Koji Uehara

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Full Name: Bryan C. Augenstein Current Team: Baltimore Orioles Height/Weight: 6'6"/230 Number: 44 Birthdate: July 11, 1986 Entry Draft: Birthplace: Sabastian, Florida Drafted By: Position: SP College: Florida

Rate this Player 3.75 (4 votes)

[edit] Biography

By now, every American baseball fan knows the name Daisuke Matsuzaka. Koji Uehara is Japan's other big-time pitcher; per one expert, Uehara "is Greg Maddux to Matsuzaka's Pedro Martinez. Uehara is not the otherworldly talent that is Matsuzaka, but he is a top caliber starter." ^[1]

While Dice-K's reputation suggests that Matsuzaka is a lights-out talent, Uehara's is more subdued. He has been the ace of the Yomiuri Giants since being their #1 draft pick in 1999. That year, Uehara had a 15 game winning streak and finished 20-4, leading the Central League in wins. He also lead the league in strikeouts and ERA, and gave up only 24 walks in just under 200 innings.

Uehara was named the Central League's Rookie of the Year (Matsuzaka won the Pacific League's award), and took the Sawamura Award for NPB's best pitcher, beating out Dice-K. He also touched off a nationwide debate when, in October of 1999, he broke down in tears on the mound. Uehara's teammate, Hideki Matsui, was one home run behind Roberto Petagine in the league's home run race.^[2] The Yomiuri Giants bosses commaned that Uehara intentionally walk Petagine, but Uehara wished to battle the opposing slugger. Uehara capitulated to his employer and wept on the mound. Many Japanese fans were outraged at the Giants' decision.

Two rocky years followed, with Uehara missing the NPB All-Star selection in 2000; the only time he missed the team. In 2001, he finished with a 4.02 ERA, his highest yet. However, in 2002, he rebounded, leading the Central League in wins and collecting his second Sawamura Award. After the season, Uehara was offered a salary of 190m yen (up from 106m), but he rejected it, and negotiated up to a 210m yen salary. Even though he was, in American dollars, a new millionaire, Uehara was unhappy with the contract, telling the Japanese Times that "I would be smiling more if I was totally satisfied with this deal."

Nevertheless, this unhappiness did not lead to immediate struggles. He was second in the league in wins (to Kei Igawa) in 2003, and was third in the league in 2004 even though he lost NPB time to play in the 2004 Olympics. In 2005, amidst a battle with the Giants' front office over whether the team would post him to play in MLB, Uehara dropped off, finishing with a losing win-loss record. This trend continued in 2006, and some speculate that Uehara's drop-off is due in part to how Giants management is treating his desires.

In 2007, due to injuries (and perhaps to limit is value as an MLB free agent), the Giants converted Uehara into a closer, a job in which he's found success to date.

[edit] 2006 World Baseball Classic

At the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Uehara started three games, going 2-0 in 17 innings pitched. He gave up 17 hits and struck out 16 while walking none. He finished with a 1.59 ERA, and was the winning pitcher in Japan's semi-final win over Korea.

In the prelims, Uehara threw 5 innings against China, giving up two runs on a two-run homer. He gave up seven hits in total while striking out six and walking none, on his way to a win.

In the second round, Uehara faced the United States. He left the game after five innings, having given up one run on seven hits; the run was via a solo home run by Chipper Jones. Uehara struck out two and walked none, and left as the winning pitcher of record, but the Americans came from behind after Uehara exited the game.

In the semi-final game versus Korea, Uehara pitched brilliantly, scattering three hits over seven innings while striking out 8 and walking none.

[edit] Interest in MLB

In 1998, Uehara, a recent college graduate, was offered a $3 million contract by the then-Anaheim Angels. He rejected that offer and instead entered NPB's draft, and was selected by the Yomiuri Giants.

In 2004, while negotiating a new contract with the Giants, Uehara first stated that he wanted to enter MLB via the NPB/MLB posting system, but Giants ownership quickly rejected the notion and Uehara resigned with Yoimuri. He has since stated his interest in coming to MLB.

Nevertheless, Uehara holds one unique MLB-related claim to fame: On November 11, 2004, during an exhibition matchup between American and Japanese All-Stars, Uehara struck out Barry Bonds three times in the same game.

Because Uehara is past his prime (age 32) and has recurring groin and hamstring problems, some question how effective he will be long-term in the major leagues. However, others believe that a number of teams will be interested in Uehara nonetheless. The Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets all registered some level of interest, but one expert believes that the favorites are the New York Yankees

While there may be a number of teams ready to pay him big money, I would argue that the Yankees have the best shot. His former teammate is Hideki Matsui, and the Yankees have a working relationship with the people at Yoimuri.

Uehara also has struck a friendship with Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens, stemming from the 2004 World Baseball Classic. After Clemens exited the field during his last WBC game -- which many thought would be Clemens' last game as a professional -- the Rocket gave Uehara his glove. Uehara, on Clemens' advice, does not use the glove, but instead keeps it at home. The two have been friends since.

Expect Uehara to fetch in the $10m to $12m next year from an MLB team. He will not be eligible for MLB free agency until after the 2008 season.

[edit] Scouting Report

Uehara has a fastball that tops out in the high-80s/low 90s, with movement. He throws two split-fingered fastballs, a cutter, and a slider. His trademark pitch is a forkball.

He has impeccable control, walking only 1.20 per 9 IP over the course of his career (through 2006) but is slightly prone to the long ball, with a career HR/9 rate of 1.08. Uehara is also able to strike batters out, fanning 7.97 per 9 over his career.

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[edit] Pitching Stats

Year	Team		G	GS	W	L	ERA	K	R	ER	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	IB	WP	HBP
2009	BAL	A
Total

[edit] Batting Stats

Year	Team		G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	2B	3B	BB	SO	HBP	SH	SB	IBB	GDP
2009	BAL	A

[edit] Fielding Stats

Year	Team		POS	G	GS	INN	PO	A	ERR	DP	TP	PB	SB	CS	PkO	AVG
2009	BAL	A	P
Total			P

[edit] Statistics

[edit] NPB

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	CG	SHO	IP	K	BB	R	ERA
1999	Yomiuri Giants	25	20	4	0	12	1	197⅔	179	24	49	2.09
2000	Yomiuri Giants	20	9	7	0	6	1	131	126	22	53	3.57
2001	Yomiuri Giants	24	19	7	0	4	1	138⅔	108	28	66	4.02
2002	Yomiuri Giants	26	17	5	0	8	3	204	182	23	65	2.60
2003	Yomiuri Giants	27	16	5	0	11	1	207⅓	194	23	76	3.17
2004	Yomiuri Giants	22	13	5	0	2	0	163	153	23	54	2.60
2005	Yomiuri Giants	27	9	12	0	6	2	187⅓	145	22	73	3.31
2006	Yomiuri Giants	24	8	9	0	5	0	168⅓	151	21	67	3.21
2006	Yomiuri Giants	55	4	3	32	0	0	62	66	N/A	N/A	1.74
Career Total (through 2006)		195	102	54	0	54	9	1397⅓	1238	186	503	3.01

*Bold = led league

[edit] World Baseball Classic

YEAR	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	HB	BB	SO	WHIP
2004	2	0	1.59	3	3	17.0	17	3	3	2	1	0	16	1.00

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[edit] See Also

• Official Website
• http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2007/tips_sons2.php
• Wikipedia archive
• http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20000305mk.html
• http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20000305mk.html
• http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/allnews.php?id=19
• http://www.japanesebaseball.com/forum/thread.jsp?forum=46&thread=32141
• http://canyonofheroes.blogspot.com/2006/11/uehara-watch.html
• http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2007/tips_sons2.php

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