Hirokazu Sawamura
Hirokazu Sawamura | |||||||||||||||
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Chiba Lotte Marines – No. 11 | |||||||||||||||
Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
Born: Tochigi, Japan | April 3, 1988|||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
Professional debut | |||||||||||||||
NPB: April 15, 2011, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||||||||||||||
MLB: April 2, 2021, for the Boston Red Sox | |||||||||||||||
NPB statistics (through October 12, 2024) | |||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 53-57 | ||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 2.86 | ||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 840 | ||||||||||||||
Saves | 79 | ||||||||||||||
Holds | 93 | ||||||||||||||
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 6–2 | ||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 3.39 | ||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 101 | ||||||||||||||
Holds | 13 | ||||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Last updated on: September 11, 2020 |
Hirokazu Sawamura (
Baseball career
[edit]Sawamura played college baseball for Chuo University in Tokyo.[2] On October 28, 2010, Sawamura was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants first overall pick in the 2010 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[3]
Yomiuri Giants
[edit]Sawamura played nine seasons for the Yomiuri Giants during 2011–2020;[4] he missed the 2017 season due to a shoulder injury.[5] In 2011, he was named the Central League Rookie of the Year.[6] In 2013, he was named MVP of the first game of the NPB All-Star Series.[7] During his first four seasons with the Giants, he was predominantly a starting pitcher; after 2014, he only appeared for the Giants as a relief pitcher.[1] As a closer during 2015 and 2016, he recorded 36 and 37 saves, respectively.[4] During his nine seasons with the Giants, he compiled a 48–50 win–loss record with 74 saves.[4]
Sawamura played for the Giants in three Japan Series, the annual championship series of NPB. He was the starting and winning pitcher of Game 2 in 2012,[8] which the Giants went on to win in six games over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He pitched as a reliever in 2013,[9] when the Giants lost in seven games to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and in 2019,[10] when the Giants lost in four games to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Chiba Lotte Marines
[edit]On September 8, 2020, Sawamura was traded to the Chiba Lotte Marines.[11] With the Marines in 2020, he appeared in 22 games, pitching to an 0–2 record with one save and a 1.71 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 29 batters in 21 innings pitched.[4] After the season, Sawamura became a free agent.[12]
Boston Red Sox
[edit]On February 16, 2021, Sawamura officially signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).[13] He made his MLB debut on April 2, pitching in relief against the Baltimore Orioles.[14] He earned his first MLB win on April 23, after pitching 1+1⁄3 innings of scoreless relief against the Seattle Mariners.[15] Sawamura was placed on the injured list on July 23 due to right triceps inflammation;[16] he returned to the Red Sox on July 30.[17] He was placed on the COVID-related list on August 31,[18][19] and returned to the team on September 13.[20] Overall during the regular season, Sawamura made 55 relief appearances for Boston, compiling a 5–1 record with 3.06 ERA while striking out 61 batters in 53 innings.[21] He made three postseason relief appearances, all in the American League Championship Series, allowing a single run in two innings pitched.[21]
Sawamura began the 2022 season as a member of the Red Sox bullpen. After posting a 3.60 ERA in 18 relief appearances, he was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on May 28,[22] but recalled to Boston two days later.[23] On August 29, Sawamura was designated for assignment,[24] then sent outright to Triple-A two days later.[25] On September 11, Sawamura was released by the Red Sox.[26] Overall during 49 relief appearances with the Red Sox during 2022, Sawamura compiled a 1–1 record with a 3.73 ERA while striking out 40 batters in 50+2⁄3 innings.[21]
Chiba Lotte Marines (second stint)
[edit]On January 28, 2023, Sawamura signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[27][28] On August 10, it was announced that Sawamura had been diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome and spent a short stint in the hospital. As a result, he was prohibited from performing strenuous exercise for the month of August.[29]
International career
[edit]Sawamura was selected to the Japan national baseball team for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.[30] He also pitched for Japan in the 2015 WBSC Premier12 tournament.[31]
Scouting report
[edit]Sawamura throws a fastball topping out at 99 mph (159 km/h),[32] a splitter, and a slider.[33] In college, he also featured a curveball.[2]
Personal
[edit]Sawamura gained attention from NBC Sports for singing a rendition of an Alicia Keys song that Eduardo Rodríguez posted on his Instagram account.[34]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Hirokazu Sawamura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Ota, Kozo (October 26, 2010). "2010 NPB Draft Preview: Players to Watch". tokyoswallows.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news
巨 人 ・沢村 再 び単独 1位 指名 に大粒 の涙 ". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). October 29, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2022. - ^ a b c d "Sawamura, Hirokazu". NPB.jp. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Yomiuri Giants apologize to Hirokazu Sawamura". yakyudb.com. September 11, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Gibson, John E. (December 1, 2011). "Sawamura, Makita top rookies". yomiuri.co.jp. The Daily Yomiuri. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Otani puts talent on display in All-Star opener". The Japan Times. July 19, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Sunday, October 28, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sunday, October 27, 2013". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ "Saturday, October 19, 2019". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ Baarda, Ted (December 14, 2020). "Need a reliever? A couple from the NPB might work". sportsinfosolutionsblog.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Baseball: Free agent reliever Sawamura in U.S. for talks". kiji.is. Kyodo News. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Boston Red Sox sign right-hander Hirokazu Sawamura to two-year contract with option for 2023". ESPN.com. AP. February 16, 2021.
- ^ "Orioles vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Mariners vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ Cotillo, Chris (July 23, 2021). "Boston Red Sox roster moves: Hirokazu Sawamura (tricep) placed on injured list, Phillips Valdez called up from WooSox". MassLive.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via MSN.com.
- ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. July 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. August 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ Snyder, Matt (August 31, 2021). "Red Sox pull Xander Bogaerts from game after positive COVID test as club's outbreak grows". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Hirokazu Sawamura Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Christopher (May 28, 2022). "Boston Red Sox make 5 roster moves: Hirokazu Sawamura optioned to Worcester, Hansel Robles placed on IL". masslive.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Cotillo, Chris (May 30, 2022). "Boston Red Sox roster moves: Matt Strahm placed on COVID list, Hirokazu Sawamura up from WooSox". masslive.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ McDonald, Darragh (August 29, 2022). "Red Sox Designate Hirokazu Sawamura, Austin Davis; Select Zack Kelly". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ @ChrisCotillo (August 31, 2022). "Sawamura is outrighted to AAA, so he remains with the Red Sox but not on the 40-man roster" (Tweet). Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Smith, Christopher (September 12, 2022). "Boston Red Sox release Hirokazu Sawamura after he pitched just once for WooSox following DFA". masslive.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via MSN.com.
- ^ "Hirokazu Sawamura Returns to Japan". rotoballer.com. January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Henrique, Chris (January 28, 2023). "Former Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura finds a new home for 2023". Beyond the Monster. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Takuichi Sawamura was diagnosed with "reversible cerebral vasospasm syndrome" He has already been discharged from the hospital, and if there is no problem, he will resume normal practice from September [Lotte]". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "2013 World Baseball Classic". npb.or.jp (in Japanese). February 20, 2013.
- ^ "Teams & rosters: JPN". premier12.wbsc.org. 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Tomase: Shades of former Sox All-Star in potential bullpen signing?".
- ^ Franco, Anthony (February 10, 2021). "Red Sox Making Progress On Deal With Hirokazu Sawamura". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Leger, Justin (June 29, 2021). "Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura singing Alicia Keys will make your day". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or NPB.or.jp
- 1988 births
- Living people
- 2013 World Baseball Classic players
- 2015 WBSC Premier12 players
- Baseball people from Tochigi Prefecture
- Chuo University alumni
- Chiba Lotte Marines players
- Yomiuri Giants players
- Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers
- Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners
- Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Boston Red Sox players
- Worcester Red Sox players
- World Baseball Classic players of Japan