Greg LaRocca

Gregory Mark LaRocca

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School University of Massachusetts Amherst
• High School West High School (Manchester)
• Debut September 7, 2000
• Final Game September 23, 2003
• Born November 10, 1972 in Oswego, NY USA

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Biographical Information

In 2007, Greg LaRocca broke the Orix Buffaloes record for times hit by pitch on July 16th when he was plunked for the 19th time. This broke Ichiro Suzuki's record. LaRocca said "it's my job to get on base. An HBP is the same as a hit. I want to get 30 before the end of the season." On September 2nd, he was hit by a pitch for the 23rd time, setting a new Pacific League record. The same game, teammate Tuffy Rhodes became the first foreigner to hit 400 home runs in Nippon Pro Baseball.

On September 16th, he tied the NPB hit-by-pitch record when he was plunked for the 24th time; Yasuhiko Yabuta was the pitcher. Yoshiyuki Iwamoto had held the record for 55 years. The next day, Naoyuki Shimizu hit LaRocca to give him the record.

That year, LaRocca donated $8,000 to a spinal bifida research foundation in Japan. He said he wanted to show appreciation for being allowed to play in Japan and his wife had majored in a field related to taking care of special needs patients.

LaRocca's 2008 season ended early due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.