Kazuhiro Sasaki

Infobox MLB retired
name=Kazuhiro Sasaki


width=120
position=Relief pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1968|2|22
Natori, Japan
debutdate=April 5
debutyear=by|2000
debutteam=Seattle Mariners
finaldate=September 28
finalyear=by|2003
finalteam=Seattle Mariners
stat1label=Games pitched
stat1value=228
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.14
stat3label=Saves
stat3value=129
teams=
* Yokohama Taiyō Whales / BayStars (by|1990-by|1999)
* Seattle Mariners (by|2000-by|2003)
* Yokohama BayStars (by|2004-by|2005)
highlights=
* 2x All-Star selection (2001, 2002)
* 2000 AL Rookie of the Year

Kazuhiro "Daimajin" Sasaki (佐々木主浩 "Sasaki Kazuhiro", born February 22, 1968 in Natori, Japan) is a retired relief pitcher. In his prime, he was one of the premier relievers of both Japanese and American professional baseball. He threw and batted right-handed.

Career

After playing college baseball for Tohoku Fukushi University, Sasaki was drafted with the seventh pick in the first round of the by|1989 draft by the Yokohama Taiyō Whales (now named Yokohama BayStars) in Japan's Central League. He played for them from by|1990-by|1999, before joining the Seattle Mariners in by|2000. He joined a bullpen that had been one of the worst in the Major Leagues, and during his rookie year won the closer job from a floundering Jose Mesa. Sasaki's out pitch, a devastating split-fingered fastball that drops when arriving at home plate, was nicknamed "The Thang" by Mariners radio announcers. [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_2_60/ai_69057360|title=Closing in Seattle: Kazuhiro Sasaki's exotic pitch finishes off foes|last=Stone|first=Larry|accessdate=2007-06-13|date=2001-02|publisher=Baseball Digest] He complemented it with a four-seam fastball that could reach the mid-90s. Sasaki maintained a rigorous throwing program, sometimes at odds with club management, that saw him throw up to 100 pitches following games in which he did not appear.

Sasaki's transition to American baseball began with his being named American League Rookie of the Year. For three years, along with Jeff Nelson and Arthur Rhodes, Sasaki contributed to the best relief pitching corps in baseball. He decided to leave the Mariners before the last year of his contract in 2004, giving up $8.5 million, citing his desire to be with his family in Japan. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, however, Sasaki's real reason for returning to Japan was pressure from ownership, due to his "indiscreet philandering". [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/276783_thiel07.html]

Sasaki resumed his career with the BayStars upon returning to Japan, where he pitched for another year. But in his second year back, nagging knee and elbow injuries resulted in his release from Yokohama and subsequent retirement. His last official appearance came as a cameo against the Tokyo Giants on August 9, by|2005, as he struck out his longtime friend and rival Kazuhiro Kiyohara in a game played at Fullcast Stadium Miyagi in his hometown.

In addition to his Rookie of the Year award, Sasaki set several Japanese professional baseball records, including saves (45) and save opportunities (46) for a single season in by|1998; he was twice selected to play in the All-Star game, and was selected to eight All-Star teams in Japan. Sasaki's 37 saves in his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners remains a Major League Baseball record for saves by a rookie.

Career statistics

Life outside baseball

In 1991, he married former idol singer Kaori Shimizu. Together they had two children.

After returning to Japan in 2005, Sasaki continued his affair with actress Kanako Enomoto, who was thirteen years his junior. Enomoto became pregnant and Kaori divorced Sasaki on March 18, 2005. Kanako gave birth prematurely on April 29, 2005. [http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/face/archive/news/2005/20050603p2g00m0dm002000c.html] The affair has caused the popularity of Sasaki and Enomoto to drop considerably.

Sasaki's interest in sports extend outside baseball. In 2002 and 2003, he lent his name and his pocketbook to Formula Nippon, an auto racing series in Japan. His Team 22 won two races in that time. He is known to wear a half sleeved shirt no matter what the weather is. He has also appeared as a judge on the Iron Chef television program.

He had a side recording career, with an album of his vocals over techno beats.

He chose 22 for his uniform number, because he was born at 2:22 on February 22 (2/22). The BayStars have permanently honored his number.

ee also

*List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

*http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/276783_thiel07.html

External links

*
* [http://www.daimajin-sasaki.com/ DAIMAJIN-SASAKI.com]