Former Players
| Name | Position | MLB Debut | Final MLB Game | Former MLB Team(s) | Current League | Current Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murakami, MasanoriMasanori Murakami | P | 01964-09-01September 1, 1964 | 01965-10-01October 1, 1965 | San Francisco Giants (1964–1965) | Retired | — | |
| Nomo, HideoHideo Nomo | P | 01995-05-02May 2, 1995 | 02008-04-18April 18, 2008 | Los Angeles Dodgers (1995–1998, 2002–2004) New York Mets (1998) Milwaukee Brewers (1999) Detroit Tigers (2000) Boston Red Sox (2001) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005) Kansas City Royals (2008) |
Retired | — | |
| Suzuki, MacMac Suzuki§ | P | 01996-07-07July 7, 1996 | 02002-06-28June 28, 2002 | Seattle Mariners (1996, 1998–1999) Kansas City Royals (1999–2001, 2002) Colorado Rockies (2001) Milwaukee Brewers (2001) |
Free agent | — | |
| Hasegawa, ShigetoshiShigetoshi Hasegawa | P | 01997-04-05April 5, 1997 | 02005-09-28September 28, 2005 | Anaheim Angels (1997–2001) Seattle Mariners (2002–2005) |
Retired | — | |
| Kashiwada, TakashiTakashi Kashiwada | P | 01997-05-01May 1, 1997 | 01997-09-18September 18, 1997 | New York Mets (1997) | Retired | — | |
| Irabu, HidekiHideki Irabu | P | 01997-07-10July 10, 1997 | 02002-07-12July 12, 2002 | New York Yankees (1997–1999) Montreal Expos (2000–2001) Texas Rangers (2002) |
Deceased | — | |
| Yoshii, MasatoMasato Yoshii | P | 01998-04-05April 5, 1998 | 02002-09-11September 11, 2002 | New York Mets (1998–1999) Colorado Rockies (2000) Montreal Expos (2001–2002) |
Retired | — | |
| Kida, MasaoMasao Kida | P | 01999-04-05April 5, 1999 | 02005-08-03August 3, 2005 | Detroit Tigers (1999–2000) Los Angeles Dodgers (2003–2004) Seattle Mariners (2004–2005) |
Free agent | — | |
| Ohka, TomokazuTomokazu Ohka | P | 01999-07-19July 19, 1999 | 02009-10-04October 4, 2009 | Boston Red Sox (1999–2001) Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2001–2005) Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006) Toronto Blue Jays (2007) Cleveland Indians (2009) |
Free agent | — | |
| Sasaki, KazuhiroKazuhiro Sasaki | P | 02000-04-05April 5, 2000 | 02003-09-28September 28, 2003 | Seattle Mariners (2000–2003) | Retired | — | |
| Suzuki, IchiroIchiro Suzuki* | RF | 02001-04-02April 2, 2001 | 02012-10-03October 3, 2012 | Seattle Mariners (2001–2012) New York Yankees (2012) |
Free agent | — | |
| Shinjo, TsuyoshiTsuyoshi Shinjo | OF | 02001-04-03April 3, 2001 | 02003-06-27June 27, 2003 | New York Mets (2001, 2003) San Francisco Giants (2002) |
Retired | — | |
| Nomura, TakahitoTakahito Nomura | P | 02002-04-03April 3, 2002 | 02002-05-15May 15, 2002 | Milwaukee Brewers (2002) | Retired | — | |
| Komiyama, SatoruSatoru Komiyama | P | 02002-04-04April 4, 2002 | 02002-09-11September 11, 2002 | New York Mets (2002) | Retired | — | |
| Ishii, KazuhisaKazuhisa Ishii* | P | 02002-04-06April 6, 2002 | 02005-09-28September 28, 2005 | Los Angeles Dodgers (2002–2004) New York Mets (2005) |
NPB | Saitama Seibu Lions | |
| Taguchi, SoSo Taguchi | OF | 02002-06-10June 10, 2002 | 02009-10-04October 4, 2009 | St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2007) Philadelphia Phillies (2008) Chicago Cubs (2009) |
Retired | — | |
| Matsui, HidekiHideki Matsui | LF/DH | 02003-03-31March 31, 2003 | 02012-07-22July 22, 2012 | New York Yankees (2003–2009) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2010) Oakland Athletics (2011) Tampa Bay Rays (2012) |
Free agent | — | |
| Nakamura, MichealMicheal Nakamura§ | P | 02003-06-07June 7, 2003 | 02004-07-31July 31, 2004 | Minnesota Twins (2003) Toronto Blue Jays (2004) |
Retired | — | |
| Matsui, KazuoKazuo Matsui | SS/2B | 02004-04-06April 6, 2004 | 02010-05-18May 18, 2010 | New York Mets (2004–2006) Colorado Rockies (2006–2007) Houston Astros (2008–2010) |
NPB | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |
| Otsuka, AkinoriAkinori Otsuka* | P | 02004-04-06April 6, 2004 | 02007-07-01July 1, 2007 | San Diego Padres (2004–2005) Texas Rangers (2006–2007) |
Free agent | — | |
| Takatsu, ShingoShingo Takatsu | P | 02004-04-09April 9, 2004 | 02005-10-02October 2, 2005 | Chicago White Sox (2004–2005) New York Mets (2005) |
Retired | — | |
| Tadano, KazuhitoKazuhito Tadano§ | P | 02004-04-27April 27, 2004 | 02005-07-16July 16, 2005 | Cleveland Indians (2004–2005) | NPB | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| Iguchi, TadahitoTadahito Iguchi | 2B | 02005-04-04April 4, 2005 | 02008-09-28September 28, 2008 | Chicago White Sox (2005–2007) Philadelphia Phillies (2007, 2008) San Diego Padres (2008) |
NPB | Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| Yabu, KeiichiKeiichi Yabu | P | 02005-04-09April 9, 2005 | 02008-09-27September 27, 2008 | Oakland Athletics (2005) San Francisco Giants (2008) |
Retired | — | |
| Nakamura, NorihiroNorihiro Nakamura* | 3B | 02005-04-10April 10, 2005 | 02005-05-06May 6, 2005 | Los Angeles Dodgers (2005) | NPB | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |
| Johjima, KenjiKenji Johjima | C | 02006-04-03April 3, 2006 | 02009-10-03October 3, 2009 | Seattle Mariners (2006–2009) | Retired | — | |
| Saito, TakashiTakashi Saito | P | 02006-04-09April 9, 2006 | 02012-09-30September 30, 2012 | Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2008) Boston Red Sox (2009) Atlanta Braves (2010) Milwaukee Brewers (2011) Arizona Diamondbacks (2012) |
Free agent | — | |
| Okajima, HidekiHideki Okajima | P | 02007-04-02April 2, 2007 | 02011-05-09May 9, 2011 | Boston Red Sox (2007–2011) | NPB | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Iwamura, AkinoriAkinori Iwamura* | 2B | 02007-04-02April 2, 2007 | 02010-09-26September 26, 2010 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays (2007–2009) Pittsburgh Pirates (2010) Oakland Athletics (2010) |
Free agent | — | |
| Matsuzaka, DaisukeDaisuke Matsuzaka* | P | 02007-04-05April 5, 2007 | 02012-10-03October 3, 2012 | Boston Red Sox (2007–2012) | Free agent | — | |
| Igawa, KeiKei Igawa* | P | 02007-04-07April 7, 2007 | 02008-06-27June 27, 2008 | New York Yankees (2007–2008) | NPB | Orix Buffaloes | |
| Kuwata, MasumiMasumi Kuwata | P | 02007-06-10June 10, 2007 | 02007-08-13August 13, 2007 | Pittsburgh Pirates (2007) | Retired | — | |
| Fukudome, KosukeKosuke Fukudome | RF | 02008-03-31March 31, 2008 | 02012-06-03June 3, 2012 | Chicago Cubs (2008–2011) Cleveland Indians (2011) Chicago White Sox (2012) |
Free agent | — | |
| Fukumori, KazuoKazuo Fukumori | P | 02008-03-31March 31, 2008 | 02008-04-24April 24, 2008 | Texas Rangers (2008) | Retired | — | |
| Kobayashi, MasahideMasahide Kobayashi | P | 02008-04-02April 2, 2008 | 02009-05-07May 7, 2009 | Cleveland Indians (2008–2009) | Retired | — | |
| Yabuta, YasuhikoYasuhiko Yabuta | P | 02008-04-05April 5, 2008 | 02009-10-04October 4, 2009 | Kansas City Royals (2008–2009) | NPB | Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| Uehara, KojiKoji Uehara | P | 02009-04-08April 8, 2009 | 02012-10-03October 3, 2012 | Baltimore Orioles (2009–2011) Texas Rangers (2011–2012) |
Free agent | — | |
| Kawakami, KenshinKenshin Kawakami | P | 02009-04-11April 11, 2009 | 02010-09-09September 9, 2010 | Atlanta Braves (2009–2010) | NPB | Chunichi Dragons | |
| Takahashi, KenKen Takahashi | P | 02009-05-02May 2, 2009 | 02009-09-25September 25, 2009 | New York Mets (2009) | Retired | — | |
| Takahashi, HisanoriHisanori Takahashi | P | 02010-04-07April 7, 2010 | 02012-10-03October 3, 2012 | New York Mets (2010) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2011–2012) Pittsburgh Pirates (2012) |
Free agent | — | |
| Igarashi, RyotaRyota Igarashi | P | 02010-04-08April 8, 2010 | 02012-08-12August 12, 2012 | New York Mets (2010–2011) Toronto Blue Jays (2012) New York Yankees (2012) |
NPB | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Nishioka, TsuyoshiTsuyoshi Nishioka* | 2B | 02011-04-01April 1, 2011 | 02012-08-08August 8, 2012 | Minnesota Twins (2011–2012) | NPB | Hanshin Tigers | |
| Tateyama, YoshinoriYoshinori Tateyama | P | 02011-05-24May 24, 2011 | 02012-09-26September 26, 2012 | Texas Rangers (2011–2012) | Free agent | — | |
| Kawasaki, MunenoriMunenori Kawasaki | SS | 02012-04-07April 7, 2012 | 02012-10-02October 2, 2012 | Seattle Mariners (2012) | Free agent | — |
Read more about this topic: List Of Major League Baseball Players From Japan
Famous quotes containing the word players:
“I do not like football, which I think of as a game in which two tractors approach each other from opposite directions and collide. Besides, I have contempt for a game in which players have to wear so much equipment. Men play basketball in their underwear, which seems just right to me.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)
“People stress the violence. That’s the smallest part of it. Football is brutal only from a distance. In the middle of it there’s a calm, a tranquility. The players accept pain. There’s a sense of order even at the end of a running play with bodies stewn everywhere. When the systems interlock, there’s a satisfaction to the game that can’t be duplicated. There’s a harmony.”
—Don Delillo (b. 1926)