Kenshin Kawakami Stats & Bio

Kenshin Kawakami (川上 憲伸, born June 22, 1975 in Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan) is a right-handed Japanese Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.

In Japan, Kawakami originally pitched for the Chunichi Dragons of the Central League in the Japanese Majors. Kawakami was the Rookie of the Year in 1998 as he went 14-6 with a 2.57 ERA. He helped the Dragons to the Central League Title in 1999, but would lose in the Japan Series in 5 games to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. He has pitched a no-hitter in his professional career. In 2004, Kawakami went 17-7 and led Chunichi to the Central League Title, though they fell to the Seibu Lions in 7 games in the Japan Series. That year, Kawakami was named Central League MVP and received the Eiji Sawamura Award as Japan's best pitcher. Kawakami again won 17 games in 2006 and led the Dragons to the Central League title again, winning Game 1 of the Japan Series against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

Kawakami is known as a crafty veteran who is said to throw a 90 MPH fastball, a slow curveball, and a very good cutter. In 2007, Kawakami helped the Dragons end a streak of 53 years without a championship as they beat the Nippon Ham Fighters in 5 games.

On January 13, 2009, Kawakami signed a three-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.

Kenshin Kawakami threw his first game as an Atlanta Brave on February 26th in a Spring Training game against the Pirates. Kawakami pitched two innings allowing one hit and striking out one batter.

Kawakami pitched his first Major League game on April 11, 2009 against the Washington Nationals. He picked up his first Major League win, giving up 3 earned runs, and striking out 8 in 6 innings.

川上　憲伸　1975年６月２２日生まれ　徳島県徳島市出身　右投げ　MLBアトランタブレーブス先発投手
徳島商業高校（1993年夏季甲子園ベスト８）― 明治大学（1996年東京六大学野球秋期リーグ完全優勝）―　中日ドラゴンズ（セ・リーグ優勝３回、日本一１回）

川上憲伸選手1998年に中日ドラゴンズにドラフト１位指名を受け、１４勝６敗、防御率２．５７という活躍をし新人賞を受賞。1999年にはセントラルリーグ優勝に導き（惜しくも日本シリーズでは福岡ダイエーホークスに惜敗）。2002年にはノーヒットノーランを達成し、2004年には１７勝７敗の活躍で再度セントラルリーグ優勝に導き、セントラルリーグMVP、沢村賞の受賞をしました。
川上憲伸選手は制球力が抜群で、90マイル前後のストレートを中心に、打者のバットの芯をはずす、カットボールや、空振りを誘うフォークボールに加え、打者のタイミングをはずすスローカーブと様々な変化球を投げ、2007年には５３年間、日本一から遠ざかっていた中日ドラゴンズをエースとして日本一に導きました。
2008年シーズン終了後にFA宣言をし、2009年１月１３日に、アトランタブレーブスと３年契約を締結させました。