MLB players from Japan

70 MLB players on file were born in Japan. 13 are on MLB rosters now, among them Shohei Ohtani, Yusei Kikuchi, and Seiya Suzuki. Ichiro Suzuki has played the most MLB seasons of them, 19. Every season since 1876 is on file.

On MLB rosters now (13)

MLB players from Japan on rosters now
PlayerPosYearsSeasonsBorn
Shohei OhtaniLADDH2018–20269Oshu, Japan
Yusei KikuchiLAASP2019–20268Iwate, Japan
Seiya SuzukiCHCRF2022–20265Tokyo, Japan
Kodai SengaNYMSP2023–20264Aichi, Japan
Jung Hoo LeeSFRF2024–20263Nagoya, Japan
Shota ImanagaCHCSP2024–20263Kitakyushu, Japan
Yoshinobu YamamotoLADSP2024–20263Okayama, Japan
Yuki MatsuiSDRP2024–20263Yokohama, Japan
Roki SasakiLADSP2025–20262Iwate, Japan
Tomoyuki SuganoCOLSP2025–20262Kanagawa, Japan
Kazuma OkamotoTOR3B20261Nara, Japan
Munetaka MurakamiCHW1B20261Kumamoto, Japan
Tatsuya ImaiHOUSP20261Tochigi, Japan

Former MLB players (57)

Former MLB players from Japan
PlayerPosYearsSeasonsBorn
Ichiro SuzukiRF2001–201919Kasugai, Japan
Yu DarvishSP2012–202513Osaka, Japan
Hideo NomoSP1995–200812Osaka, Japan
Hideki MatsuiLF2003–201210Kanazaka, Japan
Junichi TazawaRP2009–20189Yokohama, Japan
Kenta MaedaRP2016–20259Osaka, Japan
Koji UeharaRP2009–20179Neyagawa, Japan
Shigetoshi HasegawaRP1997–20059Kobe, Japan
Tomo OhkaSP1999–20099Kyoto, Japan
Daisuke MatsuzakaRP2007–20148Tokyo, Japan
So TaguchiOF2002–20098Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Hiroki KurodaSP2008–20147Osaka, Japan
Kazuo Matsui2B2004–20107Osaka, Japan
Masahiro TanakaSP2014–20207Itami, Japan
Takashi SaitoRP2006–20127Miyagi, Japan
Hideki IrabuRP1997–20026Hyogo, Japan
Hideki OkajimaRP2007–20136Kyoto, Japan
Hisashi IwakumaSP2012–20176Tokyo, Japan
Mac SuzukiRP1996–20026Kobe, Japan
Norichika AokiRF2012–20176Hyuga City, Japan
Jeff McCurryRP1995–19995Toyko, Japan
Kosuke FukudomeLF2008–20125Osaki, Japan
Masao KidaRP1999–20055Tokyo, Japan
Masato YoshiiSP1998–20025Osaka, Japan
Akinori Iwamura2B2007–20104Ehime, Japan
Akinori OtsukaRP2004–20074Chiba, Japan
Hisanori TakahashiRP2010–20134Tokyo, Japan
Kazuhiro SasakiRP2000–20034Sendai City, Japan
Kazuhisa IshiiSP2002–20054Tokyo, Japan
Kenji JohjimaC2006–20094Sasebo, Japan
Masataka YoshidaDH2023–20264Fukui, Japan
Tadahito Iguchi2B2005–20084Tokyo, Japan
Ryota IgarashiRP2010–20123Chiba, Japan
Stephen RandolphRP2003–20073Okinawa, Japan
Tsuyoshi ShinjoCF2001–20033Fukuoka, Japan
Yoshihisa HiranoRP2018–20203Kyoto, Japan
Kazuhito TadanoRP2004–20052Tokyo, Japan
Keiichi YabuRP2005–20082Mie, Japan
Kei IgawaSP2007–20082Oarai, Japan
Keith McDonaldC2000–20012Yokosuka, Japan
Kenshin KawakamiSP2009–20102Tokushima, Japan
Masa KobayashiRP2008–20092Yamanashi, Japan
Mike NakamuraRP2003–20042Nara, Japan
Shingo TakatsuRP2004–20052Hiroshima, Japan
Steve ChitrenRP1990–19912Tokyo, Japan
Tsuyoshi Nishioka2B2011–20122Daito, Japan
Yasuhiko YabutaRP2008–20092Osaka, Japan
Yoshinori TateyamaRP2011–20122Osaka, Japan
Craig HouseRP20001Naha Afb, Japan
Jim Bowie1B19941Tokyo, Japan
Kazuo FukumoriRP20081Miyakonojo, Japan
Ken TakahashiRP20091Kanagawa, Japan
Masumi KuwataRP20071Osaka, Japan
Norihiro Nakamura3B20051Osaka, Japan
Satoru KomiyamaRP20021Chiba, Japan
Takahito NomuraRP20021Kouchi Prefecture, Japan
Takashi KashiwadaRP19971Tokyo, Japan

Birthplace as ESPN lists it for each player. Most seasons first.

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