Biography of Daisuke Matsuzaka: From Japan to the Boston Red Sox

Daisuke Matsuzaka is one of the hottest names in baseball. With his success in Japan and in the World Baseball Classic, Daisuke Matsuzaka has become one of the most highly touted rookies in Major League Baseball history.

The Boston Red Sox paid Matsuzaka 51 million dollars just to seal the rights to talk to him about a potential contract. The Red Sox eventually signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a contract that could keep the young Japanese star playing in Boston until the 2012 season.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was born on September 13, 1980 in Tokyo, Japan. He attended Yokohama High School where he graduated from in 1998. Before leaving Yokohama High School, Matsuzaka led the team to a national championship in Japan's Koshien Tournament for high school baseball. He threw only the second no-hitter in the tournament final's history. As a result of his outstanding play, he became the top pick in the 1998 draft. He was selected by the Seibu Lions.

With overwhelming pressure to succeed in Japan's professional baseball league, Daisuke Matsuzaka lived up to the high standards, going 16-5 and winning the Rookie of the Year award. The following season, he finished 14-7. In 2001, he had his worst season during his time playing in Japan when he went 15-15. Over the next five seasons, he went 6-2, 16-7, 10-6, 14-13 and 17-5, respectively. During the 2003 season, he had a 2.83 ERA, the lowest in the league.

In 2004, Daisuke Matsuzaka played for the Japanese national team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece. The Japanese team won the bronze medal as Matsuzaka proved to be the top player for the team.

He made Japan no prouder, however, than he did in the World Baseball Classic. He secured wins for the Japanese squad early in the tournament with dominating wins. In the championship game of the World Baseball Classic, he shut down Cuba, finishing with a 3-0 record in the tournament. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Daisuke Matsuzaka's domination in Japan and at the World Baseball Classic created interest for him among several Major League Baseball teams. A bidding war went on with the Boston Red Sox winning the rights to talking to him.