He and his wife, Masayo, have two daughters, Hinatsu and Wakana… father, Kazuhiro Kuroda, was a professional baseball player for the Nankai Hawks. Attended Uenomiya High School and Senshu University in Japan… was selected by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japanese Central League as a second-round draft pick in 1996. Waited tables at Pasadena's Panda Inn during the Dodgers' 2008 Winter Caravan… also made hospital visits to City of Hope during the caravan in 2008 and '09… donated $100,000 to the Dodgers Dream Foundation in 2009, with a portion of those funds going to the team's charity, ThinkCure!… also donated $50,000 to ThinkCure! in 2011. Pledged $50,000 to benefit Japanese tsunami relief efforts and organized a fundraiser at Camelback Ranch on 3/19/11 to raise money for the American Red Cross Japan Tsunami Fund. Pitched for the 2004 bronze medal-winning Japan Olympic Team, earning two wins in relief… in 1999, pitched in the International Cup in Sydney, Australia, earning a win over Korea and tossing a complete-game shutout vs. Taiwan.
2013
Went 11-13 with a 3.31 ERA (201.1IP, 74ER) in 32 starts for the Yankees… was 7-3 with a
2.35 ERA (88.0IP, 23ER) in 14 starts at Yankee Stadium and 4-10 with a 4.05 ERA (113.1IP, 51ER) in 18 road starts. His nine scoreless starts were the most among all American League hurlers… became
just one of four Yankees pitchers since 1921 to record at least eight scoreless starts
of at least 7.0IP in one season, joining Whitey Ford (nine in both 1958 and '64), Ron
Guidry (nine in 1978) and Mel Stottlemyre (eight in 1972). Of his 32 starts, 18 immediately followed a Yankees loss, with Kuroda combining to go 6-7 with a 2.79 ERA (113.0IP, 35ER) in those outings… allowed 3ER or less in 15 of those starts, holding his opponent scoreless six times. Ended April with a 4-1record, marking just the third time in his career that he won at least four games in a calendar month (also
June 2012, 4-1; and August 2011, 5-1). Went undefeated in July, going 3-0 in five starts with a 0.55 ERA
(33.0IP, 25H, 2ER, 6BB, 24K), marking the lowest single-month ERA (min: 5GS) by any Yankees pitcher since at least 1916. Recorded a completegame shutout on 4/14 vs. Baltimore (9.0IP, 5H, 0R, 0BB, 5K)… was his fifth career completegame shutout and third as a Yankee (also 8/14/12 vs. Texas, 3-0; and 7/18/12 vs. Toronto, 6-0 in seven innings)… marked the first 9.0-inning complete-game shutout by a Yankees
pitcher in the Bronx without issuing a walk since David Wells on 4/10/03 vs. Minnesota… was the
Yankees' first completegame shutout vs. the Orioles in the Bronx since Mike Mussina on 9/28/01 (7-0). Was charged with an earned run when David Robertson relieved him and allowed an inherited runner to score (Colby Rasmus) in the eighth inning of his start on 4/20 vs. Toronto… marked an end to a 20.1-inning scoreless streak dating back to 4/8 at Cleveland. Surpassed the 1,000.0IP mark on 6/13 at Oakland (1,006.0IP), becoming just the third Japanese-born pitcher in Major League history to record 1,000IP or more in his career - also Hideo Nomo (1,976.1IP) and Tomo Ohka (1,070.0IP). Had a 21.2-inning scoreless streak at Yankee Stadium snapped in the first inning of his start on 8/3 vs. the White
Sox… according to Elias, marked the third-longest streak of consecutive scoreless innings for any pitcher at the current Yankee Stadium, trailing only a 23.2-inning scoreless streak by CC Sabathia in 2011 and a 22.0-inning stretch by Kuroda earlier in the season from 4/25-6/2. Gave up a home run to the Rays' Jose Lobaton in the second inning of his start on 8/23 at Tampa Bay, snapping a single-season, career-best stretch of 58.1IP (since 6/30) without allowing a homer (credit: Elias). Went winless over his last eight starts of the season from 8/17-9/24, going 0-6 with a 6.56 ERA (46.2IP, 34ER)… tied
the longest winless stretch of his career (also 4/9-5/16/08 with Los Angeles-NL).
2012
Went 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA (219.2 IP, 81 ER) in 33 starts with the Yankees...established career highs in wins, starts, innings pitched and strikeouts (167)...tied for tops on the staff in wins (also Hughes) and led in starts and innings pitched...among AL pitchers, ranked fourth in innings pitched, tied for sixth in wins and ranked eighth in ERA...Also recorded three complete games and two shutouts, the first Yankee with multiple shutouts in a single season since Mike Mussina in 2005...Opponents batted .249 (205-for-822, 25 HR); LH .253 (120-for-474, 15 HR), RH .244 (85-for-348, 10 HR)...Faced the Rangers' Yu Darvish (on 4/24 at Texas) and the Red Sox's Daisuke Matsuzaka (on 10/3 vs. Boston), marking the seventh and eighth times, respectively, in MLB history that two Japan-born starters faced off against each other...Went 13-5 with 2.92 ERA over his last 24 starts from 5/27 through the end of the season, after opening the year 3-6 with a 4.56 ERA (53.1 IP, 27 ER) in his first nine outings...among AL hurlers, marked the fourth-lowest ERA over the stretch, and only David Price and Jered Weaver (14 each) had more wins during the span...Exactly half of his starts (16 of 32) were against teams with winning records at the time that he faced them, with Kuroda going 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA (107.0 IP, 47 ER) in those starts...beginning on 6/8, lost just two of his last 12 starts against ballclubs with a .500 or better record, going 7-2 with a 3.87 ERA (76.2 IP, 33 ER) in those contests...Held opponents to 2 BB or less in 27 of his starts, including 18 of his final 19 outings...his 2.08 BB/9.0 IP ratio was the sixth-lowest among AL pitchers...Tossed at least 7.0 innings in 18 of his starts, six of which he held his opponent scoreless...only Seattle's Felix Hernandez (seven) had more among Major League hurlers...Did not allow a first inning run in 17 of his final 19 starts after combining to surrender 12 R in the opening frame over his first nine outings...Won five of his eight daytime starts...had not recorded a winning daytime record in any of his previous four Major League seasons...Went 11-6 with a 2.72 ERA (132.1 IP, 40 ER) in 19 starts at Yankee Stadium, the AL's seventh-best home ERA...was 5-5 with a 4.23 ERA (87.1 IP, 41 ER) on the road...Averaged 15.2 pitches per inning, the fifth-lowest mark among AL hurlers...opponents stole 17 bases while Kuroda was on the mound, most for any Yankees pitcher...Handled 42 chances without committing an error, the most flawless chances by an AL pitcher in 2012...Tossed 8.0 scoreless innings in his second start of the season on 4/13 vs. Los Angeles-NL in the Yankees' home opener, becoming the first Yankees starter to throw at least 8.0 scoreless innings in a home season opener since Rick Rhoden on 4/5/88 vs. Minnesota (9.0 IP)...also became the first Yankees starter with at least 8.0 scoreless innings in his first start at Yankee Stadium (old or current) since Bob Shirley on 4/27/83 vs. Kansas City (9.0 IP) - credit: Elias...Over his final seven starts of the year vs. AL East foes beginning on 7/18, went 6-1 with a 3.18 ERA (6.2 IP, 20 ER)...prior to that, had been 1-2 with a 6.94 ERA (23.1 IP, 18 ER) in four starts vs. the division to begin the season...Recorded his fourth career CG (all shutouts) and second of the year on 8/14 vs. Texas...was the first 9.0-inning shutout by a Yankee, while allowing 2 Hs or less, since 7/28/06 vs. Tampa Bay (Chien-Ming Wang, 2 H)...became the first Yankee to toss a complete game SHO against the Rangers since David Wells on 8/21/98 at Rangers Ballpark...Allowed a seventh-inning solo HR to Adrian Gonzalez on 8/19 vs. Boston, snapping a career-high 16.1 IP scoreless streak...Threw 99 pitches on 8/31 vs. Baltimore, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive games in which he threw at least 100 pitches beginning on 6/25...had been the longest such streak of his career and the second-longest by a Yankees pitcher this season (CC Sabathia - 15 games, 4/6-6/24)...Went 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA (16.0 IP, 5 ER) in two postseason starts (ALDS Game 3 vs. Baltimore and ALCS Game 2 vs. Detroit) with the Yankees...Did not allow a baserunner over the first 5.0 innings of ALCS Game 2 loss vs. Detroit, becoming the first Yankees starter to carry a perfect game through the first five innings of a postseason game since Mike Mussina on 10/12/04 in ALCS Game 1 win vs. Boston (retired first 19 batters)...was his first career start -- regular or postseason -- on short rest...struck out 11 batters, matching his single-game career high (third time, first in postseason play)...became the fifth pitcher in franchise history to strike out at least 11 batters in a postseason game -- first since Orlando Hernandez in Game 3 of the 2000 World Series at the Mets...also didn't walk a batter, becoming the fifth pitcher in postseason history to fan at least 11 batters without issuing a walk (also Cliff Lee in 2010 ALDS; Sterling Hitchcock in 1998 NLDS; Tom Seaver in 1973 NLCS; and Don Newcombe in 1949 World Series).
2011
Went 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA (202.0IP, 69ER) in 32 starts
with Los Angeles-NL... established career bests
in wins, ERA, games started, innings pitched and
strikeouts (161)... recorded the third-lowest single-season
ERA among Japan-born pitchers who qualified
for an ERA title in the Majors, behind only Hideo Nomo
(2.54 in 1995) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (2.90 in 2008).
.. Opponents batted .254 (196-for-773, 24HR); LH .264
(99-for-375, 12HR), RH .244 (97-for-398, 12HR)... held opponents to a .194 (30-for-155)
batting average with runners in scoring position, the fifth-best mark in the NL.
.. Ranked fifth in the NL with a 2.85 road ERA (94.2IP, 30ER), posting a 7-7 record in 15
starts away from Dodger Stadium.
.. Went 1-10 with a 3.38 ERA (72.0IP, 27ER) in 12 starts from 5/22-7/27...posted a career-long
six-game losing streak over a seven-start span from 5/22-6/25... received an
average of just 2.25 runs of support (18R) during the stretch.
.. Won a career-high four straight starts from 8/14-30, recording a 3.12 ERA (26.0IP, 9ER)
with an average of 11.08 runs of support per start over the span... earned a win in
seven of his last 10 decisions overall from 8/2-9/27, going 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA (69.0IP,
23ER) in 11 games.
.. Allowed a career-high 4HR in 9/5 loss at Washington, with all 5ER allowed coming
via home runs (6.0IP, 8H, 0BB, 9K).
2010
Set career bests with 11 wins, 196.1 innings, 159 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA ... tied a career high
from 2008 with 31 games and starts ... Struck out 159 while walking only 48 for a 3.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the eighth-lowest in the
National League ... Limited opposing hitters to a .243 batting average, which tied for the 18th-lowest mark in the NL ... His 3.39 ERA ranked eighth among National League qualifiers and was the seventh lowest all time
for a single season by a Japanese-born starter ... Was dominant in his 11 wins, posting a 2.13 ERA (18 ER/76.0 IP) and limiting opponents to a .211 batting average (58-for-
275) ... also pitched well in his seven no-decisions with a 3.15 ERA (16 ER/45.2 IP) and .243 opponents' batting average (42-for-
173) ... received two or less runs of support in 11 of his 31 starts ... Excelled in his 14 second-half starts, posting a 2.87 ERA (30 ER/94.0 IP) and limiting opponents to a .204 batting average, which
tied for the fifth-lowest mark among NL starters ... Walked just 48 in 196.1 innings for an average of 2.20 walks per 9.0 innings, which tied for the fifth-lowest mark in the NL ... issued
a career-high five free passes (two intentional walks) on May 7 against Colorado ... Allowed an average of 0.69 home runs per 9.0 innings (15 HR/196.1 IP), the 13th-lowest mark among NL starters ... limited
opponents to a .351 slugging percentage, which was the 11th-lowest in the NL ... Opposing hitters missed on 24.8 percent of his pitches, which tied for the 14th-highest mark in the NL ... Made a career-best 21 quality starts, which ranked second on the club and tied for 16th on the Senior Circuit ... pitched 7.0 or
more innings in 15 of his 31 starts and tossed a season-high 8.0 innings on five occasions ... Combined to go 8-5 with a 2.10 ERA (25 ER/107.1 IP) and a .198 opponents' batting average (77-for-388) in 16 starts against
NL East and Central opposition ... went just 2-6 with a 5.09 ERA (40 ER/70.2 IP) and a .297 opponents' average (84-for-283) in
12 starts against divisional opponents ... On Aug. 30 against Philadelphia, allowed one hit in 7.2 scoreless innings and took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning as he
outdueled Philadelphia's Roy Halladay in the Dodgers' 3-0 win ... also picked up his first hit of the season in his third at-bat that
night after starting the year 0-for-45 at the plate ... Tied his career-long winning streak with three straight victories from May 2-18, going 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four starts.
2009
Despite a pair of stints on the disabled list due to a strained left oblique and a concussion, the Dodgers' Opening Day starter rebounded
to go 8-7 with a 3.76 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) in his second season in the United States...On April 6 at San Diego, became only the third Japanese-born pitcher to start on Opening Day in Major League Baseball, joining
Hideo Nomo (Dodgers 2003-04) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (Red Sox 2008)...Has worked more than 2000.0 professional innings in his career, including 1700.1 in 11 seasons in Japan and and 300.2 innings
in two seasons with the Dodgers...Walked only 24 batters in 117.1 innings, an average of 1.84 per nine innings...that average would rank sixth in the National League
if he had enough innings to qualify...tossed 30.1 consecutive innings without walking a batter from June 6-July 3, the secondlongest
streak in the Majors (Joel Pineiro, 34.0 innings)...also worked 16.0 straight innings without a walk from September 6-16...On June 23 at the Chicago White Sox, fell one out
shy of a complete game but still earned the win in
the Dodgers' 5-2 triumph...Made the first relief appearance of his career, July
12 at Milwaukee in the Dodgers' final game before
the All-Star break...allowed three runs on two hits
and a walk in 1.1 innings (Dodgers won 7-4)...Started Opening Day, April 6 at San Diego, and
got the win with 5.2 innings of one-run ball in
the Dodgers' 4-1 triumph...then went on the disabled
list on April 11, retroactive to April 7, with
a strained left oblique...didn't return until June 1 vs. Arizona...Sustained a concussion on August 15, when he
took a comebacker off the right side of his head at
Arizona's Chase Field...the ball, which came off the
bat of Rusty Ryal in the sixth inning of the Dodgers'
4-3 loss that night, hit Kuroda's head and bounced
all the way back toward the Diamondbacks' on-deck
circle and into the seats...Kuroda never lost consciousness and was taken to
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix,
where a Computerized Axial Tomography Scan,
or CAT Scan, came back negative...remained in the hospital overnight for observation, and was discharged the next morning...doctors
cleared him to fly with the team back to Los Angeles following that afternoon's game at Arizona...Went on the disabled on August 19, retroactive to August 16...was reinstated from the DL on September 6, and took the loss that
night vs. San Diego after allowing four runs (three earned) in 5.0 innings...went 3-2 with 2.79 ERA (9 ER/29.0 IP) in five starts
after returning from the concussion...Won three straight starts for the first time in his career in the U.S. from September 11-22, beating the Giants, Pirates and Nationals
in that span...allowed just five runs (three earned) in 20.0 innings (1.35 ERA) and limited opponents to a .181 average (13-for-72)
in that span...Did not make his final regular-season start due to a sore neck caused by a small herniation in his cervical spine...was not placed on
the Division Series roster against St. Louis, but pitched against Philadelphia in the League Championship Series...On Oct. 18, got the start in NLCS Game 3 at Philadelphia, allowing six runs in 1.1 innings and taking the loss in his only postseason
appearance
2008
Made 31 starts in his first season in the Major Leagues...Signed by Los Angeles to a three-year contract in December 2007 after going 103-89 over 10 seasons in the Japanese
Central League...Posted a record of 9-10 with a 3.73 ERA and joined Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley as one of three Dodger starters with an
ERA under 4.00...Fanned 116 batters and walked just 42 in his 31 starts...averaged just 2.1 walks per nine innings to tie for eighth in the National
League...walked two or fewer batters in 26 of his 31 starts...Collected his first big league win in his first big league start on April 4 in San Diego...Made four starts with six or more days rest and was dominant in those outings, allowing just two runs in 27.0 innings pitched
(0.67 ERA)...Made one trip to the disabled list during the year, missing 17 games with a sore right shoulder...went on the 15-Day disabled
list on June 13 and was activated on July 2...went 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA after his activation...Had his strongest month in August, going 2-2 with a 2.29 ERA (10 ER/39.1 IP) in six starts...batters hit just .186 against him
during the month...Was at his best during the beginning and end of games, limiting batters to a .221 average the first time through the order and a
.188 mark (13-for-69) from the seventh inning on...Finished third on the club with 18 quality starts, trailing just Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley, who had 20 apiece...Was 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA (36 ER/88.0 IP) in 14 starts at Dodger Stadium...was only 3-8 with a 3.78 ERA (40 ER/95.1 IP) in
17 road starts...ranked 22nd in the NL with a .241 batting average against at home...overall, hitters had a .253 opponents batting
average...Logged two shutouts, on June 6 vs. the Chicago Cubs and on July 7 vs. the Atlanta Braves...is the first Dodger pitcher to throw
a pair of shutouts in a season since Derek Lowe and Jeff Weaver both turned the trick in 2005...on June 6, retired 16 of the
final 17 Cubs and became the first Dodger to throw a shutout since Weaver on Sept. 12, 2005...in his July 7 shutout, was perfect
through 7.0 innings before allowing a leadoff double to Mark Teixeira in the eighth...that was the only hit he allowed...was
the third rookie in the last 40 years to take a perfect game into the eighth inning, joining Bob Owchinko in 1977 and Orel
Hershiser in 1984...in the past 10 seasons, only Cleveland's Billy Traber (2003) threw a complete-game one-hitter in which he
did not issue a base on balls...his two shutouts ranked third in the NL...Became the seventh Japanese player in Dodger history, joining Hideo Nomo (1995-98, 2002-04), Kazuhisa Ishii (2002-04),Masao Kida (2003-04), Norihiro Nakamura
(205), Dave Roberts (2002-04), and Takashi
Saito (2006-2008)...Excelled in the postseason, going 2-0 with a
1.46 ERA in two starts...won the clinching
Game 3 of the NLDS over the Cubs and
also won Game 3 of the NLCS against the
eventual World Champion Phillies
2007
Went 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA in 26 starts, including seven complete games...made his fifth consecutive Opening Day start for the Carp...registered his 100th career win on July 14 against the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome...struck out 123 batters in 179.2 innings.
