Daisuke Matsuzaka

Full Name: Daisuke Matsuzaka

Number: 18
Position: Starting Pitcher
Born: 9-13-80
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Age: 26
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
College: none
MLB Debut: 4-5-07
Acquired: from Seibu Lions with $51.1 million posting fee; signed 6 year, $52 million contract on 12-4-06

2006 Statistics (with Seibu): 17-5, 2.13, 186.1, 200
2007/Career Statistics & Game Log
Career Statistics (Japan)
dionnesdugout.com

Bio: won the 1999 Japan League Rookie of the Year. Won the MVP award for the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March of 2006. Played from 1999-2006 with the Seibu Lions before being "purchased" from the Boston Red Sox with a $51.1 posting fee. After a long, stressful negotiation he decided he wanted to play in the major leagues, and agreed to a six year, $52 million contract despite his agent Scott Boras wanting more money. Unselfish is the first word that comes to my head when I think of Matsuzaka. The second word would be talent, and he has a lot of that. With him in our rotation, the future of the Red Sox is very bright indeed.

Projected 2007 Statistics: 17-7, 3.40, 200, 200

Fantasy Outlook: I have him as my #6 starting pitcher, but to some that might be a little too high. To me he's a top three round selection. You might be able to land him in a later round, perhaps as high as the sixth.