Hideki Matsui, 松井 秀喜 Matsui Hideki?, born June 12, 1974 is a Japanese Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York Yankees of North America's Major League Baseball. As a free agent, Matsui has had one-year stints with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Oakland Athletics, and in April of 2012 signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. Matsui has been successful in both leagues, winning the Central League Most Valuable Player Award three times in Japan, as well as the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in the United States.
On December 14, 2010, Matsui signed a one-year contract worth $4.25 million with the Oakland Athletics for the 2011 season. He wore his preferred number (55), and was the A's full-time DH. On April 3, 2011, Matsui collected career hit number 2,500 (between NPB and MLB) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum versus the Seattle Mariners and on July 20, 2011, Matsui hit career homerun number 500 versus the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Matsui became the first player to hit a combined 500 home runs between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.
On April 30, 2012 Matsui signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He joined the Rays' Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls, on May 15, 2012. On May 28, 2012 it was reported that the Rays were going to call Matsui up for a game against the Chicago White Sox on May 29, 2012. On the first pitch of his second at bat against the Chicago White Sox on May 29, 2012, Matsui hit a two-run home run.
Matsui did not miss a game in his first three seasons with the Yankees, putting together a streak of 518 games played. Before that, he played in 1,250 consecutive games with Yomiuri, for a total professional baseball streak of 1,768. Matsui holds the record for longest streak of consecutive games played to start a Major League Baseball career.
On May 11, 2006, in his 519th game with the Yankees, Matsui fractured his left wrist on an unsuccessful sliding catch in the top of the first inning against the Boston Red Sox. Matsui, despite the injury, threw the ball back to the infield before gripping his wounded wrist in obvious pain. The game did not count toward Matsui's streak, as a player must field for at least half an inning or take an at-bat to be credited with a game played (MLB rule 10.24). Matsui underwent surgery on May 12, 2006, the next day. He returned to the Yankees starting lineup on September 12 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and had an RBI-single in his first at-bat back, and proceeded to go 4 for 4 with a walk, with 2 runs scored as well.
It was reported in Time Asia that Matsui personally donated $500,000 towards charity relief for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. He also donated $620,000 to relief efforts for victims of the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 in the Tōhoku region of Japan. Matsui announced to the press on March 27, 2008 that he had married in a private ceremony in New York. His bride's name was not announced, but it was reported that she was 25 years old and had been formerly working in a "reputable position at a highly respected company". They met in Japan after the 2006 off-season. Matsui still relies on his translator, Roger Kahlon, despite having played in the United States for nine seasons. Matsui resides in the West Side of Manhattan in New York City at Trump Place. Thirty-five Japanese reporters are assigned to cover Matsui's playing career.
After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York Yankees of North America's Major League Baseball. As a free agent, Matsui has had one-year stints with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Oakland Athletics, and in April of 2012 signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. Matsui has been successful in both leagues, winning the Central League Most Valuable Player Award three times in Japan, as well as the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in the United States.
On December 14, 2010, Matsui signed a one-year contract worth $4.25 million with the Oakland Athletics for the 2011 season. He wore his preferred number (55), and was the A's full-time DH. On April 3, 2011, Matsui collected career hit number 2,500 (between NPB and MLB) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum versus the Seattle Mariners and on July 20, 2011, Matsui hit career homerun number 500 versus the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Matsui became the first player to hit a combined 500 home runs between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.
On April 30, 2012 Matsui signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He joined the Rays' Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls, on May 15, 2012. On May 28, 2012 it was reported that the Rays were going to call Matsui up for a game against the Chicago White Sox on May 29, 2012. On the first pitch of his second at bat against the Chicago White Sox on May 29, 2012, Matsui hit a two-run home run.
Matsui did not miss a game in his first three seasons with the Yankees, putting together a streak of 518 games played. Before that, he played in 1,250 consecutive games with Yomiuri, for a total professional baseball streak of 1,768. Matsui holds the record for longest streak of consecutive games played to start a Major League Baseball career.
On May 11, 2006, in his 519th game with the Yankees, Matsui fractured his left wrist on an unsuccessful sliding catch in the top of the first inning against the Boston Red Sox. Matsui, despite the injury, threw the ball back to the infield before gripping his wounded wrist in obvious pain. The game did not count toward Matsui's streak, as a player must field for at least half an inning or take an at-bat to be credited with a game played (MLB rule 10.24). Matsui underwent surgery on May 12, 2006, the next day. He returned to the Yankees starting lineup on September 12 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and had an RBI-single in his first at-bat back, and proceeded to go 4 for 4 with a walk, with 2 runs scored as well.
It was reported in Time Asia that Matsui personally donated $500,000 towards charity relief for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. He also donated $620,000 to relief efforts for victims of the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 in the Tōhoku region of Japan. Matsui announced to the press on March 27, 2008 that he had married in a private ceremony in New York. His bride's name was not announced, but it was reported that she was 25 years old and had been formerly working in a "reputable position at a highly respected company". They met in Japan after the 2006 off-season. Matsui still relies on his translator, Roger Kahlon, despite having played in the United States for nine seasons. Matsui resides in the West Side of Manhattan in New York City at Trump Place. Thirty-five Japanese reporters are assigned to cover Matsui's playing career.
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