39 Facts About Hiroki Kuroda

Hiroki Kuroda is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched in Nippon Professional Baseball for Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 1997 to 2007 before playing in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008 to 2011 and New York Yankees from 2012 to 2014.

In NPB, Kuroda won the Best Nine Award in 2005 and was NPB ERA Champion in 2006.

Hiroki Kuroda won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics with the Japanese national baseball team.

Hiroki Kuroda was appointed UNITAR Goodwill Ambassador on 14 September 2015.

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Hiroki Kuroda's father, Kazuhiro Kuroda, was a professional baseball player who played for the Nankai Hawks.

Hiroki Kuroda attended Uenomiya High School in Osaka, where he would attend classes and practices from 5 am until 10 pm.

Hiroki Kuroda joined the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1996 as a second-round draft pick.

However, Hiroki Kuroda gradually built up his status to become a consistent part of the starting rotation while Sawazaki began to fade away.

Hiroki Kuroda won over 10 games for three consecutive years from 2001.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched poorly at the beginning of the season, but improved after the all-star break to end the season with 13 wins.

Hiroki Kuroda marked two wins as a reliever in the 2004 Summer Olympics, contributing to the Japanese team's bronze medal.

Hiroki Kuroda continued his success in 2006, ending the season with a league-leading 1.

Hiroki Kuroda made his first save that year on October 16 against the Chunichi Dragons, and led the league in complete games over a six-year period from 1999 to 2005.

Hiroki Kuroda became a free agent as early as May 2006, but announced that he would remain with the Carp for the 2007 season.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched as the team's opening-day starter for the 5th consecutive year in 2007.

Hiroki Kuroda marked his 100th career win on July 14,2007 against the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome.

Hiroki Kuroda was recognized as a "Giants Killer", as he seemed to pitch exceptionally well against the Yomiuri Giants.

Hiroki Kuroda obtained free agency on May 31,2006, and announced that he was willing to hear offers from other teams.

In terms of base salary, Hiroki Kuroda had been paid 200 million yen in 2006, and this contract would only give a 50 million yen increase for 2007, with no further increases over the next three years.

Hiroki Kuroda's response was received favorably by both the fans and the media, and in Hiroki Kuroda's final start of the season, fans filled Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, old holding red cardboard cutouts of the number 15.

However, Hiroki Kuroda had repeatedly expressed a desire to win a championship, and there was a high possibility that he would leave for the major leagues if the team continued to play poorly.

Hiroki Kuroda declared his intention to play in the major leagues next season on October 18,2007.

On July 7,2008, Hiroki Kuroda pitched seven perfect innings in a game against the Atlanta Braves before allowing a double to Mark Teixeira to lead off the eighth inning.

Hiroki Kuroda became the first Dodger to throw a one-hitter since Derek Lowe threw one against the Chicago Cubs on August 31,2005.

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Hiroki Kuroda became the first rookie pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1984 to take a perfect game into the eighth inning.

On September 15,2008, Hiroki Kuroda was deprived of the opportunity to become the first Dodgers pitcher since Hideo Nomo to throw 3 complete game shutouts in a single season.

On October 4,2008, Hiroki Kuroda made his first postseason appearance in the major leagues as the starting pitcher for Game 3 of the Dodgers' first playoff series against the Chicago Cubs, in which the Dodgers led two games to none.

On October 12,2008, Hiroki Kuroda started Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 NLCS with the Dodgers down two games to none.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched effectively again, giving up two runs in six innings, and went on to notch his second postseason victory.

Hiroki Kuroda was named the Dodgers opening day starter in 2009 and picked up the win, allowing only one run in six innings.

Hiroki Kuroda had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and spent the night at the hospital.

Hiroki Kuroda was named the Game 3 starter in the NLCS against the Phillies even though he had missed the first round of the playoffs with a "bulging disk in his neck".

Hiroki Kuroda became a free agent at the conclusion of the season, but was re-signed by the Dodgers to a one-year $12 million contract.

On December 26,2014, it was reported that Hiroki Kuroda had decided to return to Japan for the 2015 season and would sign with his old team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, on a one-year $3.

Hiroki Kuroda was named the Central League starting pitcher in the 2015 All-Star Game, his fifth overall selection.

Hiroki Kuroda announced that he would retire following the series' conclusion.

Hiroki Kuroda rounded out his repertoire with a four-seam fastball, a splitter, and an occasional curveball.

Hiroki Kuroda was prone to leave a slider low and away against righties in two-strike counts.