Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Tomo Ohka
Tomokazu Ohka (大家 友和, Ōka Tomokazu; IPA: [oːka tomokazɯ]) (born 18 March 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (1999–2001), Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2001–2005), Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006), Toronto Blue Jays (2007), Cleveland Indians (2009), in Japan's Baseball Challenge League for the Fukushima Hopes, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars. He throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
On November 20, 1998, Ohka's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Yokohama BayStars (Japan's Central League). Ohka's statistics in Japan were less than flattering, but his ability to control his pitches sparked the interest of the Red Sox.[citation needed]
In 1999, Ohka began his North America professional career with the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Trenton Thunder. In 12 starts he went 8–0 with a 3.00 earned run average (ERA). He was promoted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox where he had a 1.92 ERA and a 7–0 record. On July 19, 1999, he made his major league debut.
Ohka found himself in the minors again in 2000. That season with Pawtucket, he went 9–6 in 19 starts with a 2.96 ERA, with three complete games. He pitched a perfect game on June 1, 2000, defeating the Charlotte Knights, 2–0, at McCoy Stadium, needing just 76 pitches to retire all 27 Charlotte batters.
In both 1999 and 2000, The Red Sox named Ohka their minor league player of the year. He was in the All-Star Futures Game in 1999 and 2000, and in 2000 he was the Triple-A All-Star Game starting pitcher.
Ohka became the first player from Japan to play for the Red Sox when he debuted in 1999. During the middle of the 2001 season, Ohka was sent to Montreal for the veteran closer Ugueth Urbina. Ohka had a mildly successful run with the Expos. His most productive season came with the Expos in 2002, when he posted 13–8 with 118 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA.
In June 2004, Ohka's right forearm was broken when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Beltrán in Kansas City. Ohka underwent major surgery and was out until mid-September. He finished 3–7 with a 3.40 ERA in 15 starts.
As the Expos moved to Washington, D.C. for the 2005 season, Ohka was part of a starting rotation that included Liván Hernández, Esteban Loaiza and Tony Armas Jr. Ohka was involved in an incident with Washington manager Frank Robinson. Ohka protested being removed from a game, a move which resulted in an undisclosed fine from the team. On June 10, 2005, the Washington Nationals traded Ohka to the Milwaukee Brewers for second baseman Junior Spivey. In Ohka's first game with his new club on June 14, he threw a shutout against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during interleague play.
Hub AI
Tomo Ohka AI simulator
(@Tomo Ohka_simulator)
Tomo Ohka
Tomokazu Ohka (大家 友和, Ōka Tomokazu; IPA: [oːka tomokazɯ]) (born 18 March 1976) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (1999–2001), Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2001–2005), Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006), Toronto Blue Jays (2007), Cleveland Indians (2009), in Japan's Baseball Challenge League for the Fukushima Hopes, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars. He throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
On November 20, 1998, Ohka's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Yokohama BayStars (Japan's Central League). Ohka's statistics in Japan were less than flattering, but his ability to control his pitches sparked the interest of the Red Sox.[citation needed]
In 1999, Ohka began his North America professional career with the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Trenton Thunder. In 12 starts he went 8–0 with a 3.00 earned run average (ERA). He was promoted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox where he had a 1.92 ERA and a 7–0 record. On July 19, 1999, he made his major league debut.
Ohka found himself in the minors again in 2000. That season with Pawtucket, he went 9–6 in 19 starts with a 2.96 ERA, with three complete games. He pitched a perfect game on June 1, 2000, defeating the Charlotte Knights, 2–0, at McCoy Stadium, needing just 76 pitches to retire all 27 Charlotte batters.
In both 1999 and 2000, The Red Sox named Ohka their minor league player of the year. He was in the All-Star Futures Game in 1999 and 2000, and in 2000 he was the Triple-A All-Star Game starting pitcher.
Ohka became the first player from Japan to play for the Red Sox when he debuted in 1999. During the middle of the 2001 season, Ohka was sent to Montreal for the veteran closer Ugueth Urbina. Ohka had a mildly successful run with the Expos. His most productive season came with the Expos in 2002, when he posted 13–8 with 118 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA.
In June 2004, Ohka's right forearm was broken when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Beltrán in Kansas City. Ohka underwent major surgery and was out until mid-September. He finished 3–7 with a 3.40 ERA in 15 starts.
As the Expos moved to Washington, D.C. for the 2005 season, Ohka was part of a starting rotation that included Liván Hernández, Esteban Loaiza and Tony Armas Jr. Ohka was involved in an incident with Washington manager Frank Robinson. Ohka protested being removed from a game, a move which resulted in an undisclosed fine from the team. On June 10, 2005, the Washington Nationals traded Ohka to the Milwaukee Brewers for second baseman Junior Spivey. In Ohka's first game with his new club on June 14, he threw a shutout against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during interleague play.