Kenshin Kawakami #11

Is single and resides in Nagoya City, Japan...Attended the University of Meiji at Tokyo...Was Chunichi's top pick in the 1997 Japanese Amateur Draft...Pitched for Japan in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, as they stunned Cuba in the Gold Medal game, marking Cuba's first Gold Medal-game loss in 15 years.

2010

In an up-and-down sophomore season, went 1-10 with a 5.15 ERA in 18 games (16 starts) for Atlanta. Also made five starts with Triple-A Gwinnett (0-1, 4.29)...Started the season in Atlanta where he made 15 of his 16 starts before being optioned to Gwinnett (AAA) on 8/7.Was recalled on 8/30 and optioned to Danville (R) on 8/31(procedural move). Recalled a second time on 9/1 for the remainder of the season...Made two appearances after his 9/1 recall allowing six earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched (13.50 ERA) over two appearances (one start)...His lone win came 6/26 vs. DET when he tossed a season-high 7.0 innings and held the Tigers to one earned run on two hits...Pitched 6.0 scoreless frames on 5/19 vs. CIN, but did not factor in the decision as the Braves pulled off a one-run victory in the ninth inning.

2009

In a stellar 11-year career, went 112-72 (.609) with a 3.22 ERA and 1,328 strikeouts in 257 games (214 starts) in Japan's Central League...Allowed only 351 walks in 1,642.1 innings of work and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.8-to-1. Over the last five seasons (2004-08) his ratio was exactly 5-to-1 (765-153)...Earned the Central League's Most Valuable Player Award and Sawamura Award (equivalent to MLB's Cy Young Award) in 2004...Was twice (2004 and 2006) named to the prestigious Best Nine team (Japan's postseason All-Star squad)..Was a six-time All-Star and garnered three Gold Glove Awards (2004, '06, '07) for his fielding excellence...Won the Central League Player/Pitcher of the Month Award a record eight times...Recorded a no-hitter against the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants in 2002...Won 10 or more games in a season six times...Pitched in the postseason three times (2004, '06, '07) and led Chunici to the 2007 League Championship.

2008

Pitched in 20 games (16 starts) and posted a career-best 2.30 ERA. His ERA would have led the league if he had pitched enough innings to qualify for the title. ...Went 9-5 with a 1.06 WHIP and tied for fifth in the Central League in strikeouts (112). ...Fanned 112 batters and walked just 25 in 117.1 innings pitched. ...Earned the league's Pitcher of the Month Award for June, when he went 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA. ...Missed three weeks of action due to a back injury. ...Made five relief appearances in the Beijing Olympic Games, posting a 4.70 ERA with six strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. Suffered a the loss in the Bronze Medal game vs. the United States.

2007

Earned the Gold Glove Award for the third time in his career and was named to his sixth career All- Star team...Went 12-8 with a 3.55 ERA...Tied for fifth in the league in wins, was seventh in strikeouts (145) and finished eighth in ERA...Started the opening game of the Japan Series vs. the Nippon Ham Fighters and retired 21 straight batters at one point, but suffered the loss thanks to a Fernando Seguignol first-inning home run...Chunichi went on to win the series for its first league title in 50 years.

2006

Was named to the Best Nine team and finished second in voting for the Sawamura Award...Also claimed his second career Gold Glove Award...Went 17-7 with a 2.51 ERA and tied for the Central League lead with a career-high 194 strikeouts...Walked just 39 batters and allowed 166 hits in 215 IP...Tied for the league lead in wins, ranked second in innings pitched and ranked third in ERA...His three shutouts tied for the league lead...Earned the league Player of the Month Award for May...It was his seventh career Player of the Month Award and tied the Japanese record for total POM awards (with Masahiro Yamamoto and Hideki Matsui)...Earned the win in Game 1 of the Japan Series (Chunichi's only victory in the series) with an eightinning, two-run performance against the Nippon Ham Fighters...He suffered the loss in Game 5 and Nippon won the championship four games to one.

2005

Went 11-8 with a 3.74 ERA...Earned the Central League Player of the Month Award for July.

2004

Posted his finest season in Japan and helped Chunichi to the Central League pennant...Earned the league's Most Valuable Player Award and was the recipient of the Sawamura Award as the best pitcher (equivalent to MLB's Cy Young Award)...Also won the Gold Glove and was named to the league's Best Nine (postseason All-Star team)...Went 17-7 with a 3.32 ERA...His 17 wins led the circuit and his 176 strikeouts ranked second to Kei Igawa...Earned the league Player of the Month Award for both May and August... Chunichi lost the Japan Series to the Seibu Lions (four games to three).

2003

Was limited to eight games and went 4-3 with a 3.02 ERA...Earned the Central League Player of the Month Award for April.

2002

After going 16-22 in the previous three seasons, bounced back with a 12-6 record and a 2.35 ERA... Finished second in the league in ERA...On 8/1, threw a no-hitter against the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome...Earned the Central League Player of the Month Award for August.

2001

Suffered his third straight losing season with a 6-10 record and 3.72 ERA in 26 games (22 starts).

2000

Went 2-3 with a career-high 4.77 ERA in 14 games (10 starts).

1999

Slipped below .500 with an 8-9 record and a 4.44 ERA in 29 games (22 starts).

1998

Earned the Central League's Rookie of the Year Award by going 14-6 with a 2.57 ERA in 26 games... Finished fourth in the league in wins and second in ERA...Earned the league's Player of the Month Award for July...Made his professional debut on 4/9.