| Tomo Ohka | |
|---|---|
 Ohka with the Yokohama BayStars | |
| Chiba Lotte Marines – No. 89 | |
| Pitcher /Pitching coach | |
| Born: (1976-03-18)18 March 1976 (age 49) Ukyō-ku, Kyoto,Japan | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| NPB: 1994, for the Yokohama BayStars | |
| MLB: July 19, 1999, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: October 4, 2009, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| NPB: August 24, 2011, for the Yokohama BayStars | |
| NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 8–17 |
| Earned run average | 5.23 |
| Strikeouts | 112 |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 51–68 |
| Earned run average | 4.26 |
| Strikeouts | 590 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Tomokazu Ohka (大家 友和,Ōka Tomokazu;IPA:[oːkatomokazɯ]) (born 18 March 1976) is aJapanese former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBoston Red Sox (1999–2001),Montreal Expos /Washington Nationals (2001–2005),Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006),Toronto Blue Jays (2007),Cleveland Indians (2009), in Japan'sBaseball Challenge League for the Fukushima Hopes, and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theYokohama BayStars. He throwsright-handed and is aswitch hitter.
On November 20, 1998, Ohka's contract was purchased by theBoston Red Sox from theYokohama BayStars (Japan'sCentral League). Ohka's statistics in Japan were less than flattering, but his ability to control his pitches sparked the interest of the Red Sox.[citation needed]
In 1999, Ohka began his North America professional career with theDouble-A affiliate of theBoston Red Sox, theTrenton Thunder. In 12 starts he went 8–0 with a 3.00earned run average (ERA). He was promoted to theTriple-APawtucket Red Sox where he had a 1.92 ERA and a 7–0 record. On July 19, 1999, he made his major league debut.
Ohka found himself in the minors again in 2000. That season with Pawtucket, he went 9–6 in 19 starts with a 2.96 ERA, with threecomplete games. He pitched aperfect game on June 1, 2000, defeating theCharlotte Knights, 2–0, atMcCoy Stadium, needing just 76 pitches to retire all 27 Charlotte batters.[1]
In both 1999 and 2000, The Red Sox named Ohka their minor league player of the year. He was in theAll-Star Futures Game in 1999 and 2000, and in 2000 he was theTriple-A All-Star Game starting pitcher.
Ohka became the first player from Japan to play for the Red Sox when he debuted in 1999. During the middle of the 2001 season, Ohka was sent to Montreal for the veterancloserUgueth Urbina. Ohka had a mildly successful run with the Expos. His most productive season came with the Expos in2002, when he posted 13–8 with 118 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA.
In June 2004, Ohka's right forearm was broken when he was hit by a line drive off the bat ofCarlos Beltrán inKansas City. Ohka underwent major surgery and was out until mid-September. He finished 3–7 with a 3.40 ERA in 15 starts.
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As the Expos moved toWashington, D.C. for the 2005 season, Ohka was part of a starting rotation that includedLiván Hernández,Esteban Loaiza andTony Armas Jr. Ohka was involved in an incident with Washington managerFrank Robinson. Ohka protested being removed from a game, a move which resulted in an undisclosed fine from the team.[2] On June 10, 2005, the Washington Nationals traded Ohka to the Milwaukee Brewers forsecond basemanJunior Spivey. In Ohka's first game with his new club on June 14, he threw a shutout against theTampa Bay Devil Rays duringinterleague play.
On January 23, 2007, the right-hander reached a tentative agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year contract. The agreement was made official on January 25, 2007, and the contract was announced to be worth $1,500,000. Ohka could earn an additional $1,500,000 in incentives. Incentives are usually based uponinnings pitched or game appearances.
On June 7, after compiling a 2–5 record in 10 starts, the Toronto Blue Jays designated Ohka for assignment and subsequently released him on June 18. On June 19, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with theSt. Louis Cardinals. He was released by the Cardinals on July 3, 2007, after going 0–2 with a 6.87 ERA in 3 starts for their Triple A team, theMemphis Redbirds. Ohka then signed a minor league contract on July 13, 2007, with theSeattle Mariners.
Ohka was released by Seattle on August 5, 2007, after going 0–3 with a 10.32 ERA in four outings, allowing 26 runs in22+2⁄3 innings with theTacoma Rainiers, Seattle's AAA affiliate.
On February 21, 2008, Ohka signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox, but did not play in the major leagues that year. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
In an eight-year career, Ohka has compiled a 48–57 record with 538strikeouts and a 4.04ERA in 943innings.
On December 5, 2008, Ohka signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians with an invitation to Spring Training.[3] On March 15, he was reassigned to the minor league camp.[4] He was called up to the majors on May 30. He became a free agent following the season.
On April 6, 2010, Ohka signed a contract with his former team, theYokohama BayStars in Japan. He pitched for them through 2011.
In 2013, he reinvented himself as aknuckleball pitcher and played for theToyama Thunderbirds of theBaseball Challenge League.[5]
Ohka signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays on December 11, 2013.[6] He was a non-roster invitee to spring training, but was reassigned to minor-league camp on March 2, 2014, without making an appearance.[7] He was released by the Blue Jays at the end of spring training.[8]
On April 30, 2014, Ohka signed with theBridgeport Bluefish of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[9] In 26 starts for Bridgeport, he compiled a 7-12 record and 5.15 ERA with 49 strikeouts across157+1⁄3 innings pitched. Ohka became a free agent following the season.
Ohka returned to Japan and played with theToyama Thunderbirds andFukushima Hope of the semi-proBaseball Challenge League for the 2015 season.
On December 15, 2016, theBaltimore Orioles signed Ohka to a minor league contract.[10] He was released on April 1, 2017, as the Orioles' spring training came to a close.[11]
· Baseball Almanac