Topic: Koji Uehara

NPB

Koji Uehara (上原 浩治, Uehara Kōji?, born April 3, 1975, in Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan) is a Major League Baseball Japanese right-handed relief pitcher. He is currently a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. Uehara throws a high-80s four-seam fastball (tops out at 92 mph) and a solid forkball as his primary pitches. He's never been a power pitcher anywhere, but still has a great K/BB ratio with his pinpoint command.

Uehara graduated from the Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, and was drafted with the first pick by the Yomiuri Giants in 1998. He had a successful rookie year in 1999, with 15 consecutive wins which broke the all-time rookie record, claimed the Rookie of the Year, Eiji Sawamura Award, and led in wins, ERA, strikeouts and winning percentage.