Masumi Kuwata

1.3.1. PL Gakuen and the KK Combo

Upon entering PL Gakuen, the established plan was for Kiyohara to be the cleanup hitter and Gonichi Taguchi to be the ace pitcher, with Kuwata, at 68 in ^{(172 cm)} tall, initially relegated to a lesser role, often assigned to retrieve balls during practice. Despite his impressive junior high record, his early appearances in private school tournaments were disappointing, leading the coach to suggest a conversion to an outfielder. Distraught, Kuwata confided in his mother, expressing his desire to quit PL Gakuen because he felt he could not succeed as a pitcher. However, his mother encouraged him to persevere for three years, even if he remained a substitute. This conversation helped Kuwata shift his mindset, realizing he couldn't compete with larger players through sheer power and needed to focus on his own strengths.

PL Gakuen, having won the Spring Koshien tournaments in 1981 and 1982 but missing the Summer Koshien for four consecutive years (1979-1982), was under immense pressure to reclaim victory in 1983. With an unstable pitching staff, manager Junji Nakamura brought in Kazuo Shimizu, a veteran coach with extensive Koshien experience, as a temporary pitching coach. Shimizu was immediately impressed by the excellent spin on Kuwata's throws from the outfield, declaring, "There's an amazing talent here. Grades don't matter. I will make him a splendid pitcher by summer." Shimizu's one-on-one coaching focused on strengthening Kuwata's lower body, teaching him proper leg and knee usage, and emphasizing mental aspects of pitching, such as situational judgment and reading batters' minds. This rigorous training, which included jumping squats so intense Kuwata had to crawl up dormitory stairs, was pivotal.

Kuwata was promoted to the regular team in June and was included in the Osaka Tournament roster as a first-year player with uniform number 17, alongside Kiyohara and Taguchi. He was registered as a pitcher and outfielder, valued for his hitting as well. Before a crucial fourth-round game against Suita High School at Osaka Stadium, with PL Gakuen struggling, Coach Shimizu strongly advocated for Kuwata to start, even offering to take full responsibility if they lost. Despite initial hesitation from Manager Nakamura, Kuwata, who had been performing tasks like distributing lunches and carrying bats, made his official game debut as a starter. Despite facing taunts from older teammates, Kuwata pitched a two-hit shutout, supported by Kiyohara's first official game home run. In the final, Taguchi started but was injured, leading Kuwata to take the mound and secure PL Gakuen's spot in the Koshien Tournament. Kuwata then became the team's de facto ace.

1.3.2. Koshien Tournament Success

At the 65th National High School Baseball Championship in the summer of 1983, Kuwata, despite being a first-year student with uniform number 11, served as PL Gakuen's de facto ace. He debuted in the first round against Tokorozawa Commercial High School. In the second round against Nakatsu Technical High School, he pitched a three-hit shutout and hit his first Koshien home run. In the semifinals, he faced Yujin Mizuno and Ikeda High School, known for their "Yamabiko Lineup," who were aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Koshien championship (summer-spring-summer). Despite early jitters, Kuwata maintained his composure, reminding himself he was just a first-year and that any hits were a testament to the opponent's skill. He pitched a 7-0 shutout, aided by strong defensive plays. In the second inning, with two outs and a runner on second, Kuwata, believing a home run would conserve more stamina than getting on base via other means, hit a two-run home run to left field off Mizuno, becoming the first player to hit a home run off him at Koshien. This was his second home run of the tournament. In the final, PL Gakuen defeated Yokohama Commercial High School 3-0, making Kuwata the youngest winning pitcher (15 years old) since the post-war education reform. While other first-year pitchers like Yoshikazu Sakamoto and Daisuke Araki had reached the Summer Koshien final, they had all finished as runners-up, a jinx Kuwata broke.

His exceptional performance at the Summer Koshien earned him a spot on the All-Japan High School Select team, the only first-year player to do so, and he participated in an expedition to the United States. Upon his return, having gained the trust of the coaching staff, Kuwata proposed shortening overall practice time (to about three hours) and intensifying individual training, as well as a no-throw period for pitchers after tournaments. Manager Nakamura accepted these suggestions, which became standard practice at PL Gakuen, ushering in their golden era (Summer 1983 - Summer 1987).

In 1984, during his second year, PL Gakuen reached the finals of both the 56th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Spring Koshien) and the 66th National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien), but finished as runners-up in both. After losing to Toride Daini High School in the summer, Kuwata visited their team, which included players he had met on the high school national team, and reaffirmed the joy of playing baseball, applying this lesson to his subsequent career. In 1985, his third year, PL Gakuen reached the semifinals of the 57th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament and won the 67th National High School Baseball Championship by defeating Ube Commercial High School in the final.

Kuwata, along with Kiyohara, achieved remarkable success, participating in all five Koshien tournaments possible from the highly competitive Osaka region, reaching the final four times and winning twice (in his first year summer and third year summer). He holds the post-war record for most Koshien career wins with 20 (20 wins, 3 losses), second only to Masao Yoshida overall. He also holds the all-time Koshien record for career strikeouts (150) and career appearances (25), and is tied for the all-time record for career innings pitched (197 and two-thirds). These records remain unbroken. Despite a prevailing belief that "Summer Koshien winning pitchers do not succeed in professional baseball," Kuwata's 173 career professional wins effectively broke this jinx, making him an exceptional case for combining Koshien success with a long professional career. Kuwata intentionally limited his high school pitch repertoire to only fastballs and curves, believing that a pitcher who could not dominate high school batters with just these two pitches would not succeed professionally. Kiyohara once questioned this, asking why Kuwata didn't use his sharp sliders and shuuto, to which Kuwata explained his long-term vision, leaving Kiyohara astonished.

Kuwata also possessed exceptional batting talent, hitting six career Koshien home runs (two in his first summer, two in his second spring, one in his second summer, one in his third summer), ranking second all-time behind Kiyohara. He hit 25 home runs in his high school career. Notably, pitchers who held PL Gakuen to one run or less in the five tournaments Kuwata and Kiyohara participated in all went on to become professional players.

Kuwata had a strong desire to attend Waseda University (specifically the Faculty of Education) after high school. He was committed to gaining admission based on academic merit rather than a sports scholarship, often studying late into the night in the baseball dormitory's study room, which he usually had to himself.

2.1.1. Draft Controversy

In the 1985 Nippon Professional Baseball draft, Kuwata was selected in the first round by the Yomiuri Giants. This selection generated considerable controversy because Kuwata had repeatedly expressed his desire to attend Waseda University, leading other teams to refrain from drafting him. The Giants were the only team to select him, effectively acquiring him without a lottery, fueling rumors of a "secret agreement" between Kuwata and the Giants to avoid being picked by other teams.

The controversy led to protests and harassment at his family home, requiring increased security. Kuwata consistently denied a secret agreement, stating that he never said he wouldn't join the Giants. He explained that he had decided to go professional if the Giants drafted him first after the spring invitational tournament. He also pointed out that many other players at the time had indicated university aspirations before turning professional. In 2020, Kuwata further clarified that he never received any illicit money from the Giants, either before or after joining the team. He stated that his selection was unexpected, as he believed his physique and skills at the time were better suited for professional baseball after gaining experience in university. He continued studying for university admission for this reason. While he had always been a Giants fan, his initial goal was a career path of "PL Gakuen, Waseda, and then Giants." However, he admitted that deep down, he also harbored a desire to join the Giants alongside Kiyohara.

Kuwata later revealed that on the day of the draft, three other teams had informed his father they intended to select him in the first round, and he had told his father he would go to Waseda. However, those three teams ultimately drafted Kiyohara, leaving only the Giants to pick Kuwata. Giants manager Sadaharu Oh stated in an interview on draft day that given the team's needs, a pitcher was the priority, and Kuwata was the obvious choice. Oh emphasized that the decision to draft Kuwata was not a whim of the moment but had been decided long in advance. He highlighted Kuwata's ability to pitch according to the situation and cited Kuwata's triple play in a 1985 spring Koshien game against Tenri High School as a particularly impressive play that stuck in his mind.

2.2.1. Debut and Early Success

Despite suggestions to convert to a position player due to his excellent hitting and fielding skills, Kuwata and the team decided he would remain a pitcher. He made his professional debut on May 25, 1986, against the Chunichi Dragons. On June 5, 1986, he earned his first professional win with a complete game against the Hanshin Tigers. In his second year, 1987, Kuwata quickly established himself, winning 15 games with a league-leading 2.17 ERA. On July 8, 1987, at Sapporo Maruyama Stadium against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, he pitched his first professional complete game shutout, contributing all four of his team's runs with a three-run home run and an RBI single. On September 1, he hit a solo home run off Shinichi Kondo of the Chunichi Dragons, who had previously thrown a no-hitter against the Giants. Kuwata was awarded the Eiji Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, that year, becoming the youngest pitcher since Tsuneo Horiuchi to achieve double-digit wins in his teens. In the 1987 Japan Series, he started Games 1 and 5 but was forced to leave early in both due to his own errors.

2.2.2. "Three Pillars" and Key Awards

From 1989, under manager Motoharu Fujita, Kuwata, along with Masaki Saito and Hiromi Makihara, formed the "Three Pillars," a dominant starting rotation for the Giants. In 1989, he started the season with five consecutive wins and recorded a career-high 17 victories. In the Japan Series against the Kintetsu Buffaloes, he was the losing pitcher in Game 2 but earned the win in Game 6, contributing to the Giants' championship.

However, in the summer of 1989, weekly magazines began reporting scandals involving Kuwata. In February 1990, a book titled Farewell Masumi Kuwata, Farewell Professional Baseball by Shoji Nakamaki exposed Kuwata's alleged relationship with a sports equipment company and a members-only club president who had a past conviction for habitual gambling. The book claimed Kuwata had shared his pitching dates and received cash for recruiting members, leading to speculation about his involvement in illegal gambling. Initially, Kuwata denied both leaking pitching dates and receiving money, but these denials were later found to be false. Consequently, on March 30, the Giants suspended Kuwata for one month from the start of the season and fined him 10.00 M JPY for violating Article 17 (Model Behavior) of the Uniform Player Contract. This incident became a significant social issue, even being discussed in the Diet. It was later confirmed that Kuwata was not involved in baseball gambling.

Despite the controversy, Kuwata returned after his one-month suspension in 1990 with two consecutive complete-game shutouts, finishing the season second in both wins and ERA in the league, behind his teammate Saito. In 1991, he was the Giants' most consistent starter, leading the team in most pitching categories while other starters struggled. However, in 1992, despite achieving double-digit wins for the sixth consecutive season, he had a slump, repeatedly stopping team winning streaks, earning him the nickname "streak stopper" in the media.

2.2.3. The 10.8 Decisive Battle

In 1993, under newly appointed manager Shigeo Nagashima, Kuwata continued to struggle, leading to renewed discussions about a position change. A former umpire, Toshiyuki Tanaka, noted that Kuwata's low pitches had lost their effectiveness. However, 1994 marked a resurgence for Kuwata. He posted a record of 14 wins and 11 losses, with a 2.52 ERA and a league-leading 185 strikeouts, earning him the Central League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. On August 13, against the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome, he pitched a complete-game shutout with 16 strikeouts, tying a Central League record.

Kuwata's most iconic performance of 1994 came in the "10.8 Decisive Battle" on October 8, a historic one-game playoff against the Chunichi Dragons to decide the league championship. Days before, on October 5, he had pitched eight and two-thirds no-hit innings against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium but was pulled by pitching coach Horiuchi to save him for the decisive game. On the morning of October 8, fans' passionate cheers brought Kuwata to tears for about 15 minutes. Despite feeling "exhausted" physically, he entered the bullpen from the first inning. He took the mound in the seventh inning with the Giants leading by three runs. He admitted to being "scared" given the conditions of the narrow Nagoya Dome. In the eighth inning, he was deeply moved when his former PL Gakuen teammate and roommate, Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, suffered a shoulder injury while making a determined head-first slide into first base for an infield single. Kuwata then struck out Tetsuya Komori with a big curveball for the final out in the ninth inning, securing the save and the championship for the Giants. His fist pump after the final strikeout is etched in the memories of many baseball fans. Horiuchi later described 1994 as Kuwata's "absolute peak as a pitcher." Kuwata himself reflected on the 10.8 Decisive Battle as a turning point where he was truly recognized as the Giants' ace, but also as the point that led to his subsequent elbow surgery due to overuse.

2.2.4. Injury, Comeback, and Later Career

On May 24, 1995, during a game against the Hanshin Tigers, Kuwata severely injured his right elbow while attempting to catch a pop fly near the third base line. Although he continued pitching effectively for several innings, he was later removed from the game and sent to the minor leagues without a thorough examination of his elbow. On June 15, he returned to the first team but struggled, removing himself from the game in the fifth inning. Subsequent examinations revealed a severe tear of his ulnar collateral ligament. He opted for Tommy John surgery in the United States, which involved transplanting a healthy ligament from his left wrist to his right elbow.

Kuwata missed the remainder of the 1995 season and all of 1996 for rehabilitation. During this period, he famously ran continuously in the outfield of the Giants' practice field, even when he couldn't throw, to strengthen his lower body. The worn-out grass in that area became known as "Kuwata Road." He made his comeback on April 6, 1997, 661 days after his surgery. Despite pitch count restrictions, he completed the required innings and earned 10 wins. In 1998, he served as the opening day starter for the first time in nine years and achieved 16 wins, his highest total since his comeback, though he fell one win short of the league lead. He also recorded seven complete games, including his first shutout since surgery, without pitch count limitations.

In 1999, Kuwata was slated to be the opening day starter but withdrew due to a cold. He struggled in his second start and later transitioned to a relief role, recording five saves with a 0.00 ERA in nine relief appearances. In 2000, he began in the starting rotation but was moved to the bullpen due to poor performance, serving as a closer after Makihara's injury, though less effectively than the previous year. The Giants won the league title that year. In 2001, he again struggled, finishing with four wins and five losses, leading him to consider retirement. However, manager Tatsunori Hara persuaded him to continue playing.

In 2002, Kuwata experienced a remarkable resurgence. By incorporating training methods based on kobujutsu (ancient martial arts), he achieved 12 wins, his first double-digit win season in four years, and won his second ERA title with a 2.22 ERA, 15 years after his first. This was his first time achieving an ERA in the 2.00s since 1994. In the 2002 Japan Series against the Seibu Lions, he started Game 2, pitching seven innings with one earned run, earning his first Japan Series win since 1994. The Giants swept the series 4-0, marking Kuwata's final league championship and Japan Series title. On September 18, 2002, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Tokyo Dome, he pitched a complete-game victory, allowing three runs, and hit a solo home run, his first in eight years and his last career home run and complete game. His batting average that season was .294 (15 hits in 51 at-bats), his highest in a season where he qualified for the ERA title.

From 2003 to 2006, Kuwata's performance declined due to injuries, including an ankle sprain in 2003. In 2004, manager Horiuchi suggested he consider retirement. In 2005, he went 0-7 in 12 starts. His final appearance in an NPB first-team game was on April 27, 2006, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, where he left in the third inning after allowing six runs. He was removed from the roster two days later. After a period in the minor leagues, he made his final appearance for the Giants in a minor league game on September 24, 2006, at Yomiuri Giants Stadium, which he publicly announced as his farewell to Giants fans. On November 2, 2006, he announced his intention to pursue a career in Major League Baseball, concluding his 21-year tenure with the Yomiuri Giants. On November 23, during the "Giants Fan Festa 2006" at Tokyo Dome, he delivered a heartfelt farewell speech to the fans.

2.3.1. Move to Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 20, 2006, Kuwata signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the first Japanese player to sign with the Pirates organization. Despite interest from other teams like the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, Kuwata chose Pittsburgh because he believed it offered him the best opportunity to pitch in the majors.

2.3.2. MLB Debut and Season

Kuwata participated in the Pirates' 2007 spring training as a non-roster invitee, aiming for an Opening Day roster spot. However, on March 26, during a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he tore a ligament in his right ankle after colliding with home plate umpire Wally Bell while covering third base on a single. This injury forced him to focus on recovery and rehabilitation. The Pirates did not release him, instead placing him on the disabled list for their Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. After rehabilitation in Florida, he returned to the Indianapolis Indians on May 24 and made his Triple-A debut on June 2.

On June 9, 2007, due to the Pirates' struggling bullpen, Kuwata was promoted to the Major League roster. He made his MLB debut the following day, June 10, 2007, against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. At 39 years and 70 days old, he was the oldest Japanese player to debut in MLB at the time (now second to Ken Takahashi) and the third-oldest overall in the post-World War II era, behind only Satchel Paige (42) and Diomedes Olivo (41). In his debut, he allowed two runs over two innings, including a home run to Alex Rodriguez.

Initially used in mop-up duty, Kuwata earned praise from manager Jim Tracy for his ability to throw strikes in critical situations, leading to more important relief appearances. However, his performance declined, and he was designated for assignment on August 14 (August 15 JST) without recording a win. He refused an outright assignment to Triple-A and returned to Japan, stating he had "no regrets" and was "filled with satisfaction" at having become a Major Leaguer, hinting at retirement.

In December 2007, Kuwata re-signed a minor league contract with the Pirates for the 2008 season, with an invitation to spring training. Despite pitching well in spring training, he did not fit into the team's youth-focused plans, making a Major League promotion unlikely. On March 26, 2008, he announced his retirement from baseball via his blog and returned to Japan. The Pirates offered him a coaching position, but he declined. In June, he served as a batting practice pitcher for Kiyohara at Kobe Sports Park Baseball Stadium, and on September 23, he held a retirement game hosted by the Ibaraki Golden Golds.

3.2.1. Graduate Studies and Thesis

On January 28, 2009, at the age of 40, Kuwata was accepted into the one-year master's program at the Graduate School of Sport Sciences at Waseda University. He graduated at the top of his class on March 25, 2010. His master's thesis, titled "Research on Further Development of Japanese Baseball through Redefinition of 'Yakyu-Do' (The Way of Baseball)," received the Best Thesis Award. The thesis explored the soul and spirit of Japanese baseball from the Meiji era to the present.

In March 2014, Kuwata was accepted as a graduate research student at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo. From April 2014, he began researching the movements of pitchers and fielders while continuing his coaching and other activities. As of 2019, he was affiliated with the Laboratory of Motor Control and Rehabilitation in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences.

3.3.1. University and Professional Coaching

In 2013, Kuwata was hired as a special coach for the University of Tokyo Baseball Club. On January 12, 2021, he made a return to the Yomiuri Giants as a first-team pitching chief coach assistant, a surprise appointment initiated by manager Tatsunori Hara. Kuwata had long desired to become a coach but felt he needed about 10 years away from the field to study all aspects of baseball. In 2022, he was promoted to pitching chief coach. In 2023, he was reassigned to Farm General Manager, and in 2024, he became the Farm Manager (second-team manager).