Masahiro Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka began his professional baseball journey in 2007 with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles after being their first-round pick in the 2006 NPB amateur player draft. Born on November 1, 1988, in Itami, Hyōgo, Japan, Tanaka initially played as a catcher during his early baseball years, alongside future Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto. His transition to a pitcher during his high school career at Komazawa University Tomakomai High School solidified his path, leading his team to a championship in the 87th National High School Baseball tournament. He earned accolades early in his professional career, including the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 2007, showcasing his talent with an 11–7 record and 3.82 ERA in his debut season.

A significant turning point in Tanaka’s career came during the 2013 NPB season when he set a new league record with 21 consecutive wins, extending to 25 when including his final four starts from 2012. This remarkable achievement surpassed MLB’s longest consecutive winning streak, set by Carl Hubbell. His outstanding performance that year culminated in a 24–0 regular season record with a 1.27 ERA, earning him the Pacific League MVP and his second Eiji Sawamura Award. After this dominant showing, Tanaka was posted to MLB, where he signed a seven-year, $155 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2014, marking one of the largest deals for a pitcher at that time. His MLB tenure saw him make his debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, securing his first win and later being named an All-Star two times (2014, 2019).

During his time with the Yankees, Tanaka served as the Opening Day starter for four seasons. He delivered several memorable performances, such as his complete-game shutout against the Red Sox in 2017, a “Maddux” with fewer than 100 pitches. He consistently achieved double-digit wins in his first four MLB seasons, a unique feat for a Japanese pitcher. After the 2020 season, Tanaka returned to Japan, rejoining the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2021 with a record-setting contract for NPB. He continued his career, eventually signing with the Yomiuri Giants in 2024, where he achieved his 200th career win across both US and Japanese leagues by September 2025. Throughout his career, Tanaka has participated in international competitions, including the 2008 Summer Olympics and winning gold medals in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.