Kanichi Matoba
From BR Bullpen
Kanichi Matoba
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 167 lb.
- School Kyushu Kyoritsu University
- High School Yatomi High School
- Born June 17, 1977 in Amagasaki, Hyogo Japan
Kanichi Matoba only had 7 hits in NPB after a good amateur career. In college, he won a batting title. In the 1998 Baseball World Cup, he hit .381/.462/.667 with 3 steals for the Japanese national team. He tied for 5th in the Cup in stolen bases that year. A first round pick of the Hanshin Tigers in 1999, he went 5 for 26 with a double and 2 walks in 11 games in his NPB debut in 2000. He was 2 for 20 in 2001 with two walks and a double and 0 for 5 with 3 strikeouts in 2004 to finish with a career line of .143/.222/.184 in 24 games. He was injured several times and had knee surgery and shoulder problems. Hanshin released him after the 2005 season.
