Hideki Okajima

Career

Okajima attended Higashiyama High School and pitched in the 1994 Koshien National High School Tournament.

Yomiuri Giants

Okajima was drafted in the third round in 1993 by the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. Okajima pitched mostly as a setup man, but sometimes played the role of a starter until 1999. When he played with the Giants in Japan, Okajima chose to go by the nickname "Okaji" instead of "Hideki" because Hideki Matsui had preceded him on the Giants.

Okajima became the team's closer in 2000–2001, before returning to his setup role in 2002.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Okajima was traded to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters right before the start of the 2006 season for two position players, and was a valuable lefty setup man for the team, pitching in 55 games, with a 2.14 ERA. The Fighters won the championship that year. In Japan, Okajima had a career record of 34–32 with a 3.36 ERA.

Boston Red Sox

Okajima became a free agent in 2006, and signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. The deal included a $1.75 million club option for a third year. During spring training in 2007, Okajima was asked what he felt about being relatively anonymous while his teammate and countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka's every move was scrutinized. Okajima stated, "I'm willing to be a hero in the dark."

Okajima allowed a home run to John Buck on his very first pitch in the major leagues. It was the eleventh time in MLB history a pitcher gave up a home run on his first pitch. However, Okajima then proceeded to hold opponents scoreless for nearly two months until the Yankees scored a run off of him via a fielder's choice on May 22. At the start of the 2007 Red Sox season, injuries and poor performances limited the effectiveness of anticipated setup relievers Mike Timlin and Joel Piñeiro. Okajima stepped into the role of primary setup man for closer Jonathan Papelbon and quickly became one of the most dominant relievers in the major leagues. Through the first two months of the season, Okajima cemented himself as the top setup man in the Red Sox bullpen garnering the American League Rookie of the Month for April. Okajima's scoreless streak from April to May 2007 was the longest by a Red Sox left-hander since Bruce Hurst 20 years prior.

Okajima earned his first MLB save on April 20, 2007, against the New York Yankees. After getting a save in his first appearance during a Red Sox–Yankees series, Okajima compared the experience to winning the pennant.

For all of his early success, Okajima remained relatively anonymous in his forays around Boston. While Okajima was taking a cab ride with his wife to a local restaurant, his cab driver gushed about the amazing performance of the Red Sox's newly acquired lefty without knowing that the reliever was in the cab with him.

In Japan, Okajima was known as a gloomy man. However, Okajima revealed more of his humorous side in the United States. On May 17, 2007, Okajima faced the heart of the Detroit Tigers order for the second time in one day to earn his second major league save. When Japanese reporters asked him about facing the same three batters in both games of the doubleheader, he answered with a smile, "I did?"

Okajima made the All-Star team as the winner of the final vote, but did not play in the game; he is the third Red Sox player to make the team this way. Following the All-Star break, Okajima continued to pitch solid and reliable relief innings occasionally closing games for the Sox as they held their place at the top of the AL East. However, the rigors of the MLB season began to catch up with Okajima in the later stages of the season and he began to struggle culminating in a career-high four-run meltdown in a game against the Yankees on September 14, 2007. Red Sox management decided to shut him down following this outing to allow Okajima to relieve the physical and mental fatigue of the longer American season. On his return during the final stages of the regular season, Okajima regained his sharp early season form, pitching scoreless frames to establish himself again as an integral part of the dominant Red Sox bullpen as they headed into the postseason. He was selected to the 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team. The selection was the result of the 49th annual Topps balloting of Major League managers.

Okajima's performance really returned in Game 2 of the World Series against the Colorado Rockies, in which he pitched 2⅓ perfect innings in relief of Curt Schilling, striking out four at Fenway Park. He became the first Japanese born pitcher to play in the World Series. He closed the 2007 postseason with a home run to Garrett Atkins. Okajima helped win the opening game in the MLB Japan Opening Series 2008.

On December 3, 2010, he was non-tendered by the Red Sox, making him a free agent. However, both parties agreed on a one-year deal on January 2. Okajima did not make the 2011 Opening Day roster, starting the season in Triple-A Pawtucket. On April 18, he was called up to the Red Sox. On May 20, 2011, Okajima was designated for assignment. On May 24, 2011, Okajima cleared waivers, and he accepted his assignment to the Red Sox's AAA affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox.

The New York Yankees signed Okajima to a minor league contract on December 28, 2011. He also received an invitation to spring training. However, Okajima failed his physical at the beginning of spring training resulting in his release.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

Okajima agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on February 26, 2012. He was granted his release from this team on January 29, 2013 to pursue opportunities in MLB.

Oakland Athletics

Okajima inked a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training pending a physical on February 11, 2013. He was optioned to Triple-A to begin the 2013 season. He had a 2.16 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 2/3 innings during his tenure in Triple-A. He was called up to join the A's 25-man roster on May 17, 2013. He was designated for assignment on September 3, 2013.

Second stint with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

Okajima returned to Japan in 2014, signing a one-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Yokohama Bay Stars

After the 2014 season Okajima considered returning to MLB but instead chose to stay in Japan, signing with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in December 2014.

Baltimore Orioles

Okajima signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles in February 2015. He was released on March 31, 2016. He retired on July 18, 2016.

Pitching style

Okajima had a distinctive pitching form in which he turned his head downwards just before he released the ball and after release jerked it hard towards third base. These extra movements appeared to give some added velocity to his pitches as they torqued his body towards home plate and reportedly disguised his pitches and caused batters to swing early. Okajima is said to have mimicked the pitching form of a pitcher in Yoichi Takahashi's manga Ace! who torqued his head so much after every pitch that his hat came flying off. Okajima admits, "I was trying to copy the motion. I believed it would make me throw harder."

A part of the Japanese people dubbed this pitching form "Looking the Other Way" after a local version of the rock-paper-scissors game. Initially, numerous coaches in Japan, such as Tsuneo Horiuchi, attempted to change Okajima's pitching form. This all stopped, however, when pitching coach Yoshitaka Katori of the Yomiuri Giants accepted his pitching approach. Early on, Okajima was prone to bouts of wildness — even being booed in his home park for his poor control. After the 2005 season, Okajima was traded to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters where he changed his pitching form and reestablished good control.

Okajima's pitches were of lower than average velocity, forcing him to develop a more consistent release point to better control them. His fastball was usually in the 85–89 mph range, rarely ever reaching 90 mph. His out pitch in Japan was his sharp rainbow curveball in the 70–75 mph range, which left-handed hitters found hard to hit. He also occasionally threw a circle changeup, a forkball in the 80–84 mph range and a changeup usually around 82–84 mph.

After joining the Red Sox, Okajima displayed such pinpoint accuracy that former teammate Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees was amazed because, since his time with Okajima in Japan, he never believed Okajima could gain such "great control". Okajima's success in the major leagues against more than one batter in an outing was a departure from his time in Japan, where he was known as a situational lefty brought in to face one left-handed batter in key late-game situations.

During an April 15 rainout in 2007, Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell tweaked Okajima's changeup delivery. The result was a changeup with screwball motion dubbed the "Okie-Dokie" by bullpen coach Gary Tuck. As of May 10, 2007, the Okie-Dokie had been thrown for strikes 79% of the time with hitters swinging through the pitch 14 out of 30 times.

Former major league slugger Gary Sheffield declared Okajima "one of the most impressive lefties I've ever seen" with "stuff I have never seen before from anybody." Former Yankees manager Joe Torre called Okajima "unhittable."

Personal life

Okajima calls Masumi Kuwata his "master." Okajima's wife is sports announcer Yuka Kurihara, with whom he has three sons and a daughter. He met his wife during a champagne/beer celebration after his Yomiuri Giants won the 2000 Japan Series.

Okajima's favorite films are romances including Ghost, Pretty Woman, and Autumn in New York.

Okajima ran the Honolulu Marathon on December 14, 2008, completing the run with a time of 6:10:26 (gun time).

Awards and recognition

• Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game 2000, 2001, 2002.
• Japan Series Champion (2000, 2002 Yomiuri Giants and 2006 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters).
• Asia Series Champion (2006 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters).
• Okajima was awarded Rookie of the Month of the American League for April 2007.
• American League All-Star (2007).
• World Series Champion (2007 Boston Red Sox).

References

References

1. Newman. (July 6, 2007). "Young, Okajima win Final Vote". [[MLB.com]].
2. "The Official Site of Boston Red Sox: Team: Player Information: Biography and Career Highlights: Hideki Okajima". [[Boston Red Sox]].
3. Edes. (December 1, 2006). "Okajima bolsters bullpen". [[Boston Globe]].
4. Golen. (May 5, 2007). "Okajima: Hardly a dicey deal for the Red Sox". [[Boston Globe]].
5. (November 30, 2006). "BoSox reach deal with Japanese lefty; Matsuzaka talks continue".
6. Browne, Ian. (April 30, 2007). "Okajima emerging out of the shadows".
7. (April 2, 2007). "Hideki Okajima Probably Wishes He Could Have That First Pitch Back".
8. "Home Run Allowed to First Batter Faced".
9. (May 22, 2007). "Boston 7, NY Yankees 3".
10. Breakey, Caleb. (May 2, 2007). "Okajima named AL Rookie of the Month".
11. Rodriguez, Justin. (May 22, 2007). "Okajima is lights out for Red Sox". [[Times Herald-Record]].
12. Edes, Gordon. (April 22, 2007). "Reliever's been lighting it up". [[The Boston Globe]].
13. Longman, Jeré. (August 27, 2007). "Boston's Other Japanese Pitcher". [[The New York Times]].
14. (March 28, 2006). "". [[Nikkan Sports]]. link
15. MacMullan, Jackie. (May 18, 2007). "Okajima cleans up in spotless fashion".
16. Silva, Steve. (July 5, 2007). "Okajima wins Star slot".
17. (September 19, 2007). "Red Sox shut down lefty Okajima with tired arm". [[Associated Press]].
18. (November 26, 2007). "Topps announces the 49th annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team". [[MLB.com]].
19. (October 26, 2007). "Boston extend World Series lead". [[BBC]].
20. (October 29, 2007). "Red Sox win World Series in a sweep". [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]].
21. (March 25, 2008). "Dice-K gets no-decision as Red Sox hang on to beat A's in extras". [[ESPN]].
22. Edes, Gordon. (2010-12-03). "Red Sox tender Pap, non-tender Okajima".
23. Abraham, Peter. (January 10, 2011). "Max Ramirez era comes to an end". [[The Boston Globe]].
24. (May 20, 2011). "Morales added to Red Sox bullpen mix". [[Boston Red Sox]].
25. (May 24, 2011). "Okajima Clears Waivers, Assigned To Pawtucket". [[CBS Boston]].
26. Matthews. (February 17, 2012). "Hideki Okajima doesn't pass physical". [[ESPN]].
27. (March 5, 2012). "Okajima Signs with Softbank".
28. Gleeman, Aaron. (January 29, 2013). "Hideki Okajima released by Japanese team so he can return to MLB".
29. Nicholson-Smith. (February 11, 2013). "Athletics To Sign Hideki Okajima". MLB Trade Rumors.
30. He, Eric. (May 17, 2013). "Oakland A's Call Up Hideki Okajima, Designate Chris Resop for Assignment".
31. Adams, Steve. (September 3, 2013). "A's Designate Hideki Okajima For Assignment".
32. Gleeman, Aaron. (December 18, 2014). "Hideki Okajima is staying in Japan".
33. (July 18, 2016). "Former Red Sox reliever Okajima retires".
34. Ichikawa. (July 21, 2007). "高橋陽一". Yukan Fuji.
35. Flannery. "Hideki Okajima's Wind-Up". [[Boston (magazine).
36. Nanbara. (December 29, 2007). "29日(土)のゲストは、Rソックス・岡島秀樹投手でした！". [[Nippon Broadcasting System]].
37. (October 27, 2007). "". [[Nikkan Sports]]. link
38. (September 14, 2007). "". link. [[Yomiuri Giants]]
39. Bradford. (May 11, 2007). "Okajima is 'Oka-Doke' with Sox: 31-year-old rookie lefty emerges from Matsuzaka's shadow". [[Boston Herald]].
40. (March 23, 2007). link. YOMITIME
41. Furuuchi. (May 1, 2007). "Who is Okajima?～岡島秀樹を見逃すな ＜古内義明＞". MAJOR.JP.
42. (January 20, 2007). "Red Sox report: Inside pitch". The Sports Xchange.
43. Torenli, John. (May 22, 2007). "Okajima gives Red Sox bullpen decided edge".
44. (March 18, 2008). "". Sponichi Annex. link
45. "栗原 由佳のプロフィール - Cent FORCE Co., Ltd. (Kurihara Yuka's Profile)". Cent FORCE Co., Ltd.
46. Browne. (March 28, 2007). "Matsuzaka, Okajima host scribes". [[Boston Red Sox]].
47. Silva. (December 14, 2008). "Okajima completes 6-hour Honolulu Marathon". [[The Boston Globe]].