Masahide Kobayashi

Japanese baseball player (born 1974)

Baseball player
Masa Kobayashi
Kobayashi with the Orix Buffaloes
Relief pitcher / Pitching coach
Born: (1974-05-24) May 24, 1974 (age 50)
Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
NPB: April 7, 1999, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
MLB: April 2, 2008, for the Cleveland Indians
Last appearance
MLB: May 7, 2009, for the Cleveland Indians
NPB: April 30, 2011, for the Orix Buffaloes
NPB statistics
Win–loss record36–34
Earned run average2.93
Saves228
MLB statistics
Win–loss record4–5
Earned run average5.10
Saves6
Teams
As player
  • Chiba Lotte Marines (1997–2007)
  • Cleveland Indians (2008–2009)
  • Yomiuri Giants (2010)
  • Orix Buffaloes (2011)

As coach

Career highlights and awards
  • 1x Japan Series champion (2005)
  • 4× NPB All-Star (2000, 2001, 2005, 2006)
Masahide Kobayashi
Medal record
Men's Baseball
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place Athens 2004 Team competition

Masahide "Masa" Kobayashi (小林 雅英, Kobayashi Masahide, born May 24, 1974 in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, Japan) is a former professional baseball pitcher and pitching coach.

From 1997 to 2007, Kobayashi played in the Nippon Professional Baseball league for the Chiba Lotte Marines. From 2008 to 2009, he played for Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians. He was a member of the Japanese Olympic baseball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.

Kobayashi led the Pacific League in saves in 2005, with 29.[1] He earned his 200th career save in 2006, becoming the third player in Japanese baseball to reach the mark, after Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shingo Takatsu.[2] In 2007, his final season with the Marines, Kobayashi finished 2–7 with 27 saves and a 3.61 ERA in 49 relief appearances.[3] He became the only Japanese professional pitcher to record 20 or more saves seven straight years.[4]

On November 2, 2007, Kobayashi declared free agency and expressed his interest in playing for a major league club for the 2008 season.[4] On November 20, Kobayashi signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal with the Cleveland Indians. The deal included a $3.25 million club option for a third year.[2]

During the 2008 season, Kobayashi had an average season, going 4–5 with six saves and a 4.53 ERA in 57 relief appearances.[5] He had a 3.05 ERA in the first half, but regressed in the second half, posting a 10.32 ERA in 15 games after the All-Star break.[6]

In 2009, Kobayashi made 10 appearances (9+2⁄3 innings) with no decisions or saves, and an ERA of 8.38.[5] On May 16, he was removed from Cleveland's 40-man roster.[7] He later cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.[8] He was released on July 18, 2009.[9]

Kobayashi signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants for the 2009 season.[10] He made 16 appearances with the Giants, posting a 2.25 ERA.[3] He later joined the Orix Buffaloes for the 2011 season.

References

  1. ^ "2005 Japan Pacific League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Castrovince, Anthony (November 20, 2007). "Tribe lands Japan's Kobayashi". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Masahide Kobayashi Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Indians sign RHP Masahide Kobayashi; Free agent closer of Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. November 20, 2007. Archived from the original on November 23, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Masahide Kobayashi Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Masahide Kobayashi 2008 Pitching Splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  7. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (May 16, 2009). "Indians remove Kobayashi from roster". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  8. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (May 16, 2009). "Indians get reinforcements for staff". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  9. ^ "Indians Release Masa Kobayashi". MLB Trade Rumors. July 19, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Giants ready to sign veteran reliever Kobayashi: sources". The Japan Times. November 28, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2016.

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Japanese league stats and info of Masahide Kobayashi