Kei Igawa is a former Japanese left-handed pitcher.
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24 Facts About Kei Igawa
2.
Kei Igawa played for the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.
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3.
Kei Igawa led all pitchers in the Central League for strikeouts in 2002,2004 and 2006.
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4.
Kei Igawa played in the 2006 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series.
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5.
Kei Igawa was the number two draft choice of the Hanshin Tigers in 1998.
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7.
Kei Igawa was only tied for fifth in strikeouts and 10th in ERA, but was still third in the circuit in victories.
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8.
Kei Igawa signed a five-year, $20 million contract on December 27,2006.
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9.
On January 8,2007, Kei Igawa was officially announced at a Yankee Stadium press conference.
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10.
Kei Igawa later earned wins in relief appearances against the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox.
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11.
Kei Igawa came in from the bullpen and pitched six innings of scoreless relief, allowing only two hits and striking out six batters before enjoying a standing ovation on his way to the dugout.
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12.
Kei Igawa made his return start against the San Francisco Giants on June 22,2007, allowing two earned runs in 4.
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13.
Kei Igawa was claimed on waivers by the San Diego Padres in August 2007, but the Yankees pulled him back without making a trade.
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14.
Kei Igawa returned to the Yankees in September 2007 when rosters expanded.
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15.
Kei Igawa was called up to replace Ian Kennedy, In Igawa's first MLB start of the 2008 season, he gave up eleven hits and six runs in three innings.
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16.
On July 26,2008, Kei Igawa cleared waivers and was removed from the 40-man roster.
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17.
In 2009, Kei Igawa was invited to Spring training as a non-roster invitee, the only Yankee with a guaranteed contract in that position.
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18.
In 2010, Kei Igawa was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee.
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19.
Kei Igawa had stated that he preferred to stay in the United States to play in MLB after his contract with the Yankees expired.
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20.
Kei Igawa's changeup has a tendency to be belt-high and in the middle of the plate.
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21.
Kei Igawa was known to possess above-average control in Japan, but has a very poor track record of control at the Major League level.
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22.
Kei Igawa is known for his unique follow-through, in which he throws his left leg into the air and return his pitching arm to a high position.
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23.
In February 2007, Kei Igawa announced on his Japanese blog that he had married recently.
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24.
Kei Igawa is a great soccer fan, but he joined the baseball club because there was no soccer club in his junior high school.
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