Masahiro Tanaka 田中 将大 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Tanaka with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |||||||||||||||||||||
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles – No. 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born: Itami, Hyōgo, Japan | November 1, 1988|||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
Professional debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
NPB: March 29, 2007, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |||||||||||||||||||||
MLB: April 4, 2014, for the New York Yankees | |||||||||||||||||||||
NPB statistics (through 2023 season) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 119–67 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 2.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 1,571 | ||||||||||||||||||||
MLB statistics (through 2020 season) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 78–46 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 3.74 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 991 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
NPB
MLB | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Masahiro Tanaka | |||||
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Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 田中 将大 | ||||
Hiragana | たなか まさひろ | ||||
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Masahiro Tanaka (田中 将大, Tanaka Masahiro, born November 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). From 2007 through 2013, he played for the Eagles in NPB. Tanaka was posted by the Eagles after the 2013 season to be signed with the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB) and signed a seven-year, $155 million contract, the fifth-largest deal ever given to a pitcher at the time.[1] He made his major league debut in 2014 and played for the Yankees through the 2020 season, before deciding to return to Japan.
Tanaka was the Eagles' first-round pick in the 2006 NPB amateur player draft. From 2012 to 2013, he won 26 consecutive decisions, which set a new NPB record.[2] In MLB, Tanaka has earned selections to two Major League Baseball All-Star Games.