Daisuke Matsuzaka

Japanese professional baseball player, Major League Baseball player, baseball critic, baseball commentator
In this Japanese name, the family name is Matsuzaka.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大輔, Matsuzaka Daisuke, [matsɯꜜzaka daisɯ̥ke]; born September 13, 1980) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions . He has played for the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Seibu Lions ,Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Daisuke Matsuzaka
松坂 大輔
Matsuzaka with the New York Mets in 2014
Saitama Seibu Lions
Pitcher
Born: (1980-09-13) September 13, 1980 (age 44)
Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: April 7, 1999, for the Seibu Lions
MLB: April 5, 2007, for the Boston Red Sox
NPB statistics
(through 2018)
Win–loss record114–64
Earned run average2.99
Strikeouts1,408
MLB statistics
Win–loss record56–43
Earned run average4.45
Strikeouts720
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB

MLB

Japan National Team

Other

Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2006 San Diego Team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Los Angeles Team
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens Team
Asian Baseball Championship
Silver medal – second place 1999 Seoul Team
Gold medal – first place 2003 Sapporo Team

Matsuzaka was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze medalist.

He is the first player to have won both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic.