- Byname:
- Dice-K
- Born:
- September 13, 1980, Tokyo, Japan (age 46)
- Awards And Honors:
- Rookie of the Year (1999)
- 1 World Series championship
- Height/Weight:
- 6 ft 0 inches, 205 lb (183 cm, 92 kg)
- Batting Hand:
- right
- Throwing Hand:
- right
- Debut Date:
- April 5, 2007
- Last Game:
- September 25, 2014
- Jersey Number:
- 18 (2007-2012, Boston Red Sox)
- 16 (2013-2014, New York Mets)
- Position:
- pitcher
- Earned Run Average:
- 4.45
- Games Played:
- 158
- Games Started:
- 132
- Innings Pitched:
- 790.1
- Losses:
- 43
- Saves:
- 1
- Strikeouts:
- 720
- Walks And Hits Per Inning Pitched:
- 1.402
- Wins:
- 56
- Twitter Handle:
- @matsu_dice
Daisuke Matsuzaka
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Who is Daisuke Matsuzaka?
Daisuke Matsuzaka, born in Tokyo, Japan, on September 13, 1980, is a professional baseball pitcher who achieved stardom in both Japan and the United States.
Before joining the American League Red Sox, Matsuzaka had already become a legend in Japan. In 1998, he led Yokohama High School to a championship and was drafted by the Seibu Lions. In his eight seasons with the Lions, he had a 108–60 win-loss record, with 1,355 strikeouts in 204 games.
Matsuzaka helped the Japanese team win a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He was named the World Baseball Classic's most valuable player in 2006. After the 2006 season, the Red Sox paid the Seibu Lions over \$51 million for the rights to Matsuzaka and signed him to a six-year contract worth another \$52 million.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What position did Daisuke Matsuzaka play in baseball?
Daisuke Matsuzaka was a professional baseball pitcher. He achieved star status in both Japan and the United States.
Matsuzaka's MLB debut was on April 5, 2007. Over his MLB career, he played in 158 games, starting in 132 of them. He had 720 strikeouts over 790.1 innings pitched, with an ERA of 4.45. In 2007, during his first season in Major League Baseball (MLB), he helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series championship.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Which teams did Daisuke Matsuzaka play for in Japan and the United States?
Daisuke Matsuzaka, a celebrated Japanese baseball pitcher, played for the following teams in Japan and the United States:
Japan:
* Seibu Lions (later called Saitama Seibu Lions)
* Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
* Chunichi Dragons
* Saitama Seibu Lions (second stint)United States:
* Boston Red Sox
* New York Mets
* Cleveland Indians (minor league contract, but never joined the major league roster)Matsuzaka's career highlights include being named the Pacific League's Rookie of the Year in 1999 and twice leading Japan to victory in the World Baseball Classic, earning the MVP award both times.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is Daisuke Matsuzaka famous for in his pitching style or achievements?
Daisuke Matsuzaka is celebrated for his pitching prowess and significant achievements in both Japanese and American baseball. Before joining Major League Baseball (MLB), he had already become a legend in Japan, leading Yokohama High School to a championship in 1998 and earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1999 with the Seibu Lions.
His international profile rose further when he was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, where he was undefeated. In 2007, Matsuzaka played a crucial role in helping the Boston Red Sox win a World Series championship, solidifying his reputation as a clutch performer.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Daisuke Matsuzaka’s career influence baseball relations between Japan and Major League Baseball (MLB)?
Daisuke Matsuzaka, also known as "Dice-K," significantly influenced baseball relations between Japan and MLB. After his success in Japan, the Boston Red Sox paid over \$51 million to negotiate with Matsuzaka and signed him to a \$52 million contract.
His move heightened MLB's interest in Japanese talent, even though he struggled to meet expectations. Before Matsuzaka, Hideo Nomo and Ichiro Suzuki paved the way for Japanese players in MLB, Matsuzaka's high-profile arrival intensified the focus on Japanese baseball.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some of the awards and honors Daisuke Matsuzaka received during his career?
Daisuke Matsuzaka, a celebrated Japanese baseball pitcher, has earned several awards and honors throughout his career. In 1998, he led Yokohama High School to a Japanese National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament championship, pitching a no-hitter in the title game. After being drafted by the Seibu Lions, he was named Rookie of the Year in 1999.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Matsuzaka contributed to the Japanese baseball team's bronze medal win. He was also named the World Baseball Classic's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2006 and again in 2009. In 2007, he helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series championship. In 2018, Matsuzaka was named Nippon Professional Baseball’s Comeback Player of the Year.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (born September 13, 1980, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who became a star player in both Japan and the United States. In 2007, his first season of Major League Baseball (MLB), he helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series championship.
Before Matsuzaka made the move to the American League Red Sox, he had already attained legendary status in Japan. A star pitcher from his youth, he led Yokohama High School to the 1998 Japanese National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament championship, pitching a no-hitter in the title game. Upon his graduation that year, the 6-foot (1.8-metre), 185-pound (84-kg) right-hander was selected by the Seibu Lions (later called Saitama Seibu Lions) of the Pacific League as the top overall draft pick. Matsuzaka earned Rookie of the Year honours in 1999, finishing the season with a record of 16 wins and 5 losses. In his eight seasons with the Lions, he compiled a win-loss record of 108–60 and threw a total of 1,355 strikeouts in 204 games.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Matsuzaka helped the Japanese baseball team capture the bronze medal. He further raised his international profile with his dominating performance at the first-ever World Baseball Classic in 2006, where he was named the tournament’s most valuable player after going undefeated in three starts and giving up just four hits during Japan’s 10–6 victory over Cuba in the championship game. The MLB bidding war after the 2006 season was intense and ultimately was won by the Red Sox, who agreed to pay the Seibu Lions more than $51 million for the negotiating rights to Matsuzaka and then signed the pitcher to a six-year contract worth another $52 million.
Such a large contract brought hefty expectations, which at times Matsuzaka—or Dice-K, as he was soon dubbed—struggled to meet as he tallied a mediocre regular-season record of 15–12, with a 4.40 earned run average (ERA). His gutsy play in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and the World Series, however, quieted critics who had commented on his regular-season record and on his shaky starts at the beginning of the playoffs. The rookie came up with a pair of clutch performances in the postseason when his team needed him most, winning both the decisive seventh game of the ACLS against the Cleveland Indians and game three of the World Series against the Colorado Rockies, which made him the first Japanese pitcher to win a World Series game.
Matsuzaka had a strong second season in 2008, compiling an 18–3 regular-season record and a low 2.90 ERA. Prior to the start of the 2009 baseball season, he again played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, once more leading it to a first-place finish and being named the tournament’s most valuable player. However, his play there apparently strained his pitching arm. He fared poorly in his early 2009 starts; his ERA mushroomed; and he spent considerable time as an inactive player on the disabled list. The injury-plagued Matsuzaka started just 55 total games from 2009 to 2012, compiling a cumulative 5.53 ERA over those seasons.
Matsuzaka became a free agent following the 2012 season, and he signed a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Indians in February 2013. He was released the following August having never joined Cleveland’s major-league roster and was quickly signed by the New York Mets. He appeared in 34 games for the Mets—primarily as a relief pitcher—and signed with Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the off-season. His play was limited by injuries, however, and in 2018 Matsuzaka joined the Chunichi Dragons. He posted a 6–4 record with a 3.74 ERA in his first season with the team and was named Nippon Professional Baseball’s Comeback Player of the Year. After the 2019 season Matsuzaka rejoined the Saitama Seibu Lions, but he missed the following season due to cervical spine surgery. His recovery proved difficult, and he retired after the 2021 season.