the role.
On October 3, 2010, Kuo pitched a scoreless 9th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium, earning his 12th save of the season while setting a new Dodgers franchise record finishing the season with an ERA of 1.20, the record for minimum of 50 innings pitched. Eric Gagne held the previous record at 1.202.
Kuo finished the 2010 season with a 3–2 record, led all Major League relievers with a 1.20 ERA. In 56 appearances out of the bullpen, he pitched 60.0 innings, struck out 73 walking just 18 (4.05 Strikeout to walk ratio) while converting 12 saves in 13 chances.
2011 season
Following an impressive 2010 campaign, Kuo was throwing with about 50 or 60 percent effort during the offseason without stopping at the behest of the Dogers medical staff. As Kuo typically experiences elbow problems during spring training each year, it was suggested that the offseason throwing exercises would help him avoid the disabled list in the start of the season. However, Kuo struggled early on. He spent some time on the DL with a back strain and in nine games he had a 11.57 ERA. On May 11, the Dodgers put him back on the disabled list with what they termed an "anxiety disorder." Manager Don MattinglyDon Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
said he did not know when Kuo would be able to pitch again. He did eventually rejoin the Dodgers on August 10 but continued to pitch poorly down the stretch. Kuo finished the season 1-2 with a career high ERA of 9.00 in 27 innings pitched. At the end of the season, he remarked that he was undecided about if he wanted to continue playing.
Following the season, Kuo developed soreness in his left elbow while preparing to play in an exhibition series against the Taiwan National Team and had to undergo his fifth operation on the elbow.