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Brandon Laird
Brandon Laird
Brandon Laird
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Brandon J. Laird (born September 11, 1987), nicknamed "Sushi Boy",[2] is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He has played for the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Key Information

High school and college career

[edit]

Laird attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California.[3] He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign,[4] opting to attend Cypress College, where he played college baseball for the Cypress Chargers.[5]

Professional career

[edit]

New York Yankees

[edit]

The New York Yankees selected Laird in the 27th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.[6] He signed with the Yankees. Laird was named a Post-Season All-Star for the GCL Yankees that same year after hitting .339/.367/.577 with eight homer runs and 29 RBI in 45 games.[7][8] He was named a Post-Season All-Star following the 2009 season after hitting .266/.329/.415 with 13 home run and 75 RBI in 124 games for the Tampa Yankees.[7][9]

Laird was a non-roster invitee to Yankees spring training before the 2010 season.[10] On August 2, 2010, Laird was promoted from the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Triple-A International League.[11] Laird was named both the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year of the Eastern League in 2010, following a breakout season.[12] After the 2010 season, he was added to the Yankees' 40 man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.[13] Baseball America named him the organization's 10th best prospect.[14]

Laird with the New York Yankees in 2011

Laird was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011, when Ramiro Peña was placed on the disabled list.[15] On July 22, at Yankee Stadium, Laird made his major league debut, and got his first major league hit and RBI against Oakland Athletics pitcher Craig Breslow on a single to center field. He scored his first run earlier in the game, scoring on a single by Nick Swisher after working a walk off of A's pitcher Joey Devine.[16] Following the season, he won the Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award at third base.[17] The Yankees designated Laird for assignment on August 27, 2012.[18]

Houston Astros

[edit]

Laird was claimed by the Houston Astros on September 1, 2012.[19] Laird started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks. The Astros promoted Laird to the big leagues on April 18, 2013, after Brett Wallace was optioned to Oklahoma City. Laird had been hitting .353 in 12 games to earn his promotion.[20] He was outrighted off the roster on October 2, 2013.[21][22] Laird ended his 2013 season batting .169.[23]

Washington Nationals

[edit]

Laird signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals on November 23, 2013.[24] On March 15, 2014, Laird was traded to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.[25] He played for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, and was named the league's player of the week for the week of June 16-22[26] and was a Post-Season All-Star.[7]

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

[edit]
Laird with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2016

In November 2014, Laird signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[27] Laird struggled to start the 2015 season with Hokkaido, batting under .200 into June. On the final day of the All-Star break, Fighters third base coach Shirai took Laird out to dinner at a local sushi restaurant to get him to relax. The chef, a big Fighters fan, suggested that Laird should act like he is making sushi when he got into the batter's box to intimidate the pitcher. The next day, he did not do the gesture getting into the batter's box, but after he hit a home run, he acted like he was making sushi and thus the nickname "sushi boy" was born.[28] He started to gain momentum after that performance and had a nice second half, finishing his first season in NPB with 34 home runs and a batting average of .231.[29]

In May 2016, Laird made international headlines after a home run hit the Kirin sign at the Sapporo Dome, earning him a year's supply of beer and $10,000.[30] That year, he led the Pacific League with 39 home runs. He hit the game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 2016 Japan Series,[31] and a grand slam in Game 6. Laird won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award.[32]

He played for Mexico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[33][34] Laird spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the club, but failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension prior to the 2019 season and became a free agent.[35]

Chiba Lotte Marines

[edit]

On January 15, 2019, Laird signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB.[36] On July 27, 2022 Chiba Lotte Marines hitter Brandon Laird won the 2022 NPB Home Run Derby [37] He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

Mumbai Cobras

[edit]

On October 23, 2023, Laird was selected in the fifth round by the Mumbai Cobras, with the 40th overall pick, of the 2023 Baseball United inaugural draft.[38]

Personal life

[edit]

Brandon's brother, Gerald, is a catcher who played in the major leagues.[39] In December 2010, Laird, his brother, and their uncle were arrested following an altercation at a Phoenix Suns game. The fight stemmed from accusations that Laird's grandfather had inappropriately touched the wife of Boston Celtics guard Eddie House.[40] A relative of Laird's was killed in the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at Route 91 Harvest music festival.[41]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Brandon Laird

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Brandon Laird (born September 11, 1987) is an American former who played in (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Astros, as well as in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the and . Drafted by the Yankees in the 27th round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of , Laird made his MLB debut in 2011 and appeared in 53 games over three seasons, batting .197 with 6 home runs and 16 RBIs. After limited success in MLB, he transitioned to NPB in 2015, where he established himself as a prolific , amassing 216 home runs over eight seasons and earning the nickname "Sushi Boy" for his affinity for during his time abroad. Laird's early career began in the Yankees' system, where he progressed steadily from rookie ball to Triple-A, showcasing consistent power with 116 home runs across 3,052 at-bats and a .274 . His MLB tenure was brief: in 2011 with the Yankees, he hit .190 in 11 games; in 2012 with the Astros, .257 in 17 games; and in 2013, .169 with 5 home runs in 25 games. The younger brother of former MLB Gerald Laird, Brandon drew inspiration from his sibling's big-league path but carved his own niche in after being released by MLB organizations. In NPB, Laird's production surged with the Fighters from 2015 to 2018, including a career-high 39 home runs and 97 RBIs in 2016, helping the team reach the that year. He moved to the in , where he continued his slugging prowess with 32 home runs and 101 RBIs in 2021, though his performance dipped in 2022 (.189 average, 15 home runs). Over his NPB career, spanning 975 games, maintained a .241 with a .779 , solidifying his reputation as a reliable and corner in one of the world's top leagues.

Early life and education

High school career

Brandon Laird attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California, from 2001 to 2005, where he played baseball as a pitcher and shortstop. During his senior year in 2005, Laird excelled on the mound and at the plate, posting a 1.91 earned run average over 88 innings pitched while recording 12 wins and 124 strikeouts, rankings that placed him sixth nationally in wins, fourth in California, and second in the Southern Section. Offensively, he batted .545 with strong on-base percentages, contributing to key team victories such as a 17-0 win over Santiago and a 15-1 triumph against Rancho Alamitos. His fielding as a shortstop provided reliable defense, supporting La Quinta's 27-5 overall record and strong league standing in the Garden Grove League. Laird earned significant accolades for his performances, including Orange County Player of the Year as a senior, two-time Player of the Year, two-time All-County Player of the Year, first-team All-State, and All-League honors. Following his high school career, Laird was selected by the Indians in the 27th round of the 2005 MLB Draft but chose not to sign, opting instead to attend to further develop his skills.

College career

Laird enrolled at in , following high school, and played baseball for the Chargers from 2005 to 2007. As a two-year starter at third base, he contributed significantly to the team's offensive output during his time in the Orange Empire Conference. In his season of 2006, Laird batted .391 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs over 54 games and 217 at-bats. His year in 2007 marked a breakout performance, leading the team in , hits, , home runs, and RBIs. Defensive metrics from his college tenure are limited in available records, though he primarily fielded at third base with solid range for a .
SeasonGamesABAVGHRRBI2B3BR
200654217.3911150---
200741156.455227117255
Overall, across 106 games and 421 at-bats, Laird compiled 154 hits, 33 doubles, 97 RBIs, and 242 for a .366 . In the , the New York Yankees selected Laird in the 27th round (844th overall). He signed with the organization for a $120,000 bonus and transitioned to the immediately after , forgoing further amateur play.

Professional career

New York Yankees

Brandon Laird signed with the New York Yankees organization as an amateur free agent on July 18, 2007, after being selected in the 27th round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Cypress College. He began his professional career that summer with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees and Short-Season A Staten Island Yankees, where he hit .339 with eight home runs in 45 games. In 2008, Laird advanced to the full-season A Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League, posting a .273 batting average with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs over 122 games, showcasing his power potential at the plate. Laird continued his ascent in 2009 with the Advanced A Tampa Yankees of the , where he batted .266 with 13 home runs in 124 games, refining his approach against more advanced pitching. His breakout came in 2010 at the Double-A of the Eastern League, earning him both the league's and Rookie of the Year awards after slashing .291/.355/.523 with 23 home runs and 90 RBIs in 107 games; he also spent time in Triple-A with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees later that season. In 2011, Laird spent the full season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .260 with 16 home runs in 123 games, and was recognized for his defensive prowess by winning the Rawlings at third base. He returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2012, batting .254 with 15 home runs in 130 games before the Yankees designated him for assignment on August 27 to clear roster space. Laird made his Major League Baseball debut with the Yankees on July 22, 2011, pinch-hitting for in the eighth inning against the at , where he recorded his first career hit—an RBI single off Joel Peralta in the bottom of the eighth. In 11 games that season, primarily as a corner , he batted .190 (4-for-21) with one RBI and three walks, seeing limited action amid a crowded Yankees lineup. Laird did not appear in the majors for the Yankees in 2012, remaining in Triple-A until his designation for assignment. On September 1, 2012, the Houston Astros claimed him off waivers from the Yankees.

Houston Astros

On September 1, 2012, the Houston Astros claimed Brandon Laird off waivers from the New York Yankees, adding him to their active roster for the remainder of the season. He appeared in 17 games for the Astros that and , primarily at third base and first base, batting .257 with one and four RBI in 37 plate appearances. Laird entered the 2013 spring training as a non-roster invitee for the Astros and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City RedHawks, ahead of after failing to secure a spot on the major league roster. On April 18, 2013, the Astros selected his contract from and promoted him to the majors, where he played in 20 games over the next few weeks, hitting .133 with two home runs and five RBI. His playing time was limited amid a crowded infield, and on May 6, 2013, he was optioned back to the RedHawks after struggling at the plate. Laird spent most of the summer in Triple-A, where he hit .277 with 16 home runs in 119 games for . The Astros recalled him on September 8, 2013, for five additional major league games to finish the season, during which he went 0-for-4 without extra-base hits. Overall in 25 games with that year, Laird batted .169 with five home runs and 11 RBI, showing power potential but inconsistent contact. On October 2, 2013, the Astros outrighted him to the minors by removing him from the 40-man roster, and he elected free agency two days later on October 4.

Washington Nationals

Laird signed a minor league contract with the in November 2013 following his release from the Houston Astros organization. On March 15, 2014, the acquired him from the Royals in exchange for a or cash considerations, and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs of the . In 2014, Laird appeared in 130 games for Syracuse, posting a .300 with 18 home runs and 85 RBIs while primarily playing third base. His performance included a strong midseason stretch, earning him the International League Player of the Week honor for June 16–22 after batting .423 with four home runs, eight RBIs, and eight runs scored over six games. Laird also contributed to the Chiefs' postseason run, where he was named a Post-Season . The Nationals granted Laird free agency on November 8, 2014, concluding his brief stint in their organization. Seeking new opportunities abroad, he subsequently pursued a in .

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

In December 2014, Brandon Laird signed a one-year with the of (NPB) ahead of the 2015 season. Laird quickly established himself as a power threat in his NPB debut year of 2015, slashing .231/.301/.488 with 34 and 97 RBIs over 143 games while primarily manning third base. His home run total ranked third in the , contributing significantly to the Fighters' lineup as they finished second in the league standings. The following season in 2016 marked a breakout, as Laird batted .263/.319/.516 with a league-leading 39 and 97 RBIs in another 143 games, earning his first NPB selection and a spot on the Best Nine team at third base. Laird's offensive prowess helped propel the Fighters to the title in 2016, where they defeated the in six games; he was named series MVP after batting .348 with three home runs and seven RBIs, including a walk-off homer in Game 4 and a grand slam in Game 6. He maintained strong power output in 2017, hitting .229/.308/.459 with 32 home runs and 90 RBIs across 137 games despite a team-worst 125 strikeouts. In 2018, his final year with the Fighters, Laird posted a .233/.309/.447 line with 26 home runs and 65 RBIs in 120 games, again earning an nod while splitting time between third base and first base. Following the season, the Fighters did not retain him, allowing Laird to enter free agency; he subsequently signed with the .

Chiba Lotte Marines

Following his departure from the as a , Brandon Laird signed with the on January 15, 2019, ahead of the 2019 season. Over his four seasons with the Marines from 2019 to 2022, Laird maintained a cumulative of .238, along with 85 home runs and 333 runs batted in. He demonstrated consistent power, posting 20 or more home runs in multiple seasons, including 32 in 2019 and 32 in 2021. On July 27, 2022, Laird won the NPB , defeating of the in the final round after hitting 10 s across three rounds of competition. Through the 2022 season, Laird's overall NPB career totals stood at 216 s and 682 RBI across 973 games with the Fighters and . He became a at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign. During his tenure with the , Laird earned the nickname "Sushi Boy" for his signature celebration, in which he mimed preparing sushi rolls. Following 2022, Laird did not sign with another professional team and appears to have retired.

Mumbai Cobras

Brandon Laird was selected by the Mumbai Cobras in the fifth round, 40th overall, during the inaugural draft on October 23, 2023. As an experienced and , he joined the team's initial roster selections, bringing his defensive reliability and power-hitting background to the franchise. Following the draft, Laird participated in the 2023 Dubai All-Star Showcase, where he represented the Cobras alongside other draftees in exhibition games aimed at promoting in the . This event served as an early test for Baseball United's vision of in the region. The Cobras, representing in the Middle East- and South Asia-based league, did not include Laird on their active roster for the 2025 inaugural season, which began on November 14, 2025. As of November 18, 2025, the Cobras have played their opening series against the Karachi Monarchs, securing a series victory, but Laird has no recorded performance statistics in the league.

Personal life

Family

Brandon Laird was born on September 11, 1987, in . He grew up in Cypress in a family deeply immersed in baseball, where his older brother, , emerged as a key figure and role model. Gerald, a , enjoyed a 13-year career from 2003 to 2015, playing for the Texas Rangers, Tigers, Cardinals, and ; he won a championship with the Cardinals in 2011 and appeared in the with the Tigers. The brothers' shared upbringing in fostered a competitive environment that propelled Brandon toward , with serving as an idol and mentor who emphasized maximum effort and provided early exposure to major league clubhouses. As children, they made a pact to play for the and hit home runs together, reflecting the family's strong tradition. The Lairds, including their parents and sister, supported both sons' pursuits, though Gerald's early professional success meant he missed some of Brandon's high school games.

Notable incidents

In December 2009, during a game against the , Brandon Laird and his brother Gerald, a Tigers , were involved in an altercation at a lounge in the arena that led to their ejection and citations by Phoenix police. The incident reportedly began when Gerald Laird's grandfather made inappropriate contact with the wife of Celtics guard , escalating into a scuffle with security; Brandon was cited for after shouting derogatory remarks, while Gerald faced an charge. Both brothers were released without bail, and the event drew brief media scrutiny but did not result in further legal proceedings. In October 2017, Laird suffered a personal tragedy when his cousin, 22-year-old Christiana Duarte, was killed in the Las Vegas at the music festival, where a gunman murdered 58 people and injured hundreds more. Duarte, a employee from , was attending the concert with friends; Laird, then playing for the in , cut short his season to return home for the family. During his time in , Laird earned the affectionate nickname "Sushi Boy" from fans and media due to his vocal enthusiasm for , which he often celebrated by shouting "Sushi daisuki!" (I love !) in post-game interviews after home runs. This personal quirk, stemming from his appreciation of , became a good-luck ritual and sparked fan merchandise like T-shirts, endearing him to supporters beyond his on-field performance.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/brandon-laird-477186
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lairdbr01.shtml
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=laird-001bra
  4. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/30623/brandon-laird
  5. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/5638-brandon-laird/
  6. https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/westminster/la-quinta-aztecs/athletes/brandon-laird/bio/?careerid=ua0c2k8os2rh1
  7. https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/westminster/la-quinta-aztecs/athletes/brandon-laird/?careerid=ua0c2k8os2rh1
  8. https://harthighbaseball.com/gaberreport/CIFTMS05.pdf
  9. https://www.ggusd.us/news/la-quinta-hall-of-fame-night
  10. https://cypresschargers.com/sports/bsb/career_records
  11. https://cypresschargers.com/sports/bsb/single_season_records
  12. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/draft_round/2007~27~June-Reg/
  13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=5f0333f5&sort_by=H
  14. https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-25398428
  15. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/09/astros-claim-brandon-laird-from-yankees.html
  16. https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-announce-2013-non-roster-invites/c-41010818
  17. https://www.mlb.com/astros/roster/transactions/2013/10
  18. https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-deal-minor-leaguer-brandon-laird-to-nationals/c-69450910
  19. https://www.federalbaseball.com/2014/3/15/5513210/nationals-acquire-brandon-laird-from-royals-for-ptbnl-and-cash
  20. https://www.syracuse.com/chiefs/2014/06/syracuse_chiefs_sizzling_brandon_laird_named_il_batter_of_the_week.html
  21. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2014/08/26/steven-souza-jr-named-international-league-mvp-rookie-of-the-year/
  22. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2014-transactions.shtml
  23. https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player/brandon-laird-11662
  24. https://npb.jp/bis/eng/2015/stats/bat_p.html
  25. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story?id=17917502
  26. https://npb.jp/bis/eng/2017/stats/bat_p.html
  27. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/07/14/baseball/japanese-baseball/sushi-boy-brandon-laird-looking-like-perfect-fit-marines/
  28. https://japanball.com/npb-newsletter/home-runs-when-they-mattered-most/
  29. https://wordsabovereplacement.com/sushi-boy-on-the-rise/
  30. https://worldbaseball.com/baseball-united-holds-first-ever-draft-four-teams-make-selections-for-2024-season/
  31. https://thebridge.in/baseball/mumbai-cobras-inaugural-draft-picks-for-baseball-united-44565
  32. https://baseballunited.com/news/baseball-united-reveals-rosters-dubai-all-star-showcase
  33. https://www.baseballunited.com/schedule
  34. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lairdge01.shtml
  35. https://www.mlb.com/player/gerald-laird-408042
  36. https://www.ocregister.com/2013/06/12/oc-in-the-majors-braves-laird-caretaker-for-prized-rookie/
  37. https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2010/01/police_report_says_incident_in.html
  38. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/25/baseball/japanese-baseball/fighters-slugger-laird-sushi-became-good-luck-charm-sparked-fan-craze/
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