Masataka Endo

Masataka Endo (遠藤 政隆)

• Bats Right Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 187 lb.

• High School Nihon University Meisei High School

• Born September 20, 1972 in Hachioji, Tokyo Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Masataka Endo played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 13 years. His cousin Kazuhiko Endo also pitched in NPB; Masataka wore number 24 in tribute to his cousin.

Endo was drafted by the Chunichi Dragons in the 4th round of the 1993 NPB draft, and he pitched 13 games with a 4.56 ERA in 1994. He then had a 6.86 ERA in 4 starts in 1995, and he also went 9-9 with a 4.36 ERA for the Visalia Oaks. He led the California League with 178 strikeouts, ten ahead of #2 Keith Foulke. Endo went 8-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 49 games in 1996, and he was 3rd in games pitched in the Central League (tied with Shinji Sasaoka and Shigeru Matsumoto). He slumped to a 5.24 ERA in 40 games in 1997, and he had a 3.00 ERA in 15 games in 1998. Endo only pitched 7 games combined in the next two seasons.

The Hachioji native bounced back in 2001, and he went 4-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 40 appearances. Endo then had a 4-2 record again with a 3.14 ERA in 57 appearances in 2002, and he was 3rd in appearances (tied with Shigetoshi Yamakita). He recorded a 2.84 ERA in 34 games in 2003, but his ERA rose to 7.01 in 22 games in 2004. Endo pitched 1/3 of an inning in the 2004 Nippon Series, and the Dragons lost to the Seibu Lions in 7 games. He struggled again in 2005 as his ERA was 7.36 in 13 games, and the Dragons released him after the 2006 season. He signed with the Yakult Swallows, and he was 2-5 with 4 holds and a 4.09 ERA in 38 games in 2007. He stayed in the minors for the entire 2008 season, and he announced his retirement.

Overall, Endo was 28-21 with a 4.52 ERA, struck out 432 and pitched 451 2/3 innings in 13 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan