Early life

Tanaka was born in Itami, a city in Hyōgo, Japan. He began playing baseball in the first grade as a catcher for the Koyanosato Tigers (a Little League team) alongside current Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto, who was then the team's ace pitcher and Tanaka's batterymate. Tanaka and Sakamoto hit third and fourth in the lineup, respectively. He went on to play for the Takarazuka Boys while attending Itami Municipal Matsuzaki Junior High School, being used at both pitcher and catcher because of his strong throwing arm. He was chosen to the Junior All-South Kansai team in his third year of junior high—the equivalent of ninth grade in the United States.

High school career

2004 - spring 2006

Tanaka moved on to Komazawa University Tomakomai High School in Hokkaidō, now playing solely as a pitcher for the team. Armed with a fastball that sat in high-80s and a hard slider, he led his team all the way to a championship in the 87th National High School Baseball tournament held at Koshien Stadium in the summer of his second year (eleventh grade). His very last pitch of the tournament was clocked at 150 km/h (93 mph), the first time a pitcher had ever clocked that speed as a junior in the history of the tournament. Tanaka, already a highly coveted talent by NPB scouts, was chosen to the Japanese team that would play in the IBAF AAA World Junior Championships following the tournament and contributed to the team's title.

Now given the uniform number 1 and officially appointed the team's ace pitcher, Tanaka led Tomakomai High to a regional title as well as a championship in the Meiji Jingu Tournament that fall, hitting home runs in four straight games in the latter himself. While his team was viewed as the favorite going into the 78th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament to be held the following spring, Tomakomai High was forced to withdraw from the tournament because of allegations of misconduct of some of the players.

Summer 2006

Tomakomai High earned a berth in the 88th National High School Baseball Championship that summer. Tanaka managed to lead them to their third consecutive appearance in the tournament finals despite being ill prior to the tournament. The team's coach did not start Tanaka in the finals against Waseda Jitsugyo High School (an affiliate school of Waseda University), opting to rest him due to the number of innings he had thrown in the last few games, but he ended up sending Tanaka to the mound in relief midway through the third inning. Tanaka held Waseda Jitsugyo to just one run and struck out 10, but the opponent's ace, Yuki Saito, held Tomakomai High to one run himself on seven hits. The game remained tied 1-1 after 15 innings, forcing a rematch as per tournament regulations. It was the first time in 37 years (since Matsuyama Commercial High School and Misawa High School met in the finals in 1969) that the tournament finals had resulted in a rematch.

In the rematch that ensued the next day, Tanaka again came on in relief in the bottom of the first, but Tomakomai High lost to Waseda Jitsugyo despite his pitching the remaining 71⁄₃ innings of the game. (Tanaka was the last batter, striking out to end the game.) The pitchers' duel between Tanaka and Saito in the finals and the rematch that followed became on the most defining moments in all of sports in Japan that year. Tanaka, dealing with intestinal inflammation, threw 742 pitches in 522⁄₃ innings (six appearances) in the tournament, striking out 54 and walking 20 with a 2.22 earned run average (ERA).

Both pitchers were chosen to play for Japan in the United States-Japan High School Baseball Tournament (organized by the Japanese Educational Resource Center in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy). Tomakomai High and Waseda Jitsugyo High met one last time in the finals of the Nojigiku Hyōgo National Sports Festival, the last tournament of Tanaka's high school career, but Tomakomai High was shut out by Saito and lost (1-0) to Waseda Jitsugyo, finishing second yet again.

Aftermath

Tanaka struck out 458 batters over the course of his high school career (2004-2006), surpassing Daisuke Matsuzaka's previous national high school record of 423 with Yokohama Senior High School. He also hit 13 home runs during those three years.

After rival Yuki Saito announced that he would not be declaring for the upcoming draft, opting to go on to Waseda University instead, Tanaka became the single most highly touted high school player eligible to be picked. On September 25, in the 2006 NPB high school draft, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Orix Buffaloes, Yokohama BayStars and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles all selected Tanaka with their first-round picks. The Golden Eagles drew the winning straw, signing him to a base salary of 15 million yen, a signing bonus of 100 million yen and additional performance-based incentives, the equivalent of what a first-round college or industrial league-player would normally receive, on November 2. He was also given the uniform number 18, which typically denotes a team's staff ace in Japanese professional baseball.

Professional career

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

2007

Tanaka was named to the Eagles' ichigun (Japanese equivalent of "major league") roster during Spring training of his rookie year, and made his professional debut on March 29 2007 against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as the starting pitcher, but gave up six runs on six hits and a walk in 12⁄₃ innings. Though he was not charged with a loss, as the Eagles made a furious comeback to tie the game up in the fourth, he was seen sitting in the dugout in tears after being taken out of the game.

On April 18, in a home game against the Hawks, he held the team to two runs and struck out 13 in a complete game win, the first win of his professional career. He became the first pitcher since current Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish to throw a complete game shutout as a rookie out of high school on June 13 in an interleague game against the Chunichi Dragons. He also became the first pitcher since Daisuke Matsuzaka in 1999 to be voted the starter of the NPB All-Star Game (representing the Pacific League) as a rookie out of high school, starting in Game 2 on July 22 and clocking a personal-high 153 km/h (95 mph) (though he gave up six runs in two innings in that start).

On July 10, Tanaka recorded his 100th strikeout of the season in just 962⁄₃ innings, tying the record for the fastest to reach 100 career strikeouts (in innings) held by former Hanshin Tigers pitcher Yutaka Enatsu. He became the first pitcher to record double-digit wins in Eagles franchise history (and the first to do so as a rookie out of high school in Japanese professional baseball since Matsuzaka) in a win against the Saitama Seibu Lions on August 31.

Tanaka finished the year with an 11-7 record and a 3.82 ERA, faring particularly well against the Hawks (5-0 in six starts). His 196 strikeouts were the second-most by any pitcher in either league (Pacific or Central) and the fourth-most as a rookie out of high school in Japanese professional baseball history. He was named the Pacific League Most Valuable Rookie, the first player out of high school to win the award since Matsuzaka.

2008

In 2008, Tanaka was penciled into the front end of the Eagles' starting rotation for the second straight season. He earned his first career win at Sapporo Dome, located in his former home of Hokkaido, in a win against the Fighters on May 4, drawing cheers from the crowd despite pitching for the away team. He came on in relief for the first time in his career in an interleague game against the Hiroshima Carp on June 22, recording his first career save.

Tanaka was able to make only 24 starts (as opposed to 28 in his rookie season), missing playing time because of both a brief rehab stint in the minors due to inflammation in his shoulder and his participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a member of the Japanese national team. He entered the last game of the regular season against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks with nine wins, looking to both earn his tenth win of the season and prevent the Eagles from finishing in last place. While he held the Hawks to no runs over nine innings, Hawks starter Toshiya Sugiuchi equaled his performance and Tanaka fell short of his goal of reaching double-digit wins. The Eagles eventually won in walk-off fashion in the twelfth inning, finishing one game ahead of the Hawks for fifth place in the regular season standings.

2009

Tanaka got off to an utterly dominant start to the 2009 season, pitching a four-hit complete game shutout against the Hawks in his first start on April 7, a one-run complete game win against the Chiba Lotte Marines on April 14 (his first career win against the Marines, the only other Pacific League team he had yet to record a win against), a three-hit complete game shutout against the Marines on April 22, and an 11-strikeout, one-run complete game win against the Fighters on April 29. The fourth win marked the 1500th of Eagles manager Katsuya Nomura's career and made Tanaka the first pitcher to start the season with four consecutive complete game wins since Satoru Komiyama (then with the Marines) and Shigetoshi Hasegawa (Orix BlueWave) both accomplished the feat in 1993. However, though he went 4-0 with a 0.50 ERA for the month of April, striking out 37 and allowing just 24 baserunners in 36 innings and winning Pacific League monthly Most Valuable Player honors for the first time in his career, he was removed from the active roster on April 30 with a minor shoulder strain as a result of fatigue. He returned to the team on May 13, pitching seven innings of three run-ball against the Fighters for his fifth straight win to start the season.

2013

On September 13, 2013, Tanaka set a new NPB record with his 21st consecutive win in the 2013 season in a 6-2 complete game victory over the Orix Buffaloes at home in Sendai at Kleenex Stadium. This victory was Tanaka's 25th consecutive win, including his final four starts in 2012. It also eclipsed the longest consecutive winning streak for MLB pitchers, set at 24 by Carl Hubbell in the 1936 and 1937 seasons. On September 26, 2013, Tanaka relieved to close the last 2⁄₃ inning. With a one run lead, he sealed the victory and the Eagles' first Pacific League title. It was his first appearance as a closer in the 2013 season.

He ended the regular season with a 24-0 record and 1.27 ERA, tops in both leagues. He also became the second post-war starting pitcher with an undefeated season with minimum innings required for an ERA title since Shigekuni Mashiba.

Tanaka went on to win his second Sawamura Award as the Golden Eagles competed for their first Japan Series title. Taking postseason games into account, his 2013 record was 30-1. The lone loss came in Game 6 of the 2013 Japan Series, a 160-pitch complete game, and he avenged that loss as he picked up the save in the decisive Game 7.

New York Yankees

Tanaka was repeatedly scouted by MLB representatives during the 2013 season. Through the revised posting system, Rakuten posted Tanaka to MLB during the 2013-14 offseason at a fee of $20 million. On December 26, 2013, all 30 MLB teams were notified that the 30-day period to sign the 25-year-old right-hander began at 8 a.m. EST. Clubs had until 5 p.m. EST on January 24, 2014, to reach an agreement with Tanaka, who is represented by agent Casey Close.

During the month-long period following Tanaka's posting, teams reported to be serious suitors included the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Houston Astros. On January 22, 2014, Tanaka signed a seven-year contract worth $155 million with the Yankees. The contract contains an opt-out clause after the fourth year and a full no-trade clause.

2014

Tanaka made his Major League debut on April 4, 2014 against the Toronto Blue Jays and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, ex-Yankee Melky Cabrera. Tanaka would received his first MLB win in the game; pitching 7 innings with 8 strikeouts in the Yankees 7-3 win against the Blue Jays. Tanaka made his first Yankees home start on April 9, 2014 against the Baltimore Orioles where he struck out 10 in 7 innings but received a no-decision as the Yankees lost the game 4-5. During an interleague game against the New York Mets on May 14, 2014, Tanaka recorded his first Major League hit off of José Valverde and pitched his first complete game in the Majors as the Yankees shut out the Mets 4-0. Tanaka received his first loss in the MLB on May 20, 2014 as the Yankees lost to the Chicago Cubs 1-6; it was his first loss in any professional baseball league since August 19, 2012. In June, Tanaka recorded his 100th strikeout of the season, along with another complete game; losing his bid for a complete game shutout by giving up a two run homer in the 9th inning to former Yankee Robinson Canó, who left the Yankees in the offseason to join the Seattle Mariners, before striking out the final two batters of the game. Tanaka became the first Yankees rookie to win 12 games by the All-Star break and was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a reserve for The American League . He and teammate Dellin Betances were the first Yankees rookie pitchers to earn an All-Star Game nod since Spec Shea in 1947. After losing to the Cleveland Indians 3-5 on July 8, 2014, Tanaka began to experience discomfort in his right arm and on July 9, 2014, Tanaka was placed on the disabled list due to right elbow inflammation. An MRI revealed that his elbow had a partially torn UCL. At the behest of several doctors, Tanaka received a PRP shot from Yankees Head Team Physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, and rested his elbow for 6 weeks rather than have Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL. Tanaka returned on September 21 against the Blue Jays, receiving his 13th win of the season in the Yankees 5-2 win over the Blue Jays, he would only pitch one more time during the 2014 season; a loss to the Boston Red Sox in which he gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. In 20 starts of his first Major League season in 2014, Tanaka posted a 2.77 ERA with 141 strikeouts; however after his 2014 season there was much speculation by sports media and fans that Tanaka should have undergone surgery rather than rehab the injury as suggested by his doctors, this was mostly due to the belief that he would need to get the surgery despite the rehab program.

2015

Tanaka was chosen by Joe Girardi to be the Opening Day starter for the Yankees. He made the start on opening day of April 6, 2015 against the Blue Jays, surrendering 5 runs in the third inning including a home run by Edwin Encarnación as the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays 6-1. On April 28, Tanaka was placed on the Disabled list with forearm and wrist soreness, this and his poor start to the season led many in the sports media to speculate that despite the recommendation of his doctors Tanaka should undergo Tommy John surgery. He returned to the Majors on June 3 against the Seattle Mariners, where he pitched 7 innings with 9 strikeouts as the Yankees won 3-1 over the Mariners.

Tanaka's season ended with a 3-0 loss to the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card game, in which he pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs.

International career

Masahiro Tanaka

Tanaka with the Japan national team in 2013 World Baseball Classic
Medal record
Representing Japan
Men's Baseball
World Baseball Classic
	2009 Los Angeles	Team

Tanaka was the only player to be chosen to the national team to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics from the Eagles, becoming the youngest Japanese baseball player to play in the Olympics as a pro in the history of the event. He pitched in relief in Japan's first game against Cuba in the group stage, throwing one scoreless inning and striking out three. While Tanaka saw limited playing time as a middle reliever for the team, he recorded a 0.00 ERA and the highest strikeout rate of any pitcher on the team.

He also played for Japan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, coming on in relief for Satoshi Komatsu midway through the sixth inning of the seeding match against South Korea in the second round but surrendering a home run to Lee Bum-Ho (Japan won 6-2). He pitched in the semi-finals against the United States, giving up a triple to Jimmy Rollins but striking out David Wright to end the inning, contributing to Japan's second consecutive championship in the tournament.

Tanaka was highly expected to be the staff ace of Team Japan in the 2013 WBC, but poor form in the build-up to the tournament led to concern over his performance. He started the pool opener against Brazil and conceded an unearned run. He came on as a reliever against Cuba and again conceded a run, before appearing to return to his usual form by striking out 6 batters in 2 innings. Tanaka again came on as a reliever against Chinese Taipei and had 2 good innings, shutting out the side with 4 strike outs, before conceding the equalizer in his third inning at the bottom of the 8th. Up to that point, Tanaka's inconsistency produced an ERA of 3.00, allowing 10 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings while striking out 10.

Career statistics

NPB statistics

Nippon Professional Baseball
Year	Age	Team	W	L	W%	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	LgERA
2007	18	Rakuten	11	7	.611	28	4	1	186.1	183	83	79	17	68	196	3.82	1.35	3.57
2008	19		9	7	.563	24	5	2	172.2	171	71	67	9	54	159	3.49	1.30	3.90
2009	20		15	6	.714	24	6	3	189.2	170	51	49	13	43	171	2.33	1.12	4.03
2010	21		11	6	.647	20	8	1	155	159	47	43	9	32	119	2.50	1.23	3.94
2011	22		19	5	.792	27	14	6	226.1	171	35	32	8	27	241	1.27	0.87	2.95
2012	23		10	4	.714	22	8	3	173	160	45	36	4	19	169	1.87	1.03
2013	24		24	0	1.000	27	8	2	212	168	35	30	6	32	183	1.27	0.94
Career			99	35	.739	172	53	18	1315	1082	367	336	66	275	1238	2.30	1.11

MLB statistics

Major League Baseball
Year	Age	Team	W	L	W%	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	GO/AO
2014	25	Yankees	13	5	.722	20	3	1	136.1	123	47	42	15	21	141	2.77	1.06	1.24
2015	26		12	7	.632	24	1	0	154.0	126	66	60	25	27	139	3.51	0.99	1.23
Career			25	12	.677	44	4	1	290.1	249	113	102	40	48	280	3.16	1.02	1.24

Bold indicates league leader; statistics current as of September 30, 2015

Pitching style

Tanaka is a right-handed pitcher who throws from a high three-quarter arm slot in a drop-and-drive motion. He throws two fastballs (four-seam, two-seam) usually in the low-90s that top out at 97 mph. He also has a plus 84-88 mph splitter with late downward action, a slider in the low to mid-80s, and an occasional curveball. Tanaka has added a cutter to repertoire in his MLB career.

Nickname

Tanaka is often affectionately referred to as Mā-kun (マー君, Mā-kun?) by both fans and the media. The nickname stuck after Tanaka and Saito told the media that that was what Tanaka was called on the team during the U.S.-Japan High School Baseball Tournament that followed the national tournament in 2006. Eagles manager Katsuya Nomura also often refers to Tanaka as "Mā-kun" in interviews. While older players on the team generally call Tanaka by his surname, some call him by the abbreviated nickname "Mā".

Personal life

Tanaka has publicly declared himself a zealous fan of Momoiro Clover Z, a popular female idol group in Japan. He has attended the group's concerts multiple times. When practicing he wears custom-made multicolored gloves in the five Momoiro Clover Z member colors (pictured) and he plays official games in gloves embroidered with a clover leaf. When his baseball team presented its fan club members with "cheering goods", the towel saying "Tanaka" used the same five colors. At the game in which the pitcher set a new Japanese professional baseball record of 16 consecutive victories in one season, cheer banners of the same color scheme were distributed among the spectators.

He has used the group's songs as his "warm-up song" (music that is played at a baseball game when a pitcher appears on the field and does his warm-up routine). After he joined Yankees, his warm-up song at home games is "My Dear Fellow" by Momoiro Clover Z. This song was specially made for Tanaka and unveiled when he debuted at Yankee Stadium, before it was released in Japan. New York Post said that "for when the rookie threw his warmup pitches, he did so to the accompaniment of a Japanese pop song — a tune unlike any other ever played here … Who else arrives in town with customized musical accompaniment?" NJ.com, the biggest news website in New Jersey, said "Like Tanaka, the act is a Japanese sensation. And like Momoiro Clover Z, Tanaka made his presence vociferously known in the Bronx."

Tanaka was engaged to Mai Satoda, a former idol and television personality, on January 26, 2012. They officially registered their marriage on March 20 of the same year. The wedding ceremony was held in Hawaii in December 2012. Satoda is also a fan of Momoiro Clover Z.

On October 5, 2014, Tanaka and Satoda were seen attending a Morning Musume concert in New York. Morning Musume is the flagship group of Hello! Project, the same organization under which Satoda worked when she was an idol.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]