Shigetoshi Hasegawa
Encyclopedia
is a retired relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
and best-selling author and Japanese
television personality. He achieved the most recognition when he played for the Seattle Mariners
from through . Previously, Hasegawa played with the Anaheim Angels
(–), and before that spent six years with the Orix Blue Wave. He bats and throws right-handed.
in . He was a teammate of Ichiro Suzuki
in Japan, and won two championships with the Orix BlueWave. Hasegawa was purchased by the Anaheim Angels in January 1997, and pitched well as a setup man. He signed with the Seattle Mariners on January 14, 2002, and became the team's closer in 2003, when Kazuhiro Sasaki
sustained an injury. He played in the All-Star game that year. He was not offered a contract by the Mariners after the 2005 season, and he announced his retirement despite receiving several offers from Major League and Japanese league teams.
In , Hasegawa was named to the All Star Team as a middle reliever and ended up converting 16 of 17 saves at the end of the year when Mariners closer
Kazuhiro Sasaki
was injured. He concluded the season with a 1.48 ERA
in 63 relief appearances. Hasegawa holds the record for most appearances by an Asian pitcher in Major League Baseball ahead of Hideo Nomo
.
In his nine-season MLB career, Hasegawa compiled a 45-44 record with 33 saves and a 3.71 ERA in 517 games
. On January 23, 2006, Hasegawa announced his retirement.http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?ID=152011
Hasegawa was known for releasing the ball very quickly, throwing off the batter's timing. He was very durable, spending time on the disabled list
only once in nine years in the majors. He never played in the minor leagues during his career.
Hasegawa explains that he did not move to the U.S. to play in the majors; he entered the majors because he wanted to live in the U.S. He has since obtained permanent residence in the U.S. He speaks fluent English, even interviewing teammates on an American television show, and he introduced himself in English at his first press conference in the U.S. He has also published a book in Japan with tips on improving English language skills.
He is rumored to have been the only Major League player ever to read the Wall Street Journal in the locker room. Teammate Ichiro Suzuki commented jokingly that Hasegawa tried to talk with teammates about stocks and business during practice sessions. Though not a star player like Ichiro or Hideki Matsui
, Hasegawa built up a solid reputation as a reliever. In addition to selling real estate in Irvine, California
, he frequently appears on baseball-related television shows in Japan, and is a commentator for major league games shown in Japan on NHK
.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in 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...
and best-selling author and Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
television personality. He achieved the most recognition when he played for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
from through . Previously, Hasegawa played with the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(–), and before that spent six years with the Orix Blue Wave. He bats and throws right-handed.
Career
Hasegawa was drafted in the first round by the Orix BlueWave in . He won 12 games in his rookie year, and received the Japanese Rookie of the Year AwardNippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award
The Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award is given to one player in each league of Central League and Pacific League.-Central League:-Pacific League:-See also:*Nippon Professional Baseball#Awards*Baseball awards#Japan...
in . He was a teammate of Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
in Japan, and won two championships with the Orix BlueWave. Hasegawa was purchased by the Anaheim Angels in January 1997, and pitched well as a setup man. He signed with the Seattle Mariners on January 14, 2002, and became the team's closer in 2003, when Kazuhiro Sasaki
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Kazuhiro "Daimajin" Sasaki is a former Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He played his entire NPB career with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales / Yokohama BayStars...
sustained an injury. He played in the All-Star game that year. He was not offered a contract by the Mariners after the 2005 season, and he announced his retirement despite receiving several offers from Major League and Japanese league teams.
In , Hasegawa was named to the All Star Team as a middle reliever and ended up converting 16 of 17 saves at the end of the year when Mariners closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Kazuhiro "Daimajin" Sasaki is a former Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He played his entire NPB career with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales / Yokohama BayStars...
was injured. He concluded the season with a 1.48 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...
in 63 relief appearances. Hasegawa holds the record for most appearances by an Asian pitcher in Major League Baseball ahead of Hideo Nomo
Hideo Nomo
is a former right-handed pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball from Japan. He achieved early success in Japan, where he played with the Kintetsu Buffaloes from to...
.
In his nine-season MLB career, Hasegawa compiled a 45-44 record with 33 saves and a 3.71 ERA in 517 games
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
. On January 23, 2006, Hasegawa announced his retirement.http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?ID=152011
Hasegawa was known for releasing the ball very quickly, throwing off the batter's timing. He was very durable, spending time on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
only once in nine years in the majors. He never played in the minor leagues during his career.
Hasegawa explains that he did not move to the U.S. to play in the majors; he entered the majors because he wanted to live in the U.S. He has since obtained permanent residence in the U.S. He speaks fluent English, even interviewing teammates on an American television show, and he introduced himself in English at his first press conference in the U.S. He has also published a book in Japan with tips on improving English language skills.
He is rumored to have been the only Major League player ever to read the Wall Street Journal in the locker room. Teammate Ichiro Suzuki commented jokingly that Hasegawa tried to talk with teammates about stocks and business during practice sessions. Though not a star player like Ichiro or Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsui
is a Japanese Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York...
, Hasegawa built up a solid reputation as a reliever. In addition to selling real estate in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, he frequently appears on baseball-related television shows in Japan, and is a commentator for major league games shown in Japan on NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
.
Nippon Professional Baseball
- 142 Games
- 57 Wins
- 45 Losses
- 3.33 ERA
- Rookie of the Year (1991)
Major League Baseball
- 517 Games
- 45 Wins
- 44 Losses
- 33 Saves
- 3.71 ERA
- All Star (2003)