1 Attachment(s)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka - Adopt A Prospect Thread
Attachment 917
Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Birthdate: 7/27/1984 (Age 27)
6'1" 175 lbs.
Switch Hitter, Throws Right
Born in Daito, Osaka
Nippon Professional Baseball League Notes
* His debut was on 6/23/2003 (Age 18).
* In his first plate appearance (6/28/2003), he hit a double.
* He only received 11 plate appearances in 2003 and spent most of his time in the Japanese minors.
* His 2003 Eastern League .216 batting average was among the lowest among all qualifying players.
* Upon the advice of his coach, he started switch hitting in 2004.
* His first homerun and stolen base came in the same game (6/27/2004).
* Nishioka's breakout year was in 2005, when he hit just .268 but led the league in triples (11) and stolen bases (41).
* The team won the Japan Series in 2005.
* During 2005, he won the League Best Nine award at SS and the Golden Glove at 2B (due to him splitting time at the positions).
* He starred in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 where Japan won Gold.
* Manager Bobby Valentine used Tsuyoshi exclusively at short stop in 2006 to reduce the risk of injury.
* In his Age 22 season (2007), he hit .300 for the first time ... despite being hampered by a wrist injury and neck pain.
* During 2008, Nishioka reached double digit home runs for the first time (13) and still hit .300. Injuries limited him to 116 games.
* In 2009, Nishioka was named to the team's preliminary World Baseball Classic roster, but was ultimately cut as bothered by injuries.
* In 2010, Nishioka led the league with 206 hits, a .346 batting average, and 121 runs scored.
Contract Negotiation
The Chiba Lotte Marines accepted a $5 Million bid through the posting system.
On 12/17/2010, Nishioka officially signed for $9 million over 3 years.
The Twins hold a 2014 Club Option of $4 million with a $250k buy-out.
The minimum commitment is $14.25 million over 3 years with the (albeit small) possibility of paying $18 million over 4 years.
2011 Season
* During spring training, Nishioka was named the second baseman.
* His first MLB (4/1/2011) game included going 1 for 3 from the plate with a strikeout and a fielding error.
* One week into his career (4/7/2011), Nishioka suffered a broken left fibula as Yankee Nick Swisher slid into second.
* After missing 59 games, Nishioka returned on 6/16/2011 playing shortstop.
* Final statistics included hitting .226 in 221 at bats, 14 runs scored, 19 RBIs, 0 HR, 15 walks, 43 strikeouts.
* His OBP was .278 and slugging percentage of .249. This makes his OPS .527.
2012 Season
* Nishioka was optioned to Rochester on 3/19/2012 making Tsuyoshi Nishioka the highest paid Adopt-A-Prospect.
* Tsuyoshi opened the minor league season on a poor note collecting 2 only hits in his first 19 at bats.
* Nishioka is currently 7 out of his last 20 at bats ... though that only raised his season batting average to .203 (with 3 steals).
* His last game action was on 4/20/2012.
* Nishioka was placed on the 7 day disabled list on 4/24/2012 with a high ankle sprain. The injury was suffered sliding into third.
* I am unaware of any anticipated return.
