Kazuo Matsui

Kazuo Matsui
松井稼頭央
Kazuo Matsui; 松井稼頭央
	Matsui with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2018
	Infielder / Outfielder / Coach / Manager
	Born: October 23, 1975 (age 49); Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan
	Batted: Switch Threw: Right
Professional debut
	NPB: April 5, 1995, for the Seibu Lions
	MLB: April 6, 2004, for the New York Mets
Last appearance
	MLB: May 18, 2010, for the Houston Astros
	NPB: October 6, 2018, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
NPB statistics
Batting average	.291
Hits	2,090
Home runs	201
Runs batted in	837
Stolen bases	363
MLB statistics
Batting average	.267
Hits	615
Home runs	32
Runs batted in	211
Stolen bases	102
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	As player Seibu Lions (1994–2003); New York Mets (2004–2006); Colorado Rockies (2006–2007); Houston Astros (2008–2010); Colorado Rockies (2010); Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2011–2017); Saitama Seibu Lions (2018); As coach Saitama Seibu Lions (2018–2022); As Manager Saitama Seibu Lions (2023–2024);
Career highlights and awards
	Homered on the first pitch of his MLB career; Homered in his first at bat for the first three seasons of his MLB career; 4× Mitsui Golden Glove Award (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003); 7× Best Nine Award at Shortstop (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003); 3× Pacific League Stolen Base Champion (1997, 1998, 1999); Japan Series champion (2013);
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing Japan
World Baseball Classic

Kazuo Matsui (松井稼頭央, Matsui Kazuo, born October 23, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played as a shortstop and is a former manager of the Saitama Seibu Lions. He is a switch-hitter.^[1]

Matsui signed with the New York Mets on December 17, 2003, becoming the first Japanese infielder to sign with a Major League Baseball team.^[2]

^ Jenkins, Lee (June 26, 2004). "There's No Relation, but Matsuis Can Relate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
^ "The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Official Info" (Press release). Colorado.rockies.mlb.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.

[1] Jenkins, Lee (June 26, 2004). "There's No Relation, but Matsuis Can Relate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2011.

[rockiesacquirematsui-2] "The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Official Info" (Press release). Colorado.rockies.mlb.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.

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