Masahiro Tanaka
From BR Bullpen
Masahiro Tanaka
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 172 lb.
- High School Komadai Tomakomai
- Born November 1, 1988 in Itami, Hyogo Japan
Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro) played for Komadai Tomakomai from 2004-2006. In 2005, he broke Daisuke Matsuzaka's Japanese high school for strikeouts. A year later, he was claimed by four teams in the NPB draft, with the Rakuten Golden Eagles winning bargaining rights in the lottery that followed. He was considered the top high school prospect in Japan. He signed for a $800,000 (100 million yen) signing bonus with a salary of 15 million yen. Tanaka debuted for Rakuten on March 29, allowing six hits and six runs in a horrid 1 2/3 IP of action. He did strike out three. He said afterward "I felt my own weakness. It was a good lesson for me."
Despite a relatively slow start to his career, Tanaka was leading All-Star balloting early in 2007, thanks to his fame from his success in the Koshien tournament in high school. Tanaka reached 100 strikeouts after 96 2/3 IP, the fastest rookie out of high school to do since Yutaka Enatsu.
Tanaka tossed 7 shutout innings in the 2008 Olympics, striking out 9 in 3 relief stints. His best outing consisted of 5 innings and just 2 hits against Team USA. Despite his fine work, Japan did not earn a Medal.
Tanaka throws a fastball in the low 90s, a slider, forkball, changeup and curveball.
