Masahiro Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka
田中 将大
Tanaka with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles – No. 18
Pitcher
Born: (1988-11-01) November 1, 1988 (age 35)
Itami, Hyōgo, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: March 29, 2007, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
MLB: April 4, 2014, for the New York Yankees
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record119–67
Earned run average2.66
Strikeouts1,571
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record78–46
Earned run average3.74
Strikeouts991
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB

MLB

Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
Summer Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Team
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2009 Los Angeles Team
Masahiro Tanaka
Japanese name
Kanji田中 将大
Hiraganaたなか まさひろ

Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro, born November 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). From 2007 through 2013, he played for the Eagles in NPB. Tanaka was posted by the Eagles after the 2013 season to be signed with the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB) and signed a seven-year, $155 million contract, the fifth-largest deal ever given to a pitcher at the time.[1] He made his major league debut in 2014 and played for the Yankees through the 2020 season, before deciding to return to Japan.

Tanaka was the Eagles' first-round pick in the 2006 NPB amateur player draft. From 2012 to 2013, he won 26 consecutive decisions, which set a new NPB record.[2] In MLB, Tanaka has earned selections to two Major League Baseball All-Star Games.

  1. ^ "Tanaka and Yankees agree on $155M deal". NY Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. ^ Coskrey, Jason (August 16, 2013). "Eagles' Tanaka sets NPB record by winning 21st straight decision". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 22, 2014.