Tomoya Kawaguchi

Tomoya Kawaguchi (川口 知哉) (Dr. K of West)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

• High School Heian High School

• Born August 25, 1979 in Joyo, Kyoto Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Tomoya Kawaguchi was a top prospect in high school, and he had a nickname "Dr.K of West" compare with future Major Leaguer, the "Dr.K of East" Kei Igawa. The Kintetsu Buffaloes, Yakult Swallows, Orix Blue Wave and Yokohama BayStars all selected him in the first round of the 1997 NPB draft, and the Blue Wave won the lottery for the rights to him. However, Kawaguchi faced serious control problems, and he only pitched 1/3 if an inning for the big club in his first four seasons. He set the Western League record by walking 15 and walking 7 straight batters on August 29, and he also set a record for having 14 wild pitches in a season. Kawaguchi had a 2.45 ERA in 7 games in 2002, but he only pitched one more game for the big club before he announced his retirement in 2004.

He later coached in the Japan Women's Baseball League.

Sources

• Wiki Japan