Hisashi Iwakuma…he and his wife, Madoka, have the three kids, daughter Uta, son Towa and daughter Rima…attended Horikoshi High School…played in 2004 Athens Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic…originally selected by Osaka Kintetsu in fifth round of the 1999 NPB amateur draft…nicknamed "Kuma," which is Japanese for "Bear."
2017
Was 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA (15 ER, 31.0 IP) with 16 strikeouts in 6 starts with Seattle… underwent arthroscopic right shoulder debridement surgery on September 27…surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Texas…on 10-day DL May 10 (retro to May 7) with inflammation in right shoulder before being transferred to 60-day DL on July 24… sent on rehab assignment on June 14 and made two starts with High-A Modesto, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA (4 ER, 6.0 IP) before recall (but not activation) from rehab on June 22.
2016
The Totals - Was 16-12 with a 4.12 ERA (91 ER, 199.0 IP) with 147 strikeouts and 46 walks in 33 starts...Team Leader - Led the Mariners in wins (16), starts (33), innings (199.0) and strikeouts (147)... Leaderboard - Among American League leaders, ranked T6th in wins (16), T4th in starts (33), 11th in innings (199.0 IP)... Just Win - Earned a career high 16 wins (previous: 15, 2014)…became the 7th Mariners pitcher to record at least 2 seasons with 15 or more wins, joining Jamie Moyer (4x), Freddy Garcia (3x), Felix Hernandez (3x), Randy Johnson (3x), Marc Langston (3x) and Aaron Sele (2x)... Eating Innings - Tossed 199.0 innings, the 2nd-most in his MLB career (219.2 IP in 2013)... Honors - Named Mariners Pitcher of the Year by the Seattle chapter of BBWAA…the 2nd such honor in his career (also: 2013)...Quite the Finish - Was 15-8 with a 4.03 ERA (67 ER, 149.2 IP) with 109 strikeouts in his final 25 starts of the season... Winner - His 15 wins from May 20 through the end of the season were T4th-most in MLB, trailing Cleveland's Corey Kluber (16), Boston's Rick Porcello (16) and Washington's Max Scherzer (16) and tied with Toronto's J.A. Happ and Chicago-NL's Jon Lester... Japanese Leaderboard - Recorded a career-high 16 wins, T2nd-most in a single season by a Japanese-born pitcher, trailing only 18 wins by Daisuke Matsuzaka-BOS in 2008… joins Yu Darvish-TEX (16 in 2012), Hiroki Kuroda-NYY (16 in 2012) and Hideo Nomo-LAD (16 in 1996, 2002 & 2003) as the only Japanese-born pitchers to record 16 wins in a season...Streaker - Posted a 5-game winning streak, June 28-July 23...marked the second time in his career that he has won five straight starts (also: Aug. 8-Sept 5, 2014)…won a career best 7 straight starts Aug. 16, 2013-May 20, 2014... Rotation Rock - Was the only member of the Mariners Opening Day rotation to make every scheduled start...Eight was Great - Won 8 straight home starts, May 25-Aug.8…went 8-0 with 2.62 ERA (16 ER, 55.0 IP) in those 8 starts...only 2 Mariners pitchers (4x) have won more than 8 straight home starts (R. Johnson, 16 & 11; J. Moyer, 10, 2x)...Paul Abbott also won 8 straight... Cloud Nine - Won 9 games in the first half, a career-high for wins before the All-Star Break (8 in 2013 & 2014)...He's Got Backup - Had a 5.43 run support average, 10th-highest in the American League (120 runs in 199.0 innings).
2015
The Totals - Was 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA (51 ER, 129.2 IP) with 111 strikeouts in 20 starts. ... Strong Finish - Was 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA (11 ER, 45.2 IP) with 43 strikeouts in last 7 starts of season…was 5-3 with 4.29 ERA (40 ER, 84.0 IP) with 68 strikeouts in first 13 starts, including 0-1 with 6.61 ERA (12 ER, 16.1 IP) in first 3 starts before going on DL. ... Winning Ways - Seattle won 11 of his final 16 starts after losing first four to start season. ... No-No - Threw the 5th no-hitter in Mariners history (4th by a single pitcher) on Aug. 12 vs. Baltimore…was his first MLB complete game…2nd Japanese-born pitcher with an MLB no-hitter (Hideo Nomo, 2x)…4th no-no in MLB in 2015…first no-hitter in American League since Felix Hernandez (Aug. 15, 2012 vs. TB)…according to ESPN Stats & Info, threw his lowest percentage of pitches in strike zone in his career (41 percent, 11 percentage points below his season average entering the day), still throwing 77 of 116 pitches for strikes. ... Player of the Week - Named American League Player of the Week for Aug. 10-16 after tossing no-hitter in his start vs. Baltimore…was his first career Player of the Week honor, and the first by a Mariners pitcher since Felix Hernandez (June 9, 2014). ... Tough No-Decision - Allowed a solo HR (Dozier) w/1 out in the 9th Oct. 2 at MIN, the 1st earned run he'd allowed in his career vs. the Twins, snapping a string of 41 2/3 innings… per STATS Inc., the longest streak to begin career vs. any team since 1974 (as far back as their records go); previous record was 40.0 IP, Troy Percival vs. MIN (5/16/95-8/27/04)…in six career starts vs. the Twins, Iwakuma is 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA (1 ER / 42.1 IP). ... Limiting Damage - Allowed two runs or less in 11 of 20 starts, three or less in 14. ... Road Warrior - Was 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA (17 ER, 59.2 IP) with 51 strikeouts • 500 - Recorded 500th career strikeout by fanning Mitch Moreland in 2nd inning of his win at Texas on Aug. 18…hit milestone while walking 118 batters…according to STATS LLC, T6th-fewest walks before recording 500th strikeout since 1914 (LAD's Kenley Jansen leads with 104 BB/500K)…had 1,175 strikeouts over 11 years in Japan before MLB career. ... Rehab Assignment - In 3 rehab starts with Everett & Tacoma was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (2 ER, 13.1 IP) with 13 strikeouts. ... Injury - Suffered right lat strain and was placed on the disabled list April 24 (retro to April 21)…on DL April 21-July 6. ... As Starter - Since making first MLB start July 2, 2012 has gone 46-24 with 3.09 ERA (214 ER, 623.1 IP) in 97 starts… among pitchers with 50+ starts during this stretch, ERA is 10th-best in the Majors
2014
Went 15-9, 3.52ERA (70 ER, 179.0 IP) with 154strikeouts in 28 starts (17 quality starts)... Recorded single-season career-high in wins with15, going 15-9 in 28 starts... Ranked 4th in the AL witha 1.050 WHIP, fourth-best in clubhistory (holds 2nd-best mark with 1.006 in 2013)... Walked only 21 batters in 28 starts…ranked second in MLB with 1.06 BB/9.0IP (P. Hughes, MIN - 0.69) and 3rd with 7.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio…recorded 14 starts without issuing a walk, 2nd-best in MLB (Hughes - 19)... Went 8-6 with a 3.02 ERA (34 ER, 101.1 IP) in 15 starts at Safeco Field…owns a career 2.82 ERA in 49 G/42 GS at Safeco Field... Career-high 8.2 innings July 12 vs. Oakland…held the A's scoreless until a 2-out, 2-run home run by Brandon Moss in the top of the ninth... Recorded pair of 10-plus strikeout games, July 7 vs. Minnesota (10) and Aug. 19 at Philadelphia (11)…has 4 career 10+ strikeout games... Allowed 70 runs, all earned, in 28 starts; 2nd-most runs allowed in a seasonin club history without allowing an UER (Pineiro, 118 in 2005)... Recorded season-high 20.0 consecutive scoreless innings July 1-12…three separate scoreless streaks of at least 20.0 innings in his MLB career: July1-12, 2014 (20.0 IP), Sept. 13, 2013-May 3, 2014 (25.0 IP) and May 26-June 10, 2013(23.2 IP)…became the first pitcher since Joe Nathan in 2004-05 to have three 20.0+scoreless innings streaks over a two-season span (first in Mariners history),and the first starter since Dwight Goodenin 1984-85 (4 steaks of 20.0+ scorelessinnings)... Did not allow a stolen base during the season, with attempted basestealers going 0-for-8... Became the fifth Japanese-born pitcher with 15 wins in a season: Hideo Nomo (3x), Daisuke Matsuzaka (2x), Yu Darvish, Hiroki Kuroda... Set a clubrecord for consecutive scoreless inningsat 27.0, ending after 2.0 innings in hisseason debut May 3 at Houston… streakdated back to Aug. 21, 2013...previousrecord was 25.0 innings, shared by Brian Holman (6/27-7/19/84) and Randy Johnson (5/25-6/15/94)... Posted a 7-3 road record(4.17 ERA)…loss Aug. 3 at Baltimore was first road loss since July 4, 2013 at Texas... Opened the season on the disabled list witha strained tendon in his right middle finger…made one rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma... Passed 2,000 innings for his career (including Japan) in his start July 29 at Cleveland…has 2,065.0 combined career innings... Participated in the MLBJapan All-Star Series in his native country ofJapan, making one start... Since making his first MLB start July 2, 2012 has gone 37-19 with a 2.97 ERA(163 ER, 493.2 IP) in 77 starts…among pitchers with at least 50 starts during this stretch, ERA is ninth-best in the Majors.
2013
Finished his second Major League season going 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA (65 ER, 219.2 IP) in 33 starts (23 quality starts). Finished 3rd in the AL Cy Young voting with 73.0 votes. Ranked 3rd in the American League with a 2.66 ERA. Selected to his first All-Star Game, but did not pitch due to starting the final game before the All-Star break. Named Mariners Pitcher of the Year by the Seattle chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Finalist for the Male Athlete of the Year for 2013 in the 79th Seattle Star of the Year. Among AL leaders ranked 3rd in innings pitched (219.2), 3rd in opponent batting average (.220), T4th in quality starts (23), T4th in games started (33), 5th in opponent OPS (.630) and 12th in strikeouts (185). Led the Majors and set a Mariners record with 10 starts in which he pitched at least 6.0 innings and did not allow an ER (5-0, 5 no-decisions)…Felix Hernandez recorded 9 starts of 6.0 or more IP, 0 ER in 2009. Ranked 2nd in the AL and set a Mariners single-season record with a 1.006 WHIP. Went 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA (10 ER, 55.2 IP) over his final 8 starts of the season (8/16-9/25) to lower ERA from 3.02 to 2.66. Went 2-0 with a 0.76 ERA (3 ER, 35.2 IP) in 5 starts in September…2nd-lowest ERA in a month in club history (min. 4 GS), trailing only the 0.50 mark by Mark Langston in September 1988 (3 ER, 53.2 IP, 6 GS). Pitched in a career-high 219.2 innings, besting his Japanese career high of 201.2 IP during his Pacific League MVP season in 2008…IP total was T3rd-most by a Japanese-born pitcher trailing only Hideo Nomo (228.1 in 1996, 220.1 in 2002). Ended the season with a streak of 23.0 consecutive scoreless innings, including 8.0 scoreless innings in his season finale Sept. 25 vs. KC. Recorded a career-high 23.2 scoreless innings streak May 26-June 10 (8th-longest in club history)…did not allow an ER in 31.2 consecutive innings (5/26-6/17), the 2nd-longest streak in club history (34.0 IP, Mark Langston, 1988). Was the only MLB pitcher with two scoreless streaks of at least 20.0 innings during the season…joins Freddy Garcia (2001) as the only pitcher in club history with a pair of scoreless innings streaks of at least 20.0 IP in a single season. Recorded 25.0 consecutive scoreless innings on the road to end the season, tied for the longest streak in club history (8/21-9/18)…Brian Holman (6/27-7/19/89) and Randy Johnson (5/25-6/15/94) also had road scoreless streaks of 25.0 innings…recorded the 3rd-lowest road ERA in club history at 2.45, trailing Felix Hernandez (1.99 in '09) & Randy Johnson (2.45 in '95). Recorded 10 starts without walking a batter, T2nd-most in the AL (Colon, OAK - 12, Price, TB - 10) and T2nd-most in club history (Moyer - 11 in 2002)…ranked 3rd in AL with 1.72 BB/9.0 IP and 4th with 4.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Matched career high (6 times) with 8.0 innings pitched…was only 2-0 with 4 no-decisions (1.69 ERA) when pitching 8.0 innings. Opened the season going 7-1, 1.79 ERA in his first 14 starts of the season (ranked 2nd in the AL in ERA following 6/10 start vs. HOU). Held opponents to a .184 average with runners in scoring position (26x141) and .111 with RISP/2 outs (7x63). Since making his first MLB start on July 2, 2012, combined
2012
In 16 starts went 8-4 with a 2.65
ERA (28 ER, 95.0 IP) to rank first
in club history in starter ERA by a
rookie (2nd, Felix Hernandez, 2.67
in 2005)...in 14 relief appearances
posted a 1-1 record with 2 saves
and a 4.75 ERA (16 ER, 30.1 IP)...
overall ranked 2nd on team with
3.16 ERA (min. 100.0 IP) ... Finished the season going 6-2,
1.83 ERA (11 ER, 54.0 IP) with 43
strikeouts over his last 9 starts...posted the 2nd-best ERA amongst AL starters during the
9-start stretch (8/17-end of season, min. 5 GS) ... Went 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA (4 ER, 29.1 IP) with 22 strikeouts in 5 G/4 GS vs. the Angels
(4-0, 1.37 in 4 GS)...became just the third pitcher in club history to record 4 wins vs. the
Angels in a season: Freddy Garcia (5-0, 0.96 in '01) & Jamie Moyer (4-2, 1.67 in '03) ... Mariners won 8 of the last 10 Iwakuma starts, and went 10-6 in his starts overall ... Amongst AL pitchers with at least 100.0 IP, ranked 7th with a 3.16 ERA (44 ER, 125.1 IP)...
ranked 3rd amongst AL starters (min. 15 GS) with a 2.65 ERA (28 ER, 95.0 IP) in 16 starts ... Posted the 5th-lowest ERA by an AL starting pitcher since 1988 at 2.65 (min. 15 GS)...the
last rookies to have a lower starter ERA were Minnesota's Francisco Liriano (1.92) and the
Angels Jered Weaver (2.56) in 2006 ... Set Mariners rookie record with 13 strikeouts in first MLB win as a starter July 30 vs.
Toronto (8.0,4,1,1,3,13,HR)...old record was 12 by Freddy Garcia (1999), Randy Johnson
(1989) and Mark Langston (3x, 1984)...most strikeouts by a MLB rookie since Stephen
Strasburg (14) in 2010...only Japanese born pitcher with as many strikeouts in a MLB
game is Hideo Nomo (7 G w/13+ strikeouts) ... Made first start July 2 vs. Baltimore (5.0,3,3,3,3,4,HR)...joined Ichiro (RF) and Munenori
Kawasaki (2B) as first Japanese trio in a starting lineup...became 2nd Japanese born
pitcher in club history to start on the mound, first since Mac Suzuki in 1999 ... Made 6 relief appearances of at least 3.0 innings (3.05 ERA in those games) ... Notched first MLB win with 2.0 shutout innings June 16 vs. San Francisco ... Recorded first MLB loss June 27 vs. Oakland, allowing only a solo HR in 3.2 IP (1 H, 3
SO)...replaced injured starter Kevin Millwood in 3rd inning ... Earned save in consecutive appearances May 30 at Texas (3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R) and June 2 at
Chicago-AL (1.0 IP, BB, K) ... Made Mariners debut April 20 vs. Chicago (AL)...was the last MLB player on Opening Day
roster to appear in a game ... Signed a contract extension through 2014
with an option for 2015 on Nov. 2.
2011
Made 17 starts for Rakuten, going 6-7 with a 2.42 ERA (32 ER, 119.0 IP)...averaged
7.0 innings and 99.8 pitches per start...on the disabled list from May 18-July 26 with a
sore right shoulder...was 3-2 with a 1.72 ERA at the time of his injury...struck out seasonhigh
13 batters in CG shutout April 26 at Seibu.
2010
Posted second season of 200-plus innings of his career...went 10-9, 2.82 with 4 CG and
153 strikeouts in 28 starts...awarded to Oakland via the posting system, but could not reach
agreement during 30-day negotiating period.
2009
Named Rakuten's Opening Day starter for third consecutive season...part of gold medal
winning Japan squad in the World Baseball Classic...went 1-1 with 1.35 ERA (3 ER, 20.0 IP)
in 4 G/3 GS in WBC play.
2008
Named the Pacific League MVP going 21-4, 1.87 ERA in 28 starts...also named a NPB
All-Star, Best Nine Award and the Eiji Sawamura Award winner (Cy Young equivalent)...
became the first 20-game winner in the Pacific League since Kazumi Saito in 2003...led the
league in ERA and winning percentage...allowed just 3 home runs in 201.2 innings.
2007
Named Rakuten's Opening Day starter...sidelined with back soreness and a left oblique
strain...returned to full strength following the All-Star break...finished the season 5-5, 3.40
in 16 starts...underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in October.
2006
Limited by lingering shoulder soreness, made only 6 starts...made season debut Aug.
29 vs. Nippon Ham...went 1-2 with a 3.73 ERA (16 ER, 38.2 IP).
2005
Went 9-15 with 4.99 ERA (101 ER, 182.1 IP) while making 27 starts.
2004
Opened the season going 12-0, setting a club record for consecutive wins to open
a season...starting pitcher in the NPB All-Star Game...led the league in both wins and
winning percentage (.882)...pitched in Game 5 of the NPB-MLB Post-Season All-Star
Series...earned Best Nine Award...pitched in the 2004 Athens Olympics as a member of
the Japanese national team (bronze medal).
2003
Led the league with 11 complete games...went 15-10, 3.45 with 149 strikeouts in 27 starts...named NPB All-Star.
2002
Made 23 starts, going 8-7 with 3.69 ERA (58 ER, 141.1 IP) and 131 strikeouts.
2001
Made his NPB debut May 29 vs. Nippon Ham...went 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA (22 ER, 43.2 IP) in 9 appearances (8 GS)...threw CG, 2-hit shutout Sept. 18 vs. Seibu.
