| Masahiro Tanaka 田中 将大 | |
|---|---|
 Tanaka with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |
| Yomiuri Giants – No. 11 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1988-11-01)November 1, 1988 (age 37) 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 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 122–72 |
| Earned run average | 2.73 |
| Strikeouts | 1,601 |
| Saves | 3 |
| MLB statistics (through 2020 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 78–46 |
| Earned run average | 3.74 |
| Strikeouts | 991 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Medals | |
| 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 professionalbaseballpitcher for theYomiuri Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for theTohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees.
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 theNew York Yankees inMajor 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 has said that he decided to return to Japan partly due to anti-Asian racism in the United States during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Tanaka was the Eagles' first-round pick in the2006 NPB amateur player draft. From 2012 to 2013, he won 26 consecutivedecisions, which set a new NPB record.[3] In MLB, Tanaka was the Yankees'Opening Day starter for four seasons and was twice named anAll-Star.
Tanaka was born inItami, a city inHyōgo, Japan. He began playingbaseball in thefirst grade as acatcher for the Koyanosato Tigers (aLittle League team) alongside currentYomiuri GiantsshortstopHayato Sakamoto, who was then the team's acepitcher and Tanaka'sbatterymate.[4] Tanaka and Sakamoto hit third andfourth in thelineup, respectively.[4] He went on to play for theTakarazuka Boys while attending Itami Municipal MatsuzakiJunior High School, being used at both pitcher and catcher because of his strong throwing arm.[4] He was chosen to the Junior All-SouthKansai team in his third year of junior high—the equivalent ofninth grade in the United States.[4]
Tanaka moved on toKomazawa University Tomakomai High School inHokkaidō, now playing solely as a pitcher for the team. Armed with afastball that sat in high-80s and a hardslider, he led his team all the way to a championship in the 87th National High School Baseball tournament held atKoshien Stadium in the summer of his second year (eleventh grade).[5] His very last pitch of the tournament was clocked at 150 km/h (93 mph), the first time a pitcher had ever clocked that speed as a junior in the history of the tournament.[citation needed] Tanaka, already a highly coveted talent by NPB scouts, was chosen to theJapanese team that would play in theIBAF AAA World Junior Championships following the tournament and contributed to the team's title.[citation needed]
Now given the uniform number 1 and officially appointed the team's ace pitcher,[citation needed] Tanaka led Tomakomai High to a regional title as well as a championship in theMeiji Jingu Tournament thatfall,hittinghome runs in four straight games in the latter himself. While his team was viewed as the favorite[by whom?] going into the 78thNational High School Baseball Invitational Tournament to be held the followingspring, Tomakomai High was forced to withdraw from the tournament because of allegations of misconduct of some of the players.[citation needed]
Tomakomai High earned a berth in the 88th National High School Baseball Championship that summer. Tanaka managed to lead them to their third consecutive appearance in thetournament finals[6] despite beingill prior to the tournament.[citation needed] The team'scoach did not start Tanaka in the finals against Waseda Jitsugyo High School (an affiliate school ofWaseda University), opting to rest him due to the number ofinnings he had thrown in the last few games,[citation needed] but he ended up sending Tanaka to the mound inrelief midway through the third inning. Tanaka held Waseda Jitsugyo to just onerun and struck out 10, but the opponent's ace,Yuki Saito, held Tomakomai High to one run himself on sevenhits. The game remained tied 1–1 after 15innings, forcing a rematch as per tournament regulations.[7] It was the first time in 37 years (sinceMatsuyama Commercial High School andMisawa High School met in the finals in 1969) that the tournament finals had resulted in a rematch.[citation needed]
In the rematch that ensued the next day, Tanaka again came on in relief in the bottom of the first, but Tomakomai High lost to Waseda Jitsugyo despite his pitching the remaining 71⁄3 innings of the game. (Tanaka was the last batter,striking out to end the game.) Thepitchers' duel between Tanaka and Saito in the finals and the rematch that followed became one of the most defining moments in all of sports in Japan that year.[citation needed] Tanaka, dealing with intestinal inflammation, threw 742pitches in 522⁄3 innings (six appearances) in the tournament, striking out 54 andwalking 20 with a 2.22earned run average (ERA).[8]
Both pitchers were chosen to play for Japan in the United States-Japan High School Baseball Tournament (organized by the Japanese Educational Resource Center in conjunction with theMajor League Baseball Urban Youth Academy). Tomakomai High and Waseda Jitsugyo High met one last time in the finals of the NojigikuHyōgoNational Sports Festival, the last tournament of Tanaka's high school career, but Tomakomai High wasshut out by Saito and lost (1–0) to Waseda Jitsugyo, finishing second yet again.
Tanaka struck out 458 batters over the course of his high school career (2004–2006), surpassingDaisuke Matsuzaka's previous national high school record of 423 with Yokohama Senior High School. He also hit 13 home runs during those three years.
After rival Yuki Saito announced that he would not be declaring for the upcoming draft, opting to go on to Waseda University instead, Tanaka became the single most highly touted high school player eligible to be picked.[9] On September 25, in the 2006 NPB high school draft, theHokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters,Orix Buffaloes,Yokohama BayStars and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles all selected Tanaka with their first-round picks.[10] The Golden Eagles drew the winning straw, signing him to a basesalary of 15 millionyen, asigning bonus of 100 million yen and additional performance-based incentives, the equivalent of what a first-roundcollege or industrialleague-player would normally receive, on November 2. He was also given the uniform number 18, which typically denotes a team's staff ace in Japanese professionalbaseball.[citation needed]
Tanaka was named to the Eagles'ichigun (Japanese equivalent of "major league") roster during Spring training of hisrookie year, and made his professional debut on March 29,2007, against theFukuoka SoftBank Hawks as the starting pitcher, but gave up six runs on six hits and a walk in 12⁄3 innings. Though he was not charged with aloss, as the Eagles made a furious comeback to tie the game up in the fourth, he was seen sitting in thedugout in tears after being taken out of the game.[citation needed]
On April 18, in ahome game against the Hawks, he held the team to two runs and struck out 13 in acomplete gamewin,[11] the first win of his professional career. He became the first pitcher sinceYu Darvish to throw a complete-game shutout as a rookie out of high school on June 13 in an interleague game against theChunichi Dragons.[12] He also became the first pitcher sinceDaisuke Matsuzaka in 1999 to be voted the starter of the NPBAll-Star Game (representing thePacific League) as a rookie out of high school,[13] starting in Game 2 on July 22 and clocking a personal-high 153 km/h (95 mph) (though he gave up six runs in two innings in that start).
On July 10, Tanaka recorded his 100th strikeout of theseason in just 962⁄3 innings, tying the record for the fastest to reach 100 career strikeouts (in innings) held by formerHanshin Tigers pitcherYutaka Enatsu.[citation needed] He became the first pitcher to record double-digit wins in Eaglesfranchise history (and the first to do so as a rookie out of high school in Japanese professional baseball since Matsuzaka) in a win against theSaitama Seibu Lions on August 31.[citation needed]
Tanaka finished the year with an 11–7record and a 3.82 ERA, faring particularly well against the Hawks (5–0 in six starts).[14] His 196 strikeouts were the second-most by any pitcher in either league (Pacific orCentral) and the fourth-most as a rookie out of high school in Japanese professional baseball history. He was named the Pacific LeagueMost Valuable Rookie, the first player out of high school to win the award since Matsuzaka.[15]
In2008, Tanaka was penciled into the front end of the Eagles' starting rotation for the second straight season.[16][17] He earned his first career win atSapporo Dome, located in his former home of Hokkaido, in a win against the Fighters on May 4, drawing cheers from the crowd despite pitching for the away team. He came on in relief for the first time in his career in an interleague game against theHiroshima Carp on June 22, recording his first careersave.[18]
Tanaka was able to make only 24 starts (as opposed to 28 in his rookie season), missing playing time because of both a brief rehab stint in theminors due to inflammation in his shoulder[19] and his participation in the2008 Beijing Olympics as a member of the Japanese national team. He entered the last game of the regular season against theFukuoka SoftBank Hawks with nine wins, looking to both earn his tenth win of the season and prevent the Eagles from finishing in last place. While he held the Hawks to no runs over nine innings, Hawks starterToshiya Sugiuchi equaled his performance and Tanaka fell short of his goal of reaching double-digit wins. The Eagles eventually won in walk-off fashion in the twelfth inning, finishing one game ahead of the Hawks for fifth place in the regular season standings.[20]
Tanaka got off to an utterly dominant start to the2009 season, pitching a four-hit complete-game shutout against the Hawks in his first start on April 7,[21] a one-run complete game win against theChiba Lotte Marines on April 14[22] (his first career win against the Marines, the only other Pacific League team he had yet to record a win against), a three-hit complete-game shutout against the Marines on April 22,[23] and an 11-strikeout, one-run complete game win against the Fighters on April 29. The fourth win marked the 1500th of EaglesmanagerKatsuya Nomura's career[24] and made Tanaka the first pitcher to start the season with four consecutive complete game wins sinceSatoru Komiyama (then with the Marines) andShigetoshi Hasegawa (Orix BlueWave) both accomplished the feat in 1993. However, though he went 4–0 with a 0.50 ERA for the month of April, striking out 37 and allowing just 24baserunners in 36 innings and winning Pacific League monthlyMost Valuable Player honors for the first time in his career, he was removed from the active roster on April 30 with a minor shoulderstrain as a result offatigue. He returned to the team on May 13, pitching seven innings of three run-ball against the Fighters for his fifth straight win to start the season.[25]
On September 13, 2013, Tanaka set a new NPB record with his 21st consecutive win in the 2013 season in a 6–2complete game victory over the Orix Buffaloes at home inSendai atKleenex Stadium. This victory was Tanaka's 25th consecutive win, including his final four starts in 2012. It also eclipsed the longest consecutive winning streak for MLB pitchers, set at 24 byCarl Hubbell in the1936 and1937 seasons.[26] On September 26, 2013, Tanaka relieved toclose the last2⁄3 inning. With a one run lead, he sealed the victory and the Eagles' first Pacific League title.[27] It was his first appearance as a closer in the 2013 season.
He ended the regular season with a 24–0 record and 1.27 ERA, tops in both leagues. He also became the second post-war starting pitcher with an undefeated season with minimum innings required for an ERA title sinceShigekuni Mashiba.
Tanaka went on to win his second Sawamura Award as the Golden Eagles competed for their first Japan Series title.[28] Taking postseason games into account, his 2013 record was 30–1. The lone loss came in Game 6 of the2013 Japan Series, a 160-pitch complete game, and he avenged that loss as he picked up the save in the decisive Game 7.
Tanaka was repeatedly scouted by MLB representatives during the 2013 season. Through the revisedposting system, Rakuten posted Tanaka to MLB during the 2013–14 offseason at a fee of $20 million. On December 26, 2013, all 30 MLB teams were notified that the 30-day period to sign the 25-year-old right-hander began at 8 a.m. EST. Clubs had until 5 p.m. EST on January 24, 2014, to reach an agreement with Tanaka, who was represented by agentCasey Close.[29][30]
During the month-long period following Tanaka's posting, teams reported to be serious suitors included theNew York Yankees,Los Angeles Dodgers,Chicago Cubs,Chicago White Sox,Arizona Diamondbacks, andHouston Astros.[31] On January 22, 2014, Tanaka signed a seven-year contract worth $155 million with the Yankees. The contract contained an opt-out clause after the fourth year and a full no-trade clause.[32]
Tanaka made his Major League debut on April 4, 2014, against theToronto Blue Jays and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, ex-YankeeMelky Cabrera. Tanaka would receive his first MLB win in the game, pitching seven innings with eight strikeouts in the Yankees 7–3 win against the Blue Jays. Tanaka made his first Yankees home start on April 9, against theBaltimore Orioles where he struck out ten batters in seven innings but received a no-decision as the Yankees lost the game 5–4. During an interleague game against the New York Mets on May 14, Tanaka recorded his first major league hit off ofJosé Valverde and pitched his first complete game in the majors as the Yankees shut out the Mets 4–0. Tanaka began his American career with a 6–0 record before he received his first loss in MLB on May 20, as the Yankees lost to the Chicago Cubs 6–1; it was his first loss in any professional baseball league since August 19, 2012.
In June, Tanaka recorded his 100th strikeout of the season in a complete game against theSeattle Mariners; his bid for a shutout was ended when former YankeeRobinson Canó hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning. Tanaka began the year with an 11–1 record and a 1.99 ERA in his first 14 starts while striking out 113 batters in 99 innings.[33] He became the first Yankees rookie to win 12 games by the All-Star break and was selected to theMajor League Baseball All-Star Game as a reserve for theAmerican League.[34][35] He and teammateDellin Betances were the first Yankees rookie pitchers to earn an All-Star Game nod sinceSpec Shea in 1947.[36]
Following a loss to theCleveland Indians on July 8, 2014, in which he gave up five runs in6+2⁄3 innings, Tanaka began to experience discomfort in his right arm. The next day, Tanaka was placed on thedisabled list due to right elbow inflammation.[37] He had compiled a 12–4 record with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts and was forced to withdraw from the All-Star Game as a result of the injury. An MRI revealed that his elbow had a partially torn UCL. At the behest of several doctors, Tanaka received a PRP shot from Yankees' head team physicianDr. Christopher Ahmad[38] and rested his elbow for 6 weeks instead of havingTommy John surgery to repair his UCL. Tanaka returned on September 21 against the Blue Jays, receiving his 13th win of the season in the Yankees' 5–2 victory over the Blue Jays. He would only pitch one more time during the 2014 season, a loss to theBoston Red Sox in which he gave up seven runs (five earned) in1+2⁄3 innings.[39] In the 20 starts of his first major league season in 2014, Tanaka posted a 2.77 ERA with 141 strikeouts in136+1⁄3 innings and a 13–5 record.
After his 2014 season, there was much speculation by sports media and fans that Tanaka should have undergone surgery rather than follow his doctors' suggestions and rehab the injury. This was mostly due to the belief that he would need to get the surgery despite the rehab program.[40]
Tanaka was chosen byJoe Girardi to be the Opening Day starter for the Yankees. He made the Opening Day start on April 6, 2015, against the Blue Jays, surrendering five runs in the third inning, including a home run byEdwin Encarnación, as the Yankees lost. On April 28, Tanaka was placed on the disabled list with forearm and wrist soreness; he had gone 2–1 with a 3.22 ERA in four starts. The injury combined with his poor first outing led many in the sports media to speculate that Tanaka should undergoTommy John surgery against the wishes of his doctors.[41][42][43] After missing a month, he returned on June 3 against theSeattle Mariners, where he pitched seven innings with nine strikeouts as the Yankees won 3–1.[44] In a June 27 start against the Houston Astros, Tanaka gave up a career-high six earned runs.[45]
Tanaka was diagnosed with a Grade 1hamstring strain on September 20, sustaining the injury during an interleague game against theNew York Mets when running to first base after a bunt attempt. He would miss his next start.[46]
Tanaka's season ended with a 3–0 loss to theHouston Astros in theAmerican League Wild Card game, in which he pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs.[47] In 24 starts, Tanaka went 12–7 with a 3.51 ERA in 154 innings, posting aWHIP of only 0.994, the lowest amongst all American League starters with at least 150 innings pitched. One area of struggle for Tanaka in 2015 was the home run: he gave up 25 of them.
Tanaka was named the Yankees' Opening Day starter in 2016 for the second consecutive season.[48] He received a no-decision against theHouston Astros, giving up two runs in5+2⁄3 innings. On April 17, Tanaka faced his former Rakuten teammateHisashi Iwakuma of the Seattle Mariners for the first time in the United States, the first time in MLB history that two former Japanese teammates pitched against each other. Tanaka earned the win, allowing two earned runs in seven innings and striking out six, while Iwakuma took the loss.[49] In his first eight starts, Tanaka compiled a 1–0 record, receiving seven no-decisions, including eight shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles on May 5.[50] Tanaka tied his career high by giving up six earned runs in six innings in a June 29 start against theTexas Rangers.[51] On July 10, Tanaka pitched his shortest start of the season, lasting only4+2⁄3 innings in a no-decision against the Cleveland Indians.[50] Prior to the All-Star Break, Tanaka went 6–2 with a 3.23 ERA in 18 starts, pitching 117 innings and striking out 93.[52]
Tanaka started in theSubway Series for the third straight season, losing to the Mets on August 2 by giving up seven runs (six earned) in6+1⁄3 innings.[53] It would be his final loss of 2016, as Tanaka would finish the season strong and end the year by winning seven consecutive decisions in his last ten starts. Tanaka faced Iwakuma again on August 24, throwing seven shutout innings as Tanaka received the win and Iwakuma received the loss again in their second meeting.[54] On September 10, Tanaka struck out a season-high 10 batters in7+1⁄3 innings against theTampa Bay Rays.[55] In his next start, Tanaka pitched seven innings of one-run baseball against theBoston Red Sox, lowering his ERA to 2.97, the best in the American League.[56] After a win against the Rays on September 21 in which he allowed four home runs, Tanaka was diagnosed with a flexor mass strain and was shut down for five days.[57] After the strain healed, it was announced that Tanaka would not pitch in his final scheduled start of the season as the Yankees were already eliminated from postseason contention and the team felt it was not necessary to risk Tanaka's health in a meaningless game.[58] In the second half of 2016, Tanaka pitched to an 8–2 record and a 2.83 ERA in 13 games, throwing82+2⁄3 innings and striking out 72.[52]
In 2016, Tanaka made a career-high 31 starts and avoided adisabled list stint for the first time in his MLB career. He finished the year pitching199+2⁄3 innings with a 14–4 record, 165 strikeouts and a 3.07 ERA, the third-best in the American League. Tanaka set career-highs in innings pitched, wins, strikeouts andWAR (Wins Above Replacement) (he finished the year with 5.4 WAR, the third most of any pitcher in the league). He finished tied for seventh in the voting for the American LeagueCy Young withAaron Sanchez.[59]
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On February 14, 2017, Girardi named Tanaka the Opening Day starter for the third season in a row.[60] Tanaka was dominant inSpring Training, allowing only one earned run in23+2⁄3 innings for a 0.38 ERA.[61] Making the Opening Day start against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 2, Tanaka lasted only2+2⁄3 innings, allowing a career-high seven earned runs as the Yankees lost by a score of 7–3.[62] Tanaka's season started slowly until pitching a complete-game shutout against the Red Sox on April 27, the second of his career.[63] Tanaka's shutout was notable in that he only threw 97 pitches, pitching what is colloquially referred to as a "Maddux" (a complete-game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches), the first by any pitcher in the 2017 season.[64] Tanaka allowed more than three earned runs only once in the six starts after his Opening Day debacle, lowering his ERA to 4.36 by May 8.[65]
Tanaka was scheduled to start in Game 2 of the May 14 doubleheader against theHouston Astros, notable for being the same game in whichDerek Jeter would have his number retired in a pregame ceremony.[66] Tanaka would give up a career-high eight earned runs in1+2⁄3 innings, allowing four home runs.[67] Critics blasted Tanaka for "ruining" what was supposed to be a special night for Jeter and the Yankees.[68] In his next start, he allowed six runs in three innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up three home runs in the process.[69][70] Tanaka appeared to improve in a May 25 start against theOakland Athletics, as he struck out a career-high 13 batters.[71] However, he would allow seven runs to theBaltimore Orioles and five runs to theBoston Red Sox in his next two starts, both losses, leaving his record at 5–7 and his ERA at 6.55 by June 6.[65] Tanaka rebounded against theLos Angeles Angels in a no-decision but then faltered again versus theOakland Athletics, as he gave up three more home runs en route to his sixth consecutive loss.[72]
Baseball analysts attempted to uncover the root cause of Tanaka's sudden struggles, which were surprising given his excellent 2016 and his reputation as the Yankees' ace since 2014.[73] Critics pointed to a "flat" slider, missing badly on several pitches and getting buried in favorable hitters' counts. Some raised concerns that he was playing injured and needed Tommy John surgery; however, the Yankees (and Tanaka himself) insisted that Tanaka was at full health.[73] Key to Tanaka's struggles was the home run ball, as he allowed 21 home runs in the first76+2⁄3 innings of the season, compared to allowing only 22 home runs in the entire 2016 season.[65] On June 23, Tanaka started against fellow Japanese pitcherYu Darvish for the first time in the United States, outdueling him by throwing eight shutout innings and striking out nine in a no-decision.[74]
Against the Rays on July 28, Tanaka set a new career-high by striking out 14 batters. Tanaka took a perfect game into the sixth inning and allowed only one run on two hits in eight innings pitched.[75] On August 12, Tanaka was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right shoulder inflammation.[76] He missed only one start. On August 27, Tanaka earned his tenth win of the season against the Seattle Mariners, making him the first Japanese pitcher in MLB history to have double-digit wins in all of his first four seasons.[77] On September 29 against the Blue Jays, his final start of the regular season, Tanaka again set a new career-high by striking out 15 batters, tied withStephen Strasburg for the most single-game strikeouts in 2017.[78] In 30 starts of 2017, he finished the year with a 13–12 record, a 4.74 ERA, 194 strikeouts, and 35 home runs allowed in178+1⁄3 innings pitched.
In the postseason, Tanaka earned the win in Game 3 of the2017 American League Division Series against the Indians after throwing seven shutout innings.[79] He started Game 1 of the2017 American League Championship Series againstDallas Keuchel and the Astros in a rematch of the 2015 AL Wild Card Game, taking the loss after allowing two runs in six innings.[80] However, he faced Keuchel again in Game 5, this time earning the win as he pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight to help the Yankees take a 3–2 series lead.[81]
On November 3, Tanaka announced that he would not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, instead staying with the Yankees for the remaining three years and $67 million left on his original deal.[82]
Tanaka's first start of 2018 went smoothly as he retired 13 batters in a row, struck out eight, and allowed one run, which was a solo homer byRandal Grichuk in 6+ innings as the Yankees won 4–2.[83] While playing atCiti Field against the Mets on June 8, Tanaka scored his first career run after a sacrifice fly fromAaron Judge, but shortly after, he left the game after his hamstrings grew stiff. The next day, on June 9, Tanaka wound up on the 10-day disabled list due to mild strains in both hamstrings. In a short time after his return from the DL, he pitched a complete-game shutout in a 4–0 win over the Rays.[84]
Due toLuis Severino's rotator cuff injury, the Yankees tapped Tanaka for his fourth Opening Day start on March 28, 2019.[85] The start gave him the record for most Opening Day starts by a Japanese pitcher with four, passingHideo Nomo. Tanaka would pitch5+2⁄3 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs while striking out 5 in the Yankees 7–2 win vs the Orioles. This was Tanaka's first opening day victory.[86] On 17 June Tanaka threw a complete game two-hit shutout and made 10 strikeouts in the Yankees’ 3–0 victory against Rays on Monday evening at Yankee Stadium.[87] On June 29, against the Red Sox atLondon Stadium, Tanaka allowed 6 runs in the first inning, and was lifted after 2 outs. It was the first time in his career that he could not complete an inning while starting, but nevertheless, the Yankees won 17–13.[88] On July 6, Tanaka was named to the2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as an injury replacement forToronto Blue Jays pitcherMarcus Stroman.[89]
July 25 against the Red Sox turned out to be Tanaka's worst outing in professional baseball, as he allowed 7 runs in the first inning and 5 more in the third inning, bringing his total to 12 runs, the most he allowed in a single start, while only retiring 10 hitters (4 strikeouts). It was also the most earned runs allowed by a Yankees pitcher since 1923.[90]
Tanaka allowed one run over five innings in the2019 ALDS. In Game 1 of the2019 ALCS, Tanaka allowed one hit over six innings against the Astros.[91] On October 24, Tanaka underwent right elbow surgery to remove bone spurs.
On July 4, 2020, in a Yankees simulated game, Tanaka was struck in the head by a line drive off of the bat ofGiancarlo Stanton and suffered a mild concussion.[92] Despite this, Tanaka was able to make his first start on August 1 against the Red Sox, where he went2+2⁄3 innings, giving up two runs, and striking out 3. The Yankees won 5–2.[93] Tanaka finished the year with a 3–3 record and 3.56 ERA in 10 appearances.
After the 2020 season, Tanaka decided to leave the MLB to return to Japan. Tanaka has said that he decided to return to Japan partly due to anti-Asian racism in the United States during theCOVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, he feared for the safety of his wife and children. He said his child who was in kindergarten at the time faced a negative incident, but did not disclose specific details to the media. In March 2021, months after Tanaka had already returned to Japan, Yankees General ManagerBrian Cashman commented: "(It is) heartbreaking to hear any of these stories that come out. We need to, as a society, do a better job to make sure that (racism) is unwelcomed in any walk of life."[2]
On January 28, 2021, Tanaka agreed to a two-year contract to return to theTohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ofNippon Professional Baseball. The deal was worth 900 million yen ($8.6 million) a year with additional incentives, making him the highest-paid player in NPB history.[94] His uniform number is 18.[95]
On January 7, 2023, Tanaka re-signed with Rakuten on a one-year contract. In 24 games, he posted a 7–11 record and 4.91 ERA with 81 strikeouts in139+1⁄3 innings. Following the season, on October 31, Tanaka underwent a right-elbow cleanup surgery.[96]
Tanaka made one appearance for Rakuten in 2024, taking the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in five innings of work. On November 24, 2024, Tanaka and the Eagles parted ways.[97]
On December 15, 2024, Tanaka signed with theYomiuri Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball.[98] On September 30, 2025, he achieved his third win of the season and his 200th career win in the US and Japan combined.[99]
Tanaka was the only player to be chosen to the national team to play in the2008 Beijing Olympics from the Eagles, becoming the youngest Japanese baseball player to play in theOlympics as a pro in the history of the event. He pitched in relief in Japan's first game againstCuba in thegroup stage, throwing one scoreless inning and striking out three. While Tanaka saw limited playing time as amiddle reliever for the team, he recorded a 0.00 ERA and the higheststrikeout rate of any pitcher on the team.[100]
He also played for Japan in the2009 World Baseball Classic, coming on in relief forSatoshi Komatsu midway through the sixth inning of theseeding match againstSouth Korea in thesecond round but surrendering a home run toLee Bum-Ho (Japan won 6–2). He pitched in thesemi-finals against the United States, giving up atriple toJimmy Rollins but striking outDavid Wright to end the inning, contributing to Japan's second consecutive championship in the tournament.
Tanaka was highly expected to be the staff ace of Team Japan in the2013 WBC, but poor form in the build-up to the tournament led to concern over his performance.[101] He started the pool opener against Brazil and conceded an unearned run. He came on as a reliever against Cuba and again conceded a run, before appearing to return to his usual form by striking out 6 batters in 2 innings. Tanaka again came on as a reliever against Chinese Taipei and had 2 good innings, shutting out the side with 4 strike outs, before conceding the equalizer in his third inning at the bottom of the 8th. Up to that point, Tanaka's inconsistency produced anERA of 3.00, allowing 10 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings while striking out 10.[102]
Tanaka is a right-handed pitcher who throws from a high three-quarter arm slot in a drop-and-drive motion. He throws two fastballs (four-seam, two-seam) usually in the low-90s that top out at 97 mph. He also has a plus 84–88 mphsplitter with late downward action, a solidslider in the low to mid-80s, and an occasionalcurveball.[103][104][105] Tanaka has added a high-80scutter to repertoire in his MLB career.[106] Post-UCL (elbow) injury, Tanaka has taken time to recover his fastball velocity, and he currently favors a two-seamer over the four-seam fastball he used to favor.[107] He also has excellent command, posting a BB/9 (walks per nine innings rate) of 1.8 and a K/BB (strikeout to walk ratio) of 4.76 in his MLB career.
Tanaka is often affectionately referred to asMā-kun (マー君,Mā-kun) by both fans and the media.[108][109] The nickname stuck after Tanaka and Saito told the media that that was what Tanaka was called on the team during the U.S.-Japan High School Baseball Tournament that followed the national tournament in 2006. Eagles manager Katsuya Nomura also often refers to Tanaka as "Mā-kun" in interviews. While older players on the team generally call Tanaka by his surname, some call him by the abbreviated nickname "Mā".[citation needed] While on the Yankees, Tanaka wore the nickname "Masa" on his jersey duringPlayers Weekend in 2017.
Tanaka has stated that he is an avid fan ofMomoiro Clover Z, a popular femaleidol group in Japan.[110][111] He has attended the group's concerts multiple times.[112] When practicing he wears custom-made multicolored gloves in the five Momoiro Clover Z member colors (pictured)[113] and he plays official games in gloves embroidered with a clover leaf.[114] When his baseball team presented its fan club members with "cheering goods", the towel saying "Tanaka" used the same five colors.[115] During the game in which he set a new Japanese professional baseball record of 16 consecutive victories in one season, cheer banners of the same color scheme were distributed among the spectators.[116]
He has used the group's songs as his "warm-up song" (music that is played at a baseball game when a pitcher appears on the field and does his warm-up routine).[117] After he joined Yankees, his warm-up song at home games is "My Dear Fellow" by Momoiro Clover Z. This song was specially made for Tanaka and unveiled when he debuted at Yankee Stadium, before it was released in Japan.[118]New York Post said that:
for when the rookie threw his warmup pitches, he did so to the accompaniment of a Japanese pop song — a tune unlike any other ever played here … Who else arrives in town with customized musical accompaniment?[119]
WhileNJ.com, said:
Like Tanaka, the act is a Japanese sensation. And like Momoiro Clover Z, Tanaka made his presence vociferously known in the Bronx."[120]
On 29 January 2020, Tanaka announced on hisTwitter feed that he had created aYouTube channel.[121] In his video, Tanaka stated he would be uploading videos featuring him and his daily life.[122]
Tanaka is married toMai Satoda, former member and former supervisor of the idol groupCountry Musume and television personality. The wedding ceremony was held inHawaii in December 2012.[123] Tanaka's wife gave birth to a boy on February 15, 2016. Satoda is also a fan of Momoiro Clover Z.[124]
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