| So Taguchi 田口 壮 | |
|---|---|
 Taguchi with the Orix Buffaloes | |
| Outfielder /Coach | |
| Born: (1969-07-02)July 2, 1969 (age 56) Nishinomiya,Japan | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| NPB: April 4, 1992, for the Orix BlueWave | |
| MLB: June 10, 2002, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: October 4, 2009, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| NPB: August 27, 2011, for the Orix Buffaloes | |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .276 |
| Home runs | 70 |
| Runs batted in | 429 |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .279 |
| Home runs | 19 |
| Runs batted in | 163 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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So Taguchi (田口 壮,Taguchi Sō; born July 2, 1969) is a Japanese former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theOrix BlueWave / Buffaloes, and inMajor League Baseball (MLB) with theSt. Louis Cardinals,Philadelphia Phillies, andChicago Cubs.
Taguchi is the third Japanese-born player to win aWorld Series afterHideki Irabu in 1998 andTadahito Iguchi in 2005. Taguchi is also the first Japanese player to win two World Series with different teams – with theSt. Louis Cardinals in2006 and thePhiladelphia Phillies in2008.
Taguchi was born and raised inNishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan. He graduated fromKwansei Gakuin University in his hometown, with aBachelor of Arts inBusiness Administration. He was a teammate ofIchiro Suzuki when the two played for the Orix BlueWave in thePacific League of NPB. Although he was drafted by the BlueWave as aninfielder, he was moved to the outfield later in his career.
He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as afree agent in2002 at the age of 32, a year in which he rose through theminor league system, playing for theNew Haven Ravens and theMemphis Redbirds, compiling a .262batting average, with 6home runs and 51RBI. He eventually earned a call-up on September 7, and recorded the firsthit of his major league career in the second inning against theChicago Cubs. Taguchi became the first (and to date only)Japanese-born player in Cardinal history. He originally requested to wear the number 6, but he couldn't because it was retired forStan Musial, nor could he turn 6 upside down because 9 was retired forEnos Slaughter. He could not wear the number he had at the Olympics because 1 was retired forOzzie Smith. He was also unable to double 6 asRick Ankiel was on the roster that year. Finally, he decided to wear 99.
Taguchi got another brief call-up in2003, then got more playing time with the Cardinals in2004, appearing in 109 games. He was included on the '04 Cardinals postseason roster, and appeared in two games of the2004 World Series, which the Cardinals lost to theBoston Red Sox in a four-game sweep. In2005, injuries to outfieldersLarry Walker andReggie Sanders opened up managerTony La Russa's lineup card, and Taguchi became an everydayplayer. He responded with his best season, batting .288 in 396at-bats with eight home runs and 53 RBI, and contributing with his stellardefense at all three outfield positions as the Cardinals won 100 games and had the best record in theNational League.
Cardinal radio announcerMike Shannon took to calling Taguchi "the So-man" and praising his hard work and extreme personal courtesy. By habit, Taguchi would even give a little bow to the umpire whenever he stepped up to the plate. His modest and happy demeanor, as well as shyness due to struggling with English in interviews early on, endeared him to St. Louis fans.
In2006, Taguchi's playing time declined somewhat, his at-bat total falling to 316 from 396 the year before. However, Taguchi would make the playoff roster for the Cardinals for the third year in a row, and have a heroic postseason moment: on October 13, 2006, he hit the go-ahead home run offBilly Wagner in the top of the 9th inning of Game 2 of theNLCS. The home run gave the Cardinals a 7–6 lead in a game they would win 9-6.[1] Taguchi played in four of five games of the2006 World Series for the Cardinals, hitting .182, and won aWorld Series ring as the Cardinals defeated theDetroit Tigers four games to one. Taguchi agreed to a one-year deal worth $925,000 with the St. Louis Cardinals for the2007 season.
Taguchi returned to the Cardinals in 2007 and had another solid season, batting .290 as a part-time player, with 307 at-bats in 130 games. He was one of managerTony La Russa's most valuable pinch-hitters; of 46 games in 2007 where he's shown to have had just 1 AB, Taguchi picked up 15 hits. Taguchi played 617 innings in the field, with 41 starts (and 22 other appearances) in center (whereJim Edmonds was banged up) and 21 starts (20 other) in left (where the Cardinals hadn't settled on one player until 2008 andSkip Schumaker). Taguchi played sparingly in right field (2 starts, 6 other) and part of a game at 2B.[2]
After the 2007 season ended, the Cardinals declined Taguchi's option for2008, then decided to forgo arbitration and release Taguchi on December 5, 2007, after Taguchi's agent had requested his release earlier in the week.[3][4]
On December 23, 2007, Taguchi was signed to a one-year deal by the Philadelphia Phillies with an option for2009.[5] Taguchi's numbers fell off sharply, his batting average dropping from .290 in 2007 to .220 in 2008, and he got only 91 at-bats for the whole season. However, he was included on Philadelphia's postseason roster and won his second championship ring when the Phillies won the2008 World Series. (Taguchi was 0-for-4 pinch-hitting in the NLCS and did not appear in the World Series.)
Shortly after winning the World Series, the Phillies decided to decline Taguchi's option and make him a free agent.[6]
Taguchi agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs for the2009 season, and was invited to spring training.[7][8] Taguchi was signed in part to provide a Japanese teammate for Cubs outfielderKosuke Fukudome. Taguchi did not make the Cubs roster and was optioned to Triple-A. After spending most of the season in the minors, Taguchi, who hit .248 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 85 games in the minors, was called up to the Cubs on September 16, 2009, replacing the injuredSam Fuld.[9] He appeared in 12 games and got three hits in 11 at-bats.
In January 2010 Taguchi's old team, the Orix BlueWave (since merged with the Kintetsu Buffaloes to form theOrix Buffaloes), announced that they had signed Taguchi to return and play for them in 2010.[10]
On July 31, 2012, Taguchi announced his retirement on his official blog.[11][12]
In September 2012, Taguchi embarked on a new career as a baseball commentator.[13] By 2013, Taguchi was employed by Japanese broadcasterNHK to announce Major League Baseball games.[14]
Taguchi learned English from his wife, Emiko, a former television reporter who speaks it fluently. He also practiced by watching films such asFinding Nemo andMonsters, Inc.[15] The family still owns a home inSt. Louis.[16]
The couple has one son, Kan, who was born December 24, 2003.[17] He is a member of the baseball team atGrand Canyon University inPhoenix, Arizona.[18]
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| Academics | |