Masahide Kobayashi

Masahide Kobayashi, (called Masa) was born on May 24, 1974 in Otsuki, Yamanashi, Japan. He is a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.

Masa is 6’ 0”, weighs 195 pounds, and bats and throws right.

College Masa attended Nippon Sport Science College.

Nippon Professional Baseball League Masa played for the Chiba Lotte Marines from 1997-2007.

He was a member of the Japanese Olympic baseball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.

Masa led the Pacific League in saves in 2005, and made his 200th save in 2006, becoming the third player in Japanese baseball to reach that record, after Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shingo Takatsu.

At the close of the 2007 season, Masa became the only Japanese pitcher to record 20 or more saves in seven straight years.

On November 2, 2007, Masa declared his free agency and expressed a desire to play in the United States.

Major Leagues On November 20, Masa signed a two-year, $6,250,000 deal with the Cleveland Indians. He made his major league debut on April 2, 2008.