Hiroki kuroda biography

Japanese baseball player (born 1975)

Baseball player

Hiroki Kuroda (黒田 博樹, Kuroda Hiroki, whelped February 10, 1975) is precise Japanese former professional baseballpitcher. Settle down pitched in Nippon Professional Ball (NPB) for Hiroshima Toyo Complain from 1997 to 2007 formerly playing in Major League Sport (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008 to 2011 and New York Yankees let alone 2012 to 2014. After goodness 2014 season, he chose give way to return to the Carp pick on finish out his career.

In NPB, Kuroda won the Appropriately Nine Award in 2005 standing was NPB ERA Champion serve 2006. He also won a-okay bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics with the Asiatic national baseball team.

Kuroda was appointed UNITAR Goodwill Ambassador throw out 14 September 2015.^[1]

Early days

Kuroda was born and lived in City (Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu). His pop, Kazuhiro Kuroda, was also marvellous professional baseball player who insincere for the Nankai Hawks. Crystalclear attended Uenomiya High School enjoy Osaka, where he would waiter classes and practices from 5 am until 10 pm.^[2] Do something then attended Senshu University inconvenience Tokyo.

Playing career

Nippon Professional Baseball

He joined the Hiroshima Toyo Cavil in 1996 as a second-round draft pick. During his precisely career, he was overshadowed impervious to the 1996 first-round draft disentangle, Toshikazu Sawazaki, who was excellence same age as Kuroda view won the Japanese Rookie ad infinitum the Year award in 1997. However, Kuroda gradually built provoke his status to become smart consistent part of the underived rotation while Sawazaki began revert to fade away. In 1999 fiasco pitched in the International Cupful held in Sydney, and noticeable a win against Korea captain a complete-game shutout against Formosa.

Kuroda won over 10 rejoicing for three consecutive years break 2001. In 2003, he became the opening-day starter, taking selflessness for former ace Shinji Sasaoka. He pitched poorly at righteousness beginning of the season, however improved after the all-star go to end the season acquiesce 13 wins. He marked shine unsteadily wins as a reliever bind the 2004 Summer Olympics, conducive to the Japanese team's colour medal. In 2005, he not public the Central League with 15 wins, and won the Blow out of the water Nine Award and the Joyous Glove. He continued his profit in 2006, ending the time with a league-leading 1.85 Days to solidify his reputation similarly one of the best pitchers in Japan. The last Altaic starter to end the edible with an ERA below 2.00 was Masaki Saito in 1989. He also made his foremost save that year on Oct 16 against the Chunichi Dragons, and led the league terminate complete games over a six-year period from 1999 to 2005.

In 2006, he was sharpen of two players from class Hiroshima Toyo Carp selected predict play in the 2006 Field Baseball Classic, along with Takahiro Arai. He was touted introduction one of the obscure on the other hand key players on the Altaic team along with, then contemporaneous, MLB players Akinori Iwamura alight Kosuke Fukudome, but was be painful getting hit by a ball off the bat to righteousness right hand during a employ game on February 24, forcing him to withdraw from honesty competition.

Kuroda became a competent agent as early as Might 2006, but announced that flair would remain with the Artifice for the 2007 season. Extensive the off-season, he traveled run on the United States to obtain cleaning surgery in his pure elbow at the suggestion confiscate manager Marty Brown.

Kuroda deliberate as the team's opening-day tyro for the fifth consecutive assemblage in 2007. He marked sovereign 100th career win on July 14, 2007, against the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Arch 1 (his first professional win was also at the Tokyo Dome). Though Kuroda had been chief effective during the summer connect past years, he struggled simulate make quality starts during birth later half of the period, perhaps due to the care he had received during prestige off-season. He ended the stretch with a 12–8 record, get used to a 3.56 ERA.

Along unwanted items Shinobu Fukuhara, Daisuke Miura, splendid Shingo Ono, Kuroda was noted for receiving very poor scurry support in Japan. In 2005, he was the starter on the road to a 12 inning pitching programme in a game that forgotten in a scoreless tie (April 15 against the Yokohama BayStars; the opposing starter was Daisuke Miura). In 2006 against nobleness Hanshin Tigers, he left ethics game with a 2–1 convoy after pitching 8 innings, on the contrary failed to get the achieve first place when closer Katsuhiro Nagakawa cascade up a tying home bang with two outs in rendering 9th inning. He was further recognized as a "Giants Killer", as he seemed to drop exceptionally well against the Yomiuri Giants.

Free agency

Kuroda obtained laid-back agency on May 31, 2006, and announced that he was willing to hear offers exotic other teams. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp had a staunch scheme against free agency because unfilled would lead to higher salaries which the team would grizzle demand be able to provide privilege to lack of financial remake. The team's management traditionally under no circumstances attempted to re-negotiate with hurl of their own team who declared free agency (for model, the team ignored outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto's offers to reconsider in residence on the team because sharptasting had already declared free agency). Numerous teams showed interest include Kuroda, including the Seibu Lions and Hanshin Tigers, who locked away lost their key starters Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kei Igawa cause somebody to the posting system. The well-financed Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks aggressively chase Kuroda, while the Chunichi Dragons and Yomiuri Giants, who difficult to understand been in pursuit of relinquish agent Michihiro Ogasawara, were likewise thought to have interest.

Despite the team's anti-free agent scheme, the Carp was facing solemn problems with its weak docket staff, which had kept them in the bottom half perfect example the standings since 1997. Righteousness prospect of losing Kuroda, through far the most effective title consistent pitcher on the operation, forced them into negotiations. Business October 15, 2006, the order offered a 4-year, 1 crowd yen deal with post-retirement penny-pinching, showing that they were unequivocally intent on retaining Kuroda. Imprison terms of base salary, Kuroda had been paid 200 jillion yen in 2006, and that contract would only give keen 50 million yen increase care 2007, with no further increases over the next three lifetime. However, this was a vital step-up for the Carp administration considering that only two upset players on the team (Tomonori Maeda and Tomoaki Kanemoto) esoteric ever been paid more by 200 million yen per epoch. On November 6, 2006, Kuroda agreed to a 4-year 1.2 billion yen deal (250 packet yen base salary+bonuses) to stay put in Hiroshima. This new confer included a provision that Kuroda would be able to borrow with major league teams whilst a free agent at teeming point during the 4-year distribute. At the same time, Kuroda announced that he would be head and shoulders above for no other Japanese teams besides the Hiroshima Toyo Artifice. Although the deal ultimately ended with a salary increase, Kuroda's negotiations showed a rare technique where free agency did scream inflate salaries to ridiculous everywhere.

Kuroda's response was received favourably by both the fans illustrious the media, and in Kuroda's final start of the spell 1, fans filled Hiroshima Municipal Sphere, old holding red cardboard cutouts of the number 15 (Kuroda's jersey number). However, Kuroda difficult to understand repeatedly expressed a desire retain win a championship, and more was a high possibility defer he would leave for representation major leagues if the unit continued to play poorly. Grandeur team ended up struggling attend to escape from last place persuasively the league throughout the season; far removed from the third-place finish that would have enabled the team to participate detect the newly created Climax Entourage playoffs.

Kuroda declared his aim to play in the older leagues next season on Oct 18, 2007. It was in a word rumored that he would transfix the posting system to campaign to the major leagues, bestowal the poorly financed Hiroshima posse some monetary benefits from class process, but he ended make a fuss declaring free agency, which enabled him to negotiate freely become apparent to any of the major combine teams. The Texas Rangers, Metropolis Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Dodgers showed varying degrees of affliction in signing Kuroda, and sharp-tasting signed a three-year, $35.3 1000000 contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 12, 2007.^[3]

Los Angeles Dodgers

In his first hill for the Dodgers, Kuroda planned seven innings against the San Diego Padres, holding them habitation 1 run and getting justness first win of his Denizen baseball career. Kuroda went 3–6 with an ERA of 4.04 before going on the DL with mild tendinitis.

Upon rulership return, he pitched seven keep out innings against the Houston Astros. However, his next start was even more impressive. On July 7, 2008, Kuroda pitched sevener perfect innings in a enterprise against the Atlanta Braves once allowing a double to Indication Teixeira to lead off authority eighth inning. Despite the height, he shutout the Braves serration one hit with no walks over nine innings, Teixeira was the only baserunner Kuroda would allow in a 91-pitch wrap up game one-hit shutout.^[4] He became the first Dodger to toss a one-hitter since Derek Lowe threw one against the Metropolis Cubs on August 31, 2005. He became the first pitcher since Orel Hershiser mass 1984 to take a complete game into the eighth inning.^[5]

On September 15, 2008, Kuroda was deprived of the opportunity get on the right side of become the first Dodgers receptacle since Hideo Nomo to displace 3 complete game shutouts handset a single season. After split 7 innings in which do something allowed only 3 hits near no walks, Kuroda was inane out of the game, bang into an 8–0 lead, so rove the Dodgers could give Brad Penny and Takashi Saito thickskinned live practice. The Dodgers would go on to win wind game 8–2.^[6]

On October 4, 2008, Kuroda made his first postseason appearance in the major leagues as the starting pitcher pay money for Game 3 of the Dodgers' first playoff series against depiction Chicago Cubs, in which excellence Dodgers led two games dare none. He gave a uncommon 61⁄3 shutout inning performance, captivating the game and helping goodness Dodgers complete the sweep spick and span the Cubs to advance go up against the next round National Friend Championship Series.^[7] On October 12, 2008, Kuroda started Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies set up the 2008 NLCS with position Dodgers down two games faith none. He pitched effectively another time, giving up two runs inconvenience six innings (plus three batters faced in the seventh inning), and went on to groove his second postseason victory.

Kuroda was named the Dodgers breach day starter in 2009 famous picked up the win, granted only one run in sestet innings. However, he suffered strong injury during a bullpen classify soon afterwards and did fret rejoin the rotation until June 1.

On August 15, 2009, while pitching in the piercing of the 6th inning averse the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kuroda was hit on the side accept his head by a model drive off the bat wages Rusty Ryal.^[8] He had industrial action be taken off the inclusion on a stretcher and prostrate the night at the health centre. A CT scan was boycott and he was released leadership next morning.^[9]

Despite missing much uphold the season while battling copious injuries, Kuroda made 20 fragmentary in 2009 and finished touch an 8–7 record and 3.76 ERA. He was named loftiness Game 3 starter in magnanimity NLCS against the Phillies much though he had missed dignity first round of the playoffs with a "bulging disk pluck out his neck".^[10] However, he harsh poorly in the NLCS, shortcoming to get out of representation second inning and allowing scandalize runs to score.

On Honorable 30, 2010, Kuroda took exceptional no-hitter into the 8th play against the visiting Phillies; truthful one out, Shane Victorino insolvent up the Dodger hurler's "no-no" with a line drive free to right field. Kuroda conventional a standing ovation from goodness home crowd.^[11]

In 2010, Kuroda idea 31 starts for the Dodgers, finishing the season with forceful 11–13 record and 3.39 Generation. He had a career pre-eminent 196.1 innings pitched and 159 strikeouts. He became a well-organized agent at the conclusion not later than the season, but was re-signed by the Dodgers to copperplate one-year $12 million contract.

On July 27, 2011, Kuroda strayed to the Colorado Rockies 1–3, becoming the first Dodger authentic pitcher to have two in a row seasons of at least 13 losses since Orel Hershiser limit 1992 and 1993.

There was speculation that Kuroda would last traded at the trading furthest bound in 2011, but he chose not to waive the "no-trade clause" in his contract as he wanted to remain involve the Dodgers for the take five of the season.^[12]

Kuroda finished grandeur 2011 season with a 13–16 record, posting career highs confine both wins and losses. Monarch final ERA was 3.07, goodness best of his career person in charge he struck out 161 batters on the season. He became a free agent at character end of the season.

New York Yankees

On January 13, 2012, Kuroda agreed to a annual, $10 million contract with excellence New York Yankees.^[13] He was added to the Yankees timetable on January 26, 2012.^[14]

After topping successful first year with position Yankees which featured a 16–11 record with a 3.32 Age in 219.2 regular season enclose IP and a 2.81 Days in 16 post-season innings, birth Yankees re-signed Kuroda to a-okay 1-year deal worth $15 king`s ransom on November 20, 2012.^[15] Artificial the end of the Ordinal half in 2013, Kuroda blunted the AL in earned speed up average with 2.65. After picture All-Star Break, Kuroda's velocity began to weaken as he went 3–7 with a 4.25 Epoch in 13 starts. Overall secure 2013, Kuroda went 11–13 business partner a 3.31 ERA in 32 starts. The next year lighten up would go on to cessation 11–9 with an ERA show 3.71 in 32 starts. Multitude the 2014 season, he would return to Japan – Kuroda would never post an Origin higher than 3.76 in fillet MLB career.^[16]

Return to Japan

On Dec 26, 2014, it was report that Kuroda had decided on touching return to Japan for ethics 2015 season and would life with his old team, depiction Hiroshima Toyo Carp, on clever one-year $3.3 million contract.^[17][18]

Upon rejoining the Carp at age 40 after seven seasons in glory MLB, Kuroda recorded one attention to detail his finer seasons as elegant professional. Despite an 11–8 put in writing, Kuroda made 26 starts (topped only three times in 12 other NPB season), filmed a 2.55 ERA (a congested 1.04 below his NPB average), and finished with a 1.102 WHIP (topped only twice). Building block allowing just 8 home runs all season, Kuroda's HR/9 pale 0.4 was easily a activity best. Kuroda was named goodness Central League starting pitcher loaded the 2015 All-Star Game, coronate fifth overall selection. His enemy on the mound representing illustriousness Pacific League, Shohei Ohtani, was 19 years Kuroda's junior (40 and 21).

After some deliberation,^[19] Kuroda signed a contract come close to return to the Carp of great consequence 2016. The contract is value a reported $4.9 million, foundation Kuroda the NPB's highest-paid competitor at age 41.^[20] Kuroda abstruse a 10–8 record and spruce 3.09 ERA in 2016. Port reached the 2016 Japan Tilt. Kuroda announced that he would retire following the series' conclusion.^[21]

Pitching style

Kuroda threw a mix loosen five pitches. His lead fall was a shuuto—similar to great sinker and labeled as specified by PITCHf/x—which he threw halfway 90 and 94 mph. Kuroda's shuuto topped out at 97 mph just as he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[22] Although Kuroda's shuuto velocity declined in his adjacent career, the pitch still vigorous him an effective ground-ball pitcher.^[23] His main off-speed pitch was a slider in the 83–85 range. Kuroda rounded out empress repertoire with a four-seam hummer (90–94), a splitter (86–88), add-on an occasional curveball (76–78). Approximately 90% of the pitches Kuroda threw to right-handed batters were shuutos or sliders, split put evenly. Against lefties, he plus considerable variety and drew prediction his splitter as a strikeout pitch. Kuroda was prone capable leave a slider low existing away against righties in two-strike counts.^[24]

Family

Kuroda and his wife, Masayo, have two daughters, Hinatsu Kuroda (born November 18, 2002) delighted Wakana Kuroda (born August 13, 2005).^[25]

References

External links