Kensuke Tanaka (田中 賢介, born May 20, 1981) is a
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professional ...
player. He has played for the
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional Baseball in Japan, baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Figh ...
of
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
and the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Y ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
.
Career
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Tanaka played for the
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional Baseball in Japan, baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Figh ...
from 2000 through 2012.
San Francisco Giants
He made his Major League debut with the Giants, in left field, on July 9, 2013, against the New York Mets despite playing almost exclusively second base with the
Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Fighters also host a s ...
and the Giants' Triple-AAA affiliate, the
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They are located in Fresno, California, and play their home games at Chukchansi Park, which was opened in 2002 in d ...
. He was designated for assignment on September 3, 2013, and released the next day.
Texas Rangers
He signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on December 20, 2013, and was released on July 20, 2014.
Personal life
Tanaka is married to Japanese Sapporo TV reporter Chiho Nishimori (西森千芳).
References
External links
, o
Retrosheet o
Baseball Reference (Minor, Japan and Winter Leagues) o
o
Kensuke Tanaka - Yakyu Baka o
Official Blog
1981 births
Bravos de Margarita players
Japanese expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Fresno Grizzlies players
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters players
Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States
Living people
Major League Baseball players from Japan
Nippon Ham Fighters players
Nippon Professional Baseball infielders
Round Rock Express players
San Francisco Giants players
Baseball people from Fukuoka Prefecture
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