Kazuo Matsui #25

He and his wife, Mio, have two kids, Haruna and Haruto...graduated from PL Gakeun in Osaka, Japan...played basketball in junior high school...was a pitcher before the Seibu Lions converted him to an infielder...played in the All-Star series vs. MLB All-Stars in November of 1998...hit .250 (5x20) with four runs scored, three RBI, three stolen bases, a double and a triple... also played against the MLB All-Stars in November of 2000...hit .440, including a game in which he hit a home run from each side of the plate.

2009

Finished the 2009 season hitting .250 (119x476) with career highs in home runs (9), RBI (46) and games (132)...was third in the NL with a career-high 16 sacrifice hits, the most sac hits in a single season by an Astros player since RHP Roy Oswalt had 20 in 2006... the last non-Astro pitcher with as many was SS Adam Everett in 2004 (22)...posted the second-best fielding percentage among all NL second basemen with a .991 pct...was also the second-highest fielding pct for a second baseman in a single season in Astros history (Bill Doran, .992 in 1987)...he committed only six errors in 658 total chances and helped turn a career-high 99 double plays, the thirdmost among NL second basemen...recorded his 2,000th career combined hit between Japan and Major League Baseball on Aug. 15 at MIL and stole the 400th base of his combined careers on Aug. 5 vs. SF...is the fifth Japanese player in history to record both 2,000 career hits and 400 career stolen bases...became a member of the Meikyukai Golden Players Club in Japan after reaching the 2,000-hit plateau...started 91 of Houston's 100 games after coming off the DL on June 16...missed 18 games from May 26-June 15 with a strained left hamstring...made four rehab appearances at Double A Corpus Christi...stole home for the first time in his career on May 19 vs. MIL... was successful in 19 of his 22 (86.4%) stolen base attempts, the third-best percentage in the NL.

2008

Hit .293 (110x375) with six homers and 33 RBI in 96 games for Houston...recorded career-highs in on-base percentage (.354) and slugging percentage (.427)...was 20-for-25 in SB att...hit .313 (41x131) in 35 second-half games...in September, hit .368 (14x38), his highest average for a single month in 2008...hit his third leadoff home run of the season and ninth of his career on Sept. 23 vs. CIN (also Aug. 8 and Aug. 1)...hit .318 (69x217) in his last 56 games (June 3-Sept. 28)..missed 19 games with an irritated disc in his back and did not play from Aug. 12-Sept. 15...hit .317 (13x41) with two doubles, a triple, three homers and six RBI during a season-long, 10-game hitting streak from July 23-Aug. 3...the club was 21-10 when he had a multi-hit game and 33- 12 when he scored at least one run...missed 15 games from June 24-July 8 with a strained right hamstring...after returning from his first stint on the DL on April 18, hit safely in 41 of his next 57 games until June 22, a .359 average (61x170) with 18 RBI and 12 stolen bases...when batting first in the lineup, hit .295 (46x156) with five homers, 17 RBI, a .351 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage...hit .295 (64x217) with 15 RBI, a .360 on-base and .378 slugging percentage when batting second in the lineup...hit .373 (31x83) with a .441 OBP and .590 slugging percentage in the first inning...recorded his fourth career multi-steal game on May 7 vs. WSH...missed the club's first 16 games of the year while recovering from surgery to repair an anal fissure.

2007

Colorado's starting second baseman for most of the year, hit .288 (118x410) with four home runs, 37 RBI, 24 doubles, six triples and 84 runs scored in 104 games...went 32x36 in stolen base attempts and is now 62x71 (87.3 percent) in his career...his 88.9 stolen base percentage in 2007 ranked as the fifth-highest in the NL and eighth-highest in the Majors...joined former teammate Willy Taveras as the first Rockies duo to steal 30 or more bases in a season since Larry Walker (33) and Eric Young (32) in 1997...was on the Rockies' Opening Day roster for the first time after beginning the previous three seasons with the Mets...posted career highs in runs and stolen bases...posted a .992 fielding percentage (four errors in 515 total chances) in 96 starts at second base...batted either first or second in the order in all 96 starts...hit .298 (37x124) in 30 games in the leadoff slot and hit .281 (79x281) in 68 games batting second...the switch-hitter posted a .271 (19x70) vs. lefties and .291 (99x340) against right-handers...hit .386 (19x49) with RISP and two out...ranked second on the Rockies with 24 infield hits...his eight sacrifice hits were a career-high and were the most by a Rockies position player...started nine of Colorado's first 11 games, but was placed on the 15-day Disabled List on April 15 with lower back spasms...suffered the injury on April 14 at Arizona, going 2x3 before leaving the game in the bottom of the fifth inning...was reinstated from Disabled List on May 21, missing a total of 33 games for Colorado...started at second base that night in Arizona and went 2x4 with two doubles and three RBI in his first game back from DL...hit safely in 16 of 17 games from June 1-23, hitting .333 (24x72) to rise from .294 to .314...hit his first home run of the season on June 6 vs. Houston...led off the seventh inning with a solo homer to right field, snapping 5-5 tie...marked his first career home run at Coors Field...drove in the game-winning run on June 9 at Baltimore with a two-out RBI double in the 10th...homered on June 17 vs. TB off left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir...was Matsui's first right-handed home run since May 23, 2004 vs. Colorado (Estes), snapping a 189-AB drought vs. LHP...stole his 15th base of the season on June 25 at Chicago-NL, setting a new career-high...recorded a career-high five hits on July 3 vs. New York-NL, two more hits than he had ever collected in a Major League game prior to that contest...hit safely in a season-high nine consecutive games from July 29-Aug. 11, raising season figure from .274 to .307...seven of those nine games were multi-hit contests...left the game on Sept. 8 vs. SD with a right hamstring strain after an infield single in the eighth inning...missed 10 games due to the injury and returned on Sept. 19 vs. Los Angeles, appearing in the eighth inning as a pinch-runner...scored on Brad Hawpe's two-run, go-ahead homer in Colorado's 6-5 victory...in the tiebreaker game on Oct. 1 vs. San Diego, ignited come-from-behind victory after leading off the bottom of the 13th inning with a double off Trevor Hoffman...scored on Troy Tulowitzki's double to bring the Rockies to within a run...started all of Colorado's last 11 games and hit .261 (12x46) during that stretch...hit .304 (14x46) with one home run during the Rockies' National League Championship playoff run in 2007, including six RBI and a .417 (5x12) average in the NL Division Series.

2002

Became only the eighth player in Japan since 1950 to hit .300 or better, with 30 or more home runs and 30 or more stolen bases...batted .332 with 36 home runs and 33 stolen bases...he was the only player among those eight to have 30 or more doubles as well (46)...led both Japanese Leagues (Pacific and Central) in hits and tied for the lead in triples...also finished first in the Pacific League in doubles, and ranked among league leaders in stolen bases (2nd), average (4th), home runs (5th), and RBI (6th)...captured his third Gold Glove...named to the PL All-Star squad...selected one of Japan's Best Nine at shortstop...helped guide the Lions into the Japan Series finals vs. Yomiuri...Seibu was swept in four games.

2001

Ranked sixth in the Pacific League in hits and T5th in stolen bases...named to the All-Star team and voted to the Best Nine as a shortstop...led shortstops in fielding percentage (.983).

2000

Led both Japanese Leagues in doubles and tied for the league lead in triples...also ranked among league leaders in hits (2nd), steals (4th), and RBI (12th)...voted to the All-Star team and named Best Nine as a shortstop.

1999

Led the Pacific League in stolen bases for the third consecutive season...ranked third in the Pacific League behind current Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki in batting average...ranked T2nd among both leagues in hits (led the PL) and was 10th in runs scored...voted Best Nine at shortstop...also named to the All-Star Game.

1998

Named the Pacific League's Most Valuable Player...won his second Gold Glove at shortstop...led the Pacific League in runs scored, and ranked among PL leaders in hits (2nd), doubles (T2nd), and triples (3rd)...finished T1st among both leagues in stolen bases...helped Seibu advance to the Japan Series...the Lions fell, four games to two, to Yokohama...named to his second All-Star team...also named to the Best Nine team at shortstop.

1997

Established a career high with 62 stolen bases, which led both leagues...also led both leagues in triples...earned his first Gold Glove at shortstop...led Seibu into the Japan Series finals...the Lions lost to Yakult four games to one...named to his first All-Star team...was also honored as one of the Best Nine at shortstop.

2006

Acquired in a June trade, Matsui split his third major league season between New York-NL and Colorado, also spending roughly 2 1/2 months at Triple-A...combined to hit .267 with three home runs and 26 RBI in 70 games for the Mets and Rockies...surpassed most of his offensive totals from the 2005 campaign despite playing in 17 fewer games...was 10-for-11 in steal opportunities, and is now 30-for-35 (85.7%) in steal attempts in his career...the switch-hitter batted .327 (35-for-107) in 24 games in the leadoff slot...hit .200 with one home run and seven RBI in 38 games for New York-NL...began his third major league season on the disabled list with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee...was activated on April 20...hit an inside the park home run on April 20 at San Diego, becoming the first player in major league history to begin his career with a home run in his first plate appearance for three straight seasons (2004-06)...he also became the first player to hit an inside the park homer for his first long ball of the year since Johnnie LeMaster for San Francisco on Sept. 2, 1975 vs. Los Angeles...Matsui posted a hit in each of his first 8 games in 2006...also had a nine-game hit streak from May 3-14...playing time began to decrease in late May and he was dealt to the Rockies on June 9...was immediately optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs...played in just six games for the Springs before going on the disabled list June 20 with lower back stiffness...spent over a month on the DL before he was reinstated on July 24...overall in the Pacific Coast League, Matsui batted .278 with three home runs, 16 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 31 games for the Sky Sox...over his last 18 games in the PCL, he hit .292 (21-for-72) with three home runs, 14 RBI and 19 runs...played mostly shortstop for the Sky Sox, but also saw time at second base...was recalled by the Rockies on Aug. 22 for the club's series in Milwaukee...hit .345 with two home runs and 19 RBI in 32 games for Colorado...had a .392 on-base percentage...despite being with the team for less than a month and a half, still ranked fourth on club with eight steals...hit safely in 24 of 31 games with an at-bat for the Rox, including 20 of 24 starts...hit .300 (9-for-30) with RISP for Colorado and was 4-for-7 as a pinch-hitter...beginning with his first game on Aug. 23, just three Rockies had more extra base hits than Matsui (13): Atkins, Helton, and Holliday...made 24 starts, 21 at second base and three at shortstop...went 1-for-3 with a double and walk in his Rockies debut Aug. 23 at Milwaukee, becoming the first Japanese position player in franchise history and just the third native of Japan overall to appear for Colorado...hit safely in nine of his first 10 games for Rox at .425 (17-for-40) through Sept. 3...matched his career high with 3 hits both Aug. 26 vs. San Diego and Aug. 29 vs. New York-NL...went 4-for-9 with three runs scored in 2 games vs. Mets in series at Coors Field in late August...had 3 RBI in three different games between Sept. 3-16...last of those games came Sept. 16 at Arizona, when he led off contest with a homer off Claudio Vargas on an 0-2 pitch in the first inning...was his first homer as a Rockie, and the first leadoff homer for the club since Jorge Piedra on Aug. 24, 2004 at Atlanta (Russ Ortiz)...was his 12th career HR, six of which led off the first inning of a game...marked Matsui's first leadoff homer since May 23, 2004 vs. Colorado...went 1-for-5 in season finale Oct. 1 at Chicago-NL, with final hit of the year being a two-run homer in the third inning that gave the Rox a 2-0 lead.

2005

Given a chance to redeem himself after a trying rookie season as a shortstop, Matsui endured another tough campaign -- this one at second base. He batted just .255 in 87 games, with three home runs, 24 RBIs and six steals, compared to the seven homers, 44 RBIs and 14 steals he garnered in 2004. He made nine errors in 303 total chances at second for a .970 fielding percentage, up .014 percent from the numbers (.956) he posted at shortstop a season earlier.

2004

Was first among National League rookies in doubles (32) and stolen bases (14)...Was second in multiple-hit games (40), fourth in hits (125), walks (40) and extra-base hits (41) and seventh in total bases (182)...Set a Mets club record with his fifth lead-off home run of the season, May 23rd vs. Colorado (Estes)...The old record was held by Tommie Agee, who had four lead-off home runs in 1969...Tied the Mets single-season record with his fourth lead-off home run on May 22nd vs. Colorado (Cook)...Established a Mets record by hitting 27 doubles before the All-Star Break, breaking Todd Zeile's mark of 26, set in 2000...Became the second player in major league history (Emmett Mueller, Phillies in 1938) to hit his first major league home run in his first at-bat leading off a game to start a season on April 6th at Atlanta off Russ Ortiz...Became the first Met since Preston Wilson (May 7, 1998 vs. St. Louis) to collect three hits in his major league debut...The last major leaguer to accomplish that feat was Colorado's Jason Jennings on August 23, 2001 at New York...Also became the first major leaguer since Miguel Olivo in 2002 to drive in three runs in his first Major League game...Tied the National League rookie record with his fifth lead-off home run of the season on May 23rd vs. Colorado...Chili Davis also had five lead-off home runs in his rookie season with the San Francisco Giants (1982)...Also became the first major league player to hit his first five career home runs while leading off the first inning of a game...The last player to have three home runs to begin a career, while leading off the first inning was Bob Brower with Texas in 1987...Started at second base the last three games of the season, October 1st-October 3rd vs. Montreal...Had his consecutive games played streak snapped on June 24th at 1,213 games combined between Japan's Pacific League and the Majors...He played in 1,143 straight games in Japan and the first 70 contests with the Mets...His lead-off home run, his third of the season (Randy Johnson), gave the Mets a 1-0 victory in Arizona on May 12th...The only other Met to hit a lead-off home run in a 1-0 game was Wayne Garrett in 1973...Earned MVP honors in the Puerto Rico Series (April 9th-April 11th) vs. the Expos...Batted .333 (4-12) with two doubles, two singles, three walks and a run scored as the Mets won two of the three games...Led off a game with a home run for the second time, April 28th at Los Angeles (Perez)...Hit into three double plays all year (one DP every 153.3 at bats), the third best ratio in the National League...Placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on August 15th, retroactive to August 9th, with a lower back strain...Was reinstated on September 24th...Hit safely in a career-best nine games (17-39, .436) with 13 runs scored, six doubles, two home runs and five RBI from July 1st-July 9th...Set a career-best with four runs scored, July 3rd vs. the Yankees...Had a then career-high seven-game hitting streak, May 9th-May 15th...Was 10-25 (.400) with six doubles, a home run and five RBI during that time...Had a six-game hitting streak from May 26th-June 2nd...Batted .290 (9-31) with six runs, two doubles, a triple, three walks and two stolen bases...Collected his first multi-home run game, July 2nd vs. the Yankees (Mussina and Prinz)...Also had a career-best five RBI in the game...Tied his career-high with three hits (sixth time), July 22nd vs. Montreal...Also had three hits on July 7th at Philadelphia, July 6th at Philadelphia, July 3rd vs. the Yankees, May 4th vs. San Francisco, April 6th at Atlanta...Became the first Met in club history to hit lead-off home runs in back-to-back games, May 22nd and May 23rd vs. Colorado...Had a team-high 40 multiple-hit games; 34 games with two hits and six games with three hits...Also added three games with two RBI, one game with three RBI and the one contest with five RBI.

2003

Named to the Pacific League All-Star team...Also voted one of Japan's Best Nine at shortstop...Extended his consecutive games played streak to 1,143 contests, which is the fifth longest streak in Japanese history...Ranked second in the Pacific League in runs scored, third in hits, was tied for fourth in home runs, fifth in doubles, tied for second with 322 total bases, tied for ninth in stolen bases and tied for fifth in sacrifice flies...Earned his fourth career Gold Glove...Helped turn a career-high 96 double plays.