Born: (1975-10-23) October 23, 1975 (age 48) Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan
Batted: Switch
Threw: Right
Professional debut
NPB: April 5, 1995, for the Seibu Lions
MLB: April 6, 2004, for the New York Mets
Last appearance
MLB: May 18, 2010, for the Houston Astros
NPB: October 6, 2018, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
NPB statistics
Batting average
.291
Hits
2,090
Home runs
201
Runs batted in
837
Stolen bases
363
MLB statistics
Batting average
.267
Hits
615
Home runs
32
Runs batted in
211
Stolen bases
102
Teams
As player
Seibu Lions (1994–2003)
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)
As coach
Saitama Seibu Lions (2018–2022)
As Manager
Saitama Seibu Lions (2023–present)
Career highlights and awards
Homered on the first pitch of his MLB career
Homered in his first at bat for the first three seasons of his MLB career
4× Mitsui Golden Glove Award (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003)
7× Best Nine Award at Shortstop (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
3× Pacific League Stolen Base Champion (1997, 1998, 1999)
Japan Series champion (2013)
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing Japan
World Baseball Classic
2013 San Francisco
Team
Kazuo Matsui (松井 稼頭央, Matsui Kazuo, born October 23, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played as a shortstop and is the current manager of the Saitama Seibu Lions. He is a switch-hitter.[1]
Matsui signed with the New York Mets on December 17, 2003, becoming the first Japanese infielder to sign with a Major League Baseball team.[2]
^Jenkins, Lee (June 26, 2004). "There's No Relation, but Matsuis Can Relate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
^"The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Official Info" (Press release). Colorado.rockies.mlb.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
KazuoMatsui (松井 稼頭央, MatsuiKazuo, born October 23, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball player who played as a shortstop and is the current...
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima pitching for the Boston Red Sox, and KazuoMatsui playing for the Colorado Rockies. * Games played through the 2023 regular...
SKE48 KazuoMatsui (松井 稼頭央, born 1975), Japanese former professional baseball player Kazumi Matsui (松井 一實, born 1953), Japanese politician Kazuyo Matsui (松居...
and manga series by Osamu Tezuka. In 2004, former Seibu Lions player KazuoMatsui became the first Japanese infielder to play in Major League Baseball...
Utility player Mark Loretta accepted Houston's salary arbitration and KazuoMatsui finalized a $16.5 million, three-year contract with the team. In December...
in the NPB until his retirement in 2005. KazuoMatsui: After eight stellar seasons with the Seibu Lions, Matsui signed with the New York Mets on December...
Retrieved February 5, 2024. "The 2007 COL N World Series Batting Splits for KazuoMatsui". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved...
film director Kazuo Manabe (真部 一男, 1952–2007), Japanese shogi player Kazuo Matsuda (松田 一夫, born 1941), Japanese ice hockey player KazuoMatsui (松井稼頭央, born...
Hideki Matsui, former Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks catcher Kenji Johjima, former teammate So Taguchi, and former Seibu Lions infielder KazuoMatsui and active...
Second baseman KazuoMatsui started off the inning by hitting a double. Tulowitzki followed with a double of his own, thus allowing Matsui to score. Left...
base to starter KazuoMatsui. However, after Matsui's offense proved inept after 71 at-bats, Keppinger was named the starter after Matsui was released by...
but Kazuo arises. Hiroki notices too late, as he remembers that Oda had a bulletproof vest and Kazuo took it. Before he can reach for the gun, Kazuo shoots...
became the third Astro to hit the left field pole on September 16, 2007. KazuoMatsui hit the right field fair pole on August 3, 2009, with a two-run homer...
""Astros"" opened up their season in San Diego without second baseman KazuoMatsui. Matsui, who had been injured in Spring training was completing a Minor League...
the season on March 31. He became just the second MLB player, after KazuoMatsui, to homer in his first major league at-bat on Opening Day and to hit...
with the Rockies down, 3–2. The next batter, Colorado second baseman KazuoMatsui, went on to hit a memorable grand slam to give the Rockies a lead that...
Pedro Martínez: Tezuka thinks he throws it accidentally. Roger Clemens: KazuoMatsui reckons he may throw it because his fastball has a gyroball-like rotation...
Mahara Charlie Manuel Bobby Marcano Jim Marshall Domingo Martínez KazuoMatsui Hideki Matsui Takuya Matsumoto Daisuke Matsuzaka Darrell May Derrick May Scott...
inning, Willy Taveras singled with one out, stole second, and scored on KazuoMatsui's RBI single. Matt Holliday then singled before Helton lined out to center...
runs, third in the league in batting average behind Ichiro Suzuki and KazuoMatsui. He ranked third in doubles and won his first Golden Glove. He batted...
Colorado Springs Sky Sox. After an injury to starting second baseman KazuoMatsui, Barmes was recalled to the Major League roster on April 15. After wearing...
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