35 Facts About Hisashi Iwakuma

Hisashi Iwakuma is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.

Hisashi Iwakuma has played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes from 2000 to 2004, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2005 to 2011, and Yomiuri Giants in 2019, and all of his time in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners from 2012 to 2017.

Hisashi Iwakuma made his professional debut with the Buffaloes in 2000.

Hisashi Iwakuma was named a NPB All-Star in 2003 and 2004, and played in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Hisashi Iwakuma appeared in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the Japanese national team.

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Hisashi Iwakuma was posted to Major League Baseball after the 2010 season, but he failed to come to an agreement with the winning bidder.

Hisashi Iwakuma was an MLB All-Star in 2013, as well as the third-place finisher for the 2013 American League Cy Young Award.

Hisashi Iwakuma was born in Higashiyamato, Tokyo, and began playing baseball in the first grade before attending Horikoshi High School in Nakano.

Hisashi Iwakuma was inspired to become a pitcher after "looking up to" former Seibu Lions great Hisanobu Watanabe, who was known for his big-game pitching.

Hisashi Iwakuma made his debut at the ichigun level the following year, appearing in relief in a game against the Nippon-Ham Fighters on May 29 2001 and earning the first career win of his professional career despite giving up a run over 1.

Hisashi Iwakuma received the most fan votes among Pacific League starting pitchers for the NPB All-Star Game that year, starting Game 1 at Nagoya Dome on July 10, and pitched in the 2004 Athens Olympics as a member of the Japanese national team in August.

Hisashi Iwakuma was named the Eagles' starter for the 2005 season opener, holding the Chiba Lotte Marines to one run while going the distance on March 26 and earning the expansion team's first-ever win.

In 2007, Hisashi Iwakuma was named the starter for the season opener for the first time in two years, taking the mound on March 24 against the Lions.

On September 22, in a game against the Saitama Seibu Lions, Hisashi Iwakuma threw seven innings of one-run ball to become the first 20-game winner in the Pacific League since Hawks right-hander Kazumi Saito achieved the feat in 2003.

Hisashi Iwakuma was presented the Sawamura, Most Valuable Player and Best Nine awards at the end of the season, a rare accomplishment for a player on a fifth-place team.

Hisashi Iwakuma started the season opener for the Eagles for the third straight year in 2009, requiring just 59 pitches to throw six innings of one-run ball en route to the win on April 3 in a much-hyped match-up with World Baseball Classic teammate and 22-year-old Fighters right-hander Yu Darvish.

On October 4,2010, the Golden Eagles granted permission for Hisashi Iwakuma to pursue a career in Major League Baseball via the posting system.

Hisashi Iwakuma signed with the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2012 Major League Baseball season, for $1.

Hisashi Iwakuma was part of the Mariners' bullpen to start the season and did not pitch until the club's fifteenth game, making him the last member of any team's opening day roster to appear in a game.

Hisashi Iwakuma was chosen along with fellow pitcher Felix Hernandez to represent the Mariners at the 2013 MLB All-Star Game.

On September 18,2013, Hisashi Iwakuma pitched eight scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers striking out Miguel Cabrera twice making him 0 for 4 and lowering his batting average to.

Hisashi Iwakuma gave up no runs and four hits getting out of two bases loaded jams in the first and fourth.

Hisashi Iwakuma finished third in the 2013 American League Cy Young Award voting, behind winner Max Scherzer and runner up Yu Darvish.

Hisashi Iwakuma finished the year third in the league in ERA, third in innings pitched, second in WHIP and first in WAR.

On December 17,2015, Hisashi Iwakuma re-signed with the Mariners on a 1-year contract, with vesting options for 2017 and 2018.

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Hisashi Iwakuma had previously attempted to sign a three-year, $45 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the deal was declined because the Dodgers had some concerns about the results of his physical.

On May 10,2017, Hisashi Iwakuma was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right shoulder inflammation.

Hisashi Iwakuma made his first appearance on the international stage when he was named to the Japanese national team that would play in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Hisashi Iwakuma was well known for his unique pitching motion during his years with the Buffaloes, letting his throwing arm hang at his side while he raised his left leg, lowered it halfway once, then raised it again before driving towards the plate.

Hisashi Iwakuma was forced to overhaul his mechanics and implement a more orthodox delivery when the NPB changed its rules on pitching motions in the 2005 off-season, taking a stricter stance on so-called two-stage motions.

In 2008, Hisashi Iwakuma raised his arm slot slightly to induce more movement in his offspeed pitches.

Hisashi Iwakuma has remarked that his command has improved since missing much of the 2006 and 2007 seasons due to injury as he was forced to overhaul his mechanics and rethink his approach against opposing batters.

On January 12,2021, Hisashi Iwakuma was hired by the Seattle Mariners, his former team, as a special assignment coach.

Hisashi Iwakuma's wife is the daughter of Koju Hirohashi, former coach of the Seibu Lions.

Hisashi Iwakuma practices Nichiren Buddhism and is a member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist association.