Jo Matumoto | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: São Paulo, Brazil | February 5, 1971|
Bats: Left Throws: Left |
Jo Matumoto (born February 5,1971) is a Brazilian former professional baseball player. He is a left-handed pitcher.
Matumoto was born in Brazil and is of Japanese descent. He emerged from relative baseball obscurity,signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 as an undrafted free agent at the age of 36. [1] Matumoto's wife had contacted agent Randy Hendricks as she desperately searched for someone in North America to give Matumoto an opportunity. [2] Matumoto did not speak any English at that time. [3] He became a free agent at the end of the 2008 season.
While playing baseball in Japan,Matumoto was part of an "industrial league" team in Japanese professional baseball,essentially the Japanese equivalent of the Minor League Baseball circuit. [4] He was signed by the Nippon Blue Jays [5] —a team unaffiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays,but founded by a former Toronto Blue Jays farm team player,fellow Brazilian Jose Pett. [2] Matumoto would play in Japan from 1996 until 2001. [4]
Matumoto returned to Brazil and has seen action playing for their national baseball team since 1995 and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2005 South American Games when he led Brazil to a victory over Venezuela. [1] [2] He was considered the ace of the national team. [1] [5] [6] Matumoto pitches with a three-quarters delivery,throwing in the high 80s with a solid slider. His best pitch was a screwball. [7] [8]
Wilfredo Jose Ledezma Acosta is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played for the Detroit Tigers,Atlanta Braves,San Diego Padres,Arizona Diamondbacks,Washington Nationals,Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines. He bats and throws left-handed.
Shawn Richard Hill is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals,San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. He was part of Team Canada at the 2004 Summer Olympics,which finished fourth.
Tomokazu Ohka is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox (1999–2001),Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2001–2005),Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2006),Toronto Blue Jays (2007),Cleveland Indians (2009),as well as the Fukushima Hopes in Japan's Baseball Challenge League. He started his professional career with the Yokohama BayStars in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. He throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
Adam Alexander Loewen is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Toronto Blue Jays,Philadelphia Phillies,and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Chad Patrick Cordero is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Cordero played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners.
Joshua Eric Towers is an American former right-handed professional baseball pitcher. Towers stands at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall,and weighs 188 pounds (85 kg).
Edwin Jackson Jr. is a German-born American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2003 to 2019 for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays,Detroit Tigers,Arizona Diamondbacks,Chicago White Sox,St. Louis Cardinals,Washington Nationals,Chicago Cubs,Atlanta Braves,Miami Marlins,San Diego Padres,Baltimore Orioles,Oakland Athletics,and Toronto Blue Jays.
Jonah James Bayliss is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He is an alumnus of Trinity College in Hartford,Connecticut,and Lawrence Academy at Groton in Groton,Massachusetts.
Brian Burres is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Burres' best pitch is his changeup. He also has a high 80s-low 90 MPH fastball and a curveball. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Lamigo Monkeys.
Leslie Dale Walrond is an American former professional baseball player and current scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball.
Aaron Steven Laffey is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2007 and also played in MLB with the Seattle Mariners,New York Yankees,Toronto Blue Jays,New York Mets,and Colorado Rockies.
Scott Daniel Richmond is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the EDA Rhinos / Fubon Guardians.
Shun Yamaguchi is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars/Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Yomiuri Giants,and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Marc Walter Rzepczynski,nicknamed "Scrabble",is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,St. Louis Cardinals,Cleveland Indians,San Diego Padres,Oakland Athletics,Washington Nationals,and Seattle Mariners.
John Berton Axford,nicknamed "Ax Man",is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Cleveland Indians,Pittsburgh Pirates,Colorado Rockies,Oakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays,and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 2011 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 35th season of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays franchise,and the 22nd full season of play at the Rogers Centre. It was also the first season with John Farrell as the team's manager. The Blue Jays had an up-and-down season,finishing with an 81–81 record,in fourth place in the American League East.
Jason Kendall Adam is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals,Toronto Blue Jays,Chicago Cubs,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Anthony Edward Bass is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Houston Astros,Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,Seattle Mariners,Miami Marlins,and Toronto Blue Jays. Bass has also played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played college baseball at Wayne State University.
Rhiner Augusto Cruz Montero is a professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Born in the Dominican Republic,he played for Team Spain in the 2019 European Baseball Championship. He played for the team at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament,in Italy in September 2019.
Yan Gomes is a Brazilian-American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Cleveland Indians,Washington Nationals,Oakland Athletics,and Chicago Cubs.