From the Collection: Hiroyuki Nakajima, if, Oakland Athletics

From 2002-2012, while playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions, infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima was one of Japan’s best ballplayers. He was selected to eight All-Star teams, won three Gold Gloves, had had a career .302 batting average with 162 homers. Plenty of Major League Baseball clubs were interested in him, and he almost joined the Yankees organization in 2011. He would eventually sign with the Oakland Athletics in 2012. With his mix of speed and power, Nakajima seemed like a solid signing and that should quickly be part of the Athletics big league club.

Unfortunately, Nakajima would struggle to play in the United States. He would spend two seasons with Oaklands AA and AAA affiliates before returning to Japan for the 2015 season. He is still playing too, with the Yomiuri Giants, though at 39 is not quite the player he used to be. Still, he has had a 21-season career that he should be proud of.