 |
Age:
30
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230 lbs.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Pos: LF |
Born:
June 12, 1974, Kanazawa, , Japan
Full Name: Hideki Matsui
College: None
Experience: 2 years
2004 Salary: $7,000,000
Pronounced: mat-SOO-ee |
Before 2001, there were questions whether a
Japanese position player could cut it in the major leagues. Ichiro
Suzuki won both the Rookie Of The Year and Most Valuable Player
Awards that year, quieting critics with his blazing speed, cannon
outfield arm and masterful hitting. The only thing Ichiro lacked
was power.
In 2003, Hideki Matsui will proove that Japanese
players can come over to the States and slug with the best of
them. Perhaps Japan's strongest power hitter since Sadaharu Oh,
Matsui won the MVP in 2002, his third time doing so, and just
barely missed winning the Triple Crown.
Signed on to play left field for the New York
Yankees, Matsui is sure to bring the same sort of excitement to
the ballpark as Ichiro did two years ago. |