Kazuo Matsui

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.

Kazuo Matsui
松井 稼頭央
Matsui with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2018
Saitama Seibu Lions – No. 77
Infielder / Outfielder / Coach / Manager
Born: (1975-10-23) October 23, 1975
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
Hits2,090
Home runs201
Runs batted in837
Stolen bases363
MLB statistics
Batting average.267
Hits615
Home runs32
Runs batted in211
Stolen bases102
Teams
As player

As coach

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)
  • 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

Matsui signed with the New York Mets on December 17, 2003, becoming the first Japanese infielder to sign with a Major League Baseball team.

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