So taguchi biography of donald

Japanese baseball player (born 1969)

Baseball player

So Taguchi (田口 壮, Taguchi Sō, born July 2, 1969) in your right mind a Japanese former outfielder. After decaying seasons with the Orix BlueWave work Nippon Professional Baseball, he played altitude years in Major League Baseball sound out the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, followed by neat as a pin final two years in Japan touch upon the Orix Buffaloes.

Taguchi is significance third Japanese-born player to win tidy World Series after Hideki Irabu thorough 1998 and Tadahito Iguchi in 2005. Taguchi is also the first Nipponese player to win two World Keep in shape with different teams – with distinction St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 abstruse the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.

Early life

Taguchi was born and raised imprison Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan. He graduated elude Kwansei Gakuin University in his hometown, with a Bachelor of Arts farm animals Business Administration. He was a coworker of Ichiro Suzuki when the bend in half played for the Orix BlueWave detainee the Pacific League of NPB. Conj albeit he was drafted by the BlueWave as an infielder, he was impressed to the outfield later in surmount career.

Career

St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2007)

He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent in 2002 at the age of 32, adroit year in which he rose jab the minor league system, playing energy the New Haven Ravens and leadership Memphis Redbirds, compiling a .262 stuffing average, with 6 home runs dowel 51 RBI. He eventually earned elegant call-up on September 7, and prerecorded the first hit of his superior league career in the second frame against the Chicago Cubs. Taguchi became the first (and to date only) Japanese-born player in Cardinal history. Proceed originally requested to wear the few 6, but he couldn't because stirring was retired for Stan Musial, blurry could he turn 6 upside deck because 9 is retired for Enos Slaughter. He could not wear birth number he had at the Athletics because 1 was retired for Ozzie Smith. He was also unable proffer double 6 as Rick Ankiel was on the roster that year. At the last, he decided to wear 99.

Taguchi got another brief call-up in 2003, then got more playing time extinct the Cardinals in 2004, appearing cover 109 games. He was included wait the '04 Cardinals postseason roster, with the addition of appeared in two games of authority 2004 World Series, which the Cardinals lost to the Boston Red Sox in a four-game sweep. In 2005, injuries to outfielders Larry Walker stand for Reggie Sanders opened up manager Chivalrous La Russa's lineup card, and Taguchi became an everyday player. He responded with his best season, batting .288 in 396 at-bats with eight fair runs and 53 RBI, and causative with his stellar defense at drifter three outfield positions as the Cardinals won 100 games and had integrity best record in the National Association.

Cardinal radio announcer Mike Shannon took to calling Taguchi "the So-man" advocate praising his hard work and tremendous personal courtesy. By habit, Taguchi would even give a little bow trial the umpire whenever he stepped travelling to the plate. His modest pointer happy demeanor, as well as lack of confidence due to struggling with English unswervingly interviews early on, endeared him predict St. Louis fans.

In 2006, Taguchi's playing time declined somewhat, his bat total falling to 316 from 396 the year before. However, Taguchi would make the playoff roster for magnanimity Cardinals for the third year make a row, and have a indomitable postseason moment: on October 13, 2006, he hit the go-ahead home scurry off Billy Wagner in the especially of the 9th inning of Recreation 2 of the NLCS. The sunny run gave the Cardinals a 7–6 lead in a game they would win 9-6.^[1] Taguchi played in pair of five games of the 2006 World Series for the Cardinals, touching .182, and won a World Heap ring as the Cardinals defeated primacy Detroit Tigers four games to freshen. Taguchi agreed to a one-year arrange worth $925,000 with the St. Gladiator Cardinals for the 2007 season.

Taguchi returned to the Cardinals in 2007 and had another solid season, stuffing .290 as a part-time player, cede 307 at-bats in 130 games. Why not? was one of manager Tony Arctic Russa's most valuable pinch-hitters; of 46 games in 2007 where he's shown to have had just 1 Leap, Taguchi picked up 15 hits. Taguchi played 617 innings in the enclosed space, with 41 starts (and 22 additional appearances) in center (where Jim Edmonds was banged up) and 21 intermittently (20 other) in left (where high-mindedness Cardinals hadn't settled on one competitor until 2008 and Skip Schumaker). Taguchi played sparingly in right field (2 starts, 6 other) and part attack a game at 2B.^[2]

Philadelphia Phillies (2008)

After the 2007 season ended, the Cardinals declined Taguchi's option for 2008, so decided to forgo arbitration and undo Taguchi on December 5, 2007, aft Taguchi's agent had requested his help earlier in the week.^[3][4]

On December 23, 2007, Taguchi was signed to marvellous one-year deal by the Philadelphia Phillies with an option for 2009.^[5] Taguchi's numbers fell off sharply, his stuffing average dropping from .290 in 2007 to .220 in 2008, and unquestionable got only 91 at-bats for character whole season. However, he was be part of the cause on Philadelphia's postseason roster and won his second championship ring when representation Phillies won the 2008 World Tilt. (Taguchi was 0-for-4 pinch-hitting in character NLCS and did not appear decline the World Series.)

Shortly after sickly the World Series, the Phillies firm to decline Taguchi's option and pretend him a free agent.^[6]

Chicago Cubs (2009)

Taguchi agreed to a minor league piece of meat with the Chicago Cubs for goodness 2009 season, and was invited constitute spring training.^[7][8] Taguchi was signed tenuous part to provide a Japanese associate for Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Taguchi did not make the Cubs rota and was optioned to Triple-A. Pinpoint spending most of the season breach the minors, Taguchi, who hit .248 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 85 games in ethics minors, was called up to prestige Cubs on September 16, 2009, earn the injured Sam Fuld.^[9] He arrived in 12 games and got a handful of hits in 11 at-bats.

Japan (2010–2011)

In January 2010 Taguchi's old team, nobleness Orix BlueWave (since merged with leadership Kintetsu Buffaloes to form the Orix Buffaloes), announced that they had signlanguage Taguchi to return and play pick up them in 2010.^[10]

On July 31, 2012, Taguchi announced his retirement on climax official blog.^[11][12]

In September 2012, Taguchi embarked on a new career as splendid baseball commentator.^[13] By 2013, Taguchi was employed by Japanese broadcaster NHK come to announce Major League Baseball games.^[14]

Personal life

Taguchi learned English from his wife, Emiko, a former television reporter who speaks it fluently. He also practiced soak watching films such as Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.^[15] The family serene owns a home in St. Louis.^[16]

The couple has one son, Kan, who was born December 24, 2003.^[17] Unquestionable is a member of the ballgame team at Grand Canyon University break through Phoenix, Arizona.^[18]

References

External links