Kenji Johjima #2

Kenji (ken-jee) Johjima (joe-jee-mah)...resides in Sasebo, Japan with his wife Maki, son Yuta (4) and daughter Miu (2)...attended Beppudai Fuzoku High School...first Japanese catcher to play in the Major Leagues...in 2000, a museum named in his honor opened in his hometown of Sasebo.

2008

Started 95 games at catcher, and has caught 3112.2 innings in past three seasons, 5th-most in Majors (see box)...Threw out 18 of 69 attempted base stealers (8 of final 18)...Collected career hit #1,500 on April 15 with a double (1,206 in Japan; 294 in SEA)...Hit game-tying, 0-2 count, 2-out, 3-run home run to tie game 12-12 in the bottom of the 9th May 12 at TEX...Stole home May 31, his first career steal of home, only second steal since start of 2007...Season-high 7-game hit streak July 25-Aug. 9 (.346/9x26)...Tied season-high with 4 RBI Sept. 20 at OAK (also: 5/12 at TEX)...7th MLB game with 4-or-more RBI.

2007

Ranked 5th in AL in hit-by-pitch (11) and 6th in GIDP (22)...11 HBP was T5th-most in Mariners history...among AL catchers, ranked 3rd in hits, 4th in average, doubles & RBI and 5th in HR...caught 39.5% of attempted base thieves, 2nd-best in the AL...from May 1-end of the season caught 30 of 68 (44%)...was 3rd-toughest to strikeout in the AL (1:12.5 PA)...first career grand slam May 26 at KC (Bannister)...recorded four grand slams in 11 seasons in Japan...also hit grand slam July 14 vs. Detroit (Rogers)...T3rd in AL with 2 GSHR.

2006

In his first season with the Mariners, Johjima hit .291 with 18 home runs and 76 RBIs in 144 games. His 18 home runs matched the franchise-record for catchers. Johjima hit .322 in August and .295 during the second half of the season. Hit two home runs and drove in a career-best five runs on June 27 against Arizona. Hit home runs in his first two games as a Mariner.

2005

Despite an injury-shortened season, batted .309 (127x411) with 24 home runs and 57 RBI over 116 games...Broke the tibia in his left leg on Sept. 22 and missed the reminder of the season...missed two weeks earlier in the campaign due to a sore right shoulder...Named to the Pacific League's "Best Nine" for the sixth time and also won his seventh Gold Glove...Cracked a career-best four triples...struck out only 32 times...Ranked sixth in the Pacific League in slugging and on-base percentage.

2004

Missed part of the Japan League season while playing in the Olympics...still managed career-highs of .338 (144x426) and 36 home runs...was hit by a pitch 22 times, breaking Ichiro's previous Pacific League mark of 18...homered, doubled twice and had four RBI to lead Japan to 11-2 win over Canada for the bronze medal...ranked fifth among Olympians with a .378 batting average (14x37)...seventh with seven runs scored.

2003

Helping lead the Hawks to another Pacific League championship, was named Pacific League's Most Valuable Player...batted .330 and hit 34 home runs...posted career highs of 101 runs, 182 hits, 39 doubles, 119 RBI , 53 walks, .655 slugging percentage and .432 on-base clip...tied his career high of 140 games played...won fifth straight Gold Glove, made his fourth "Best Nine" and sixth All-Star squad...led the Pacific League in total bases, second in hits, RBI, doubles and third in home runs...third in runs...had six hits on July 27.

2002

Won fourth consecutive Gold Glove...batted .293.

2001

Cracked 31 home runs and collected 95 RBI...again named to "Best Nine", selected to All-Star team and won third consecutive Gold Glove...played a career-high 140 games...homered twice in same inning on April 13.

2000

Batted .310, again earning "Best Nine" honors...an All-Star while winning another Gold Glove...swiped a career-best 10 bases.

1999

Named to the Pacific League's "Best Nine" for the first time as Fukuoka won the Japanese Series and the Pacific League championship...hit .306 with 33 double and 17 home runs...third in the league in batting average (behind Ichiro and Kazuo Matsui)...third in doubles...won his first Gold Glove.

1998

Batted .251 in his second year in the Japan League.

1997

Became Hawks' starting catcher, playing in 120 games...batted .308 as a rookie, becoming the youngest rookie ever voted as a Japanese League All-Star starter (21 years, 45 days).

1996

Playing in the Western League, set a league record with 25 homers...also led the league with 63 RBI...became the second player in Western League history to hit grand slams in consecutive at-bats on July 4...saw action in 17 games for the Hawks.

1995

Began his professional career...called up to the majors and made his Japanese League debut, playing in 12 games for Fukuoka.

1994

Selected in the first round of the Japanese Draft by Daiei Hawks.