Top 10 Japanese players in the MLB

There have been 73 total players from Japan to play in the MLB. Masanori Murakami was the first player from Japan to play in the MLB when he made his debut for the San Francisco Giants in 1964. With all of the excitement surrounding Roki Sasaki coming to America, I wanted to look at the top 10 Japanese MLB players. 

Honorable mentions: Kodai Senga, Yusei Kikuchi, Chan ho Park, Kenta Maeda,Yoshinobu Yamamoto, hideo Nomo, Daisuke Matsuzaki 

10.) Steven Kwan 

Kwan is one of the few Japanese players to not play in NPB. He comes from Japanese and Chinese descent, but he was born in Los Gatos, California. He played for three years at Oregon State before being drafted by the then Cleveland Indians in 2018. Through his first three years he has totaled 13.1 WAR (wins above replacement), 479 hits, a .285 batting average and three gold gloves. He has played an integral role in the widely unexpected turnaround of the Guardians. 

9.)Shota Imanaga 

Imanaga came over to the MLB before his age 30 season in 2024 as an afterthought to many teams due to the younger Yoshinobu Yamamoto coming in the same offseason. The Cubs saw the talent that Imanaga possessed and inked him to a deal. Although he has only been in the MLB for one year, he proved his ability to induce weak contact with his deceptive pitching style. He had a 15-3 record with a 2.91 ERA while making the all star game and finishing fifth in the CY Young race. 

8.)Masahiro Tanaka 

Masahiro Tanaka came to America at the age of 25 When he signed to play with the New York Yankees. He posted a 17.5 WAR, 3.74 ERA,78-46 record, 991 strikeouts, and made two all star games in his seven year career. Tanaka was a vital part of some good Yankees teams who made the postseason five times in his seven year career. Tanaka was tasked with replacing the 

legendary CC Sabathia in the top spot of the Yankees rotation. He succeeded quickly in his first year in the Bronx with a 2.77 ERA and a 13-5 record. 

7.)Koji Uehara 

Uehara played a total of nine seasons spread across four teams. He finished his career with a 13.5 WAR, a 22-26 record, and 2.66 ERA with one all star game appearance. Uehara was a reliable arm for the Red Sox on their 2013 World Series winning team. He ended the 2013 playoffs with only one run allowed through 13.2 innings pitched, and the ALCS MVP.  

6.) Hyun Jin ryu 

Ryu came to the MLB at the age of 26. He had 18.9 WAR, a 3.27 ERA, and a 78-48 record in 10 seasons. He was a one time all star, while also achieving second place in the CY Young race in

2019 , and third place in 2020. He split his career between the Dodger and Blue Jays. He featured a sub 3.00 ERA from 2018-2020 while having exactly a 3.00 ERA as a rookie in 2013. 

5.)Hideki Matsui 

Hideki Matsui signed with the Yankees at the age of 29. He played every game for them in the first three years of his career. He finished his career with a 21.2 WAR, 1,253 hits, 175 home runs, and a .282 batting average through 10 years. He made two all star games in his career, and was a mainstay in a talented Yankees lineup from 2003-2009. 

4.)Yu Darvish 

Darvish came to the MLB at age 25 when he signed with the Rangers. He has compiled a 33.1 war, 3.58 ERA, and a 110-88 record through his first twelve years. Darvish finished second in the CY Young race on two different occasions, and has made five all star games. 

3.)Shin Soo-Choo Choo

He came to the MLB in 2005 at the age of 22 when he signed with the Mariners. Choo finished his career with a 34.6 WAR, 1,671 hits, 218 home runs, and a .275 batting average in sixteen seasons. Although his MLB career ended in 2020, Choo played professionally all the way up until 2024. 

2.)Ichiro Suzuki 

Although I have Ichiro listed at number two, he can easily be argued for the top spot. He came to the MLB at age 27 when he signed with the Mariners. He finished his career with 60 War, 117 homeruns, and a .311 average through 19 seasons in the MLB. He totaled 200 hits in each of his first ten seasons. He is one of only two players to ever win MVP and Rookie Of The Year in the same season. He made 10 all star games, nine gold gloves, two batting titles and three silver sluggers.Ichiro is regarded as one of the best pure contact hitters of all time, as well as one of the greatest fielders of all time. Ichiro also played a pivotal role on the 2001 Mariners squad who finished at 116-46 which is the best single season record of all time.  

1.)Shohei Ohtani 

Surprise! Ohtani is number one. Ohtani came to the MLB at 23 years old when he signed with the Angels. Ohtani has already racked up 43.8 WAR, 878 hits, 225 home runs, a .282 batting average, Rookie of The Year, four all star games, three MVP’s and three silver sluggers in six seasons. Ohtani is also the only member of the 50/50 club. The 50/50 club is reserved for players who hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season. Not only has he been dominant at the plate, but he also finished fourth in the Cy Young race in 2022. Injuries have slowed him down on the mound, but he looks to get back on the mound in the near future. Even if he is not able to get back onto the mound, he is still on pace to be one of the greatest players of all time.

Mason Garcia

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