Kazuo MatsuiSaitama Seibu Lions Minor Manager

Date of Birth

October 23, 1975

Hometown

Osaka, Japan

Alma Mater

PL Gakuen High School

Players Profile

Kazuo Matsui was selected by the Saitama Seibu Lions in the 3rd round of the 1993 draft. He changed his position from pitcher to infielder due to his excellent quickness and fielding ability; he was also assigned as a switch hitter. He started his professional career in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball), and by his 3rd year, he was the starting short stop, and recorded 50 stolen bases. In his next season, he recorded 62 stolen bases, winning the title for most stolen bases in a season; he won this title 3 years in a row. During his time in the NPB, he won MVP in the All-Star Game, won an NPB championship, and became the first switch hitter to record over 30 HRs, over 30 stolen bases, and maintain a batting average of over .300 in the NPB. After his 10 seasons, he decided to transfer his unique skills to the MLB. He played in the MLB for 7 seasons with Mets, Rockies, and Astros, becoming the first Japanese infielder to sign with a major league team. During the 7 seasons, he played in the 2007 World Series with Rockies, and recorded 2000 hits in 2009. After returning Japan, he once again played in the NPB, contributing to another NPB championship win. After 25 years of professional baseball, he retired as player. However, in 2019, became the manager of a farm team under the Lions.

Career

- Saitama Seibu Lions (1995-2003)
- New York Mets (2004-2006)
- Colorado Rockies (2006-2007)
- Houston Astros (2008-2010)
- Colorado Rockies (2010)
- Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2011-2017)
- Saitama Seibu Lions (2018)
- Saitama Seibu Lions as farm team manager (2019-present)

Remarkable Career Highlights

- The first Japanese infielder to sign with the MLB team
- In the 1997 All-Star Game, he recorded 4 stolen-bases and won MVP.
- In 2002, he became the first switch hitter to record over .3oo BA, 30+HR’s, and 30+Stolen-bases in single season
- In 2009, he recorded 2000 career hits in both the MLB and NPB.
- Selected to the All-Star Game 7 seasons in a row (1997-2003)
- Won the stolen-bases title 3 years in a row (1997, 1998, 1999)
- Won the hits leader title twice (1999, 2002)

Awards

- League MVP Award (1998)
- The Best Nine (7 straight years, 1997-2003)
- The Golden Glove Award (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003)
- All-Star Game MVP (1997, 2001)
- The Fighting split Award in the NPB championship (1997)
- Monthly MVP (Sep 1996, Sep 1999, Jun 2002, Sep 2002, Aug 2011)