Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Hirokazu Sawamura was born April 3, 1988, in Tochigi, Japan. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Sawamura played nine seasons for the Yomiuri Giants during 2011–2020; he missed the 2017 season due to a shoulder injury. In 2011, he was named the Central League Rookie of the Year. In 2013, he was named MVP of the first game of the NPB All-Star Series. During his first four seasons with the Giants, he was predominantly a starting pitcher; after 2014, he only appeared for the Giants as a relief pitcher. As a closer during 2015 and 2016, he recorded 36 and 37 saves, respectively.

On February 16, 2021, Sawamura officially signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut on April 2, pitching in relief against the Baltimore Orioles.

Sawamura throws a fastball that can reach 97 mph (156 km/h), a splitter, and a slider. In college, he also featured a curveball.