Closer for the Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Championship team; previously played for the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers.
He was an 8-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star, and two-time Japan Series Champion during his 9-season run with the Yomiuri Giants.
He set the record for best single season strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.74) in MLB history - with a minimum of 100 innings pitched - during the 2013 season.
He had a son named Kazuma with his wife Miho.
He and David Ortiz were two of Boston's brightest stars during their 2013 World Series run.
