Kenshin Kawakami
| Kenshin Kawakami | |||
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Kawakami with the Atlanta Braves in 2009
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: June 22, 1975 Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NPB: April 9, 1998, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| MLB: April 11, 2009, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 9, 2010, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 117–76 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.24 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,381 | ||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 8–22 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.32 | ||
| Strikeouts | 164 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
Kenshin Kawakami (川上 憲伸) (born June 22, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves.
He originally pitched for the Chunichi Dragons of the Central League. Kawakami was the Rookie of the Year in 1998 as he went 14-6 with a 2.57 ERA. He helped the Dragons to the Central League Title in 1999, but would lose in the Japan Series in 5 games to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. He has pitched a no-hitter in his professional career. In 2004, Kawakami went 17-7 and led Chunichi to the Central League Title, though they fell to the Seibu Lions in 7 games in the Japan Series. That year, Kawakami was named Central League MVP and received the Eiji Sawamura Award as Japan's best pitcher. Kawakami again won 17 games in 2006 and led the Dragons to the Central League title again, winning Game 1 of the Japan Series against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
In 2007, Kawakami helped the Dragons end a streak of 53 years without a championship as they beat the Nippon Ham Fighters in 5 games.
On January 13, 2009, Kawakami signed a three-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.
Kenshin Kawakami threw his first game as an Atlanta Brave on February 26 in a Spring training game against the Pirates. Kawakami pitched two innings allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
Kawakami pitched his first Major League game on April 11, 2009 against the Washington Nationals. He picked up his first Major League win, giving up 3 earned runs, and striking out 8 in 6 innings. On May 22 and against countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka at Fenway Park, he limited the Boston Red Sox to two hits and two earned runs in six innings and helped the Braves begin a 13-game stretch with an 8-2 win over the Red Sox.
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