Hirokazu Sawamura #38

Attended Chuo University in Tokyo...According to Baseball-Reference, is the first player from the school ever to appear in MLB, as well as the only player born in Tochigi to play in the majors...According to Baseball-Reference, Sawamura is also the only MLB player to attend Sano Nihondai High School in Japan.

2021

Made the Sox’ Opening Day roster and spent the entire season in the majors, going 5-1 with 10 holds and a 3.06 ERA (18 ER/53.0 IP)...Ranked fourth among AL rookies in pitching appearances (55) and fifth in holds (10)...Among the 35 AL rookies who threw 50.0+ innings, he ranked fifth in ERA (3.06)...In 26 home games, allowed only 1 HR and went 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA (6 ER/26.0 IP)...In 29 road games, gave up eight HR and posted a 4.00 ERA (12 ER/27.0 IP)...Led the majors with an average velocity of 91.6 MPH on his splitter (min. 100 splitters thrown)...Of the 85 splitters thrown at 93.0+ MPH in the majors last season, he accounted for 69 of them (81.2%)...Stranded 29 of 35 inherited runners, including 15 in a row from 6/25-8/17...Among ML pitchers with 30+ inherited runners, ranked 4th in inherited runners scored percent (17.1)...Made his big league debut in the season opener on 4/2 vs. BAL...Worked a scoreless ninth inning and fanned Austin Hays for his first ML strikeout...In his first five games, allowed 0 runs and one hit in 5.1 IP (1-for-16, 0.94 WHIP, .063 AVG)...Earned his first ML win on 4/23 vs. SEA (1.1 IP, H, 3 SO)...Faced 42 consecutive batters without issuing a walk between 4/18-5/20...In his debut against the Yankees (6/4 at NYY), struck out five of seven batters faced with one BB over 2.0 scoreless IP...In his final 22 games leading into the All-Star break (5/11-7/11), was 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA (4 ER/22.1 IP) and a .181 opponent AVG (15-for-83)...On the injured list with right tricep inflammation from 7/20-30...Made one rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester...Also was on the COVID-19 Related IL from 8/31-9/13...Helped the Sox clinch a Postseason berth by throwing 1.2 scoreless innings in the season finale (10/3 at WSH)...Entered the third inning with one out and the bases loaded and got Jordy Mercer to ground into a double play.

POSTSEASON: Made the Red Sox’ ALCS roster and pitched in Games 1, 3, and 5...Threw a perfect ninth inning in Game 3 vs. HOU (W, 12-3).

2020

Began the season with Yomiuri...made 13 appearances before being traded to the Chiba Lotte Marines on 9/8...In 22 games for Chiba Lotte, posted a 1.71 ERA (4 ER/21.0 IP) with 29 SO and a 0.95 WHIP.