Motoi Okoshi

Motoi Okoshi (大越 基)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 178 lb.

• School Waseda University
• High School Sendai Ikuei High School

• Born May 20, 1971 in Shichigahama, Miyagi Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Motoi Okoshi dropped out of college as a sophomore to play with the 1992 Salinas Spurs, alongside Mac Suzuki, another Japanese youngster. Okoshi was 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA but walked 17 in 23 2/3 innings. He must have shown enough to draw interest, as the Daiei Hawks drafted him in the first round of the 1992 NPB draft. His only pitching appearance in Nippon Pro Baseball came in 1994, when he worked 13 games with no decisions. He had a 3.95 ERA but allowed a .336 average.

Daiei then turned Okoshi into an outfielder. He was 0 for 3 in 8 games in 1996. In 1999, the 28-year-old hit .289/.347/.378 in 55 plate appearances spread over 82 games. He pinch-ran often, evidenced by 15 runs with 13 hits. He was 1 for 5 in the 1999 Japan Series as a backup outfielder behind Koji Akiyama, Melvin Nieves and Arihito Muramatsu as Daiei beat the Chunichi Dragons to take their first Japan Series title.

In 2000, Okoshi played 77 games but had just 43 plate appearances; he hit .200/.256/.250. He pinch-ran once in the 2000 Japan Series, which Daiei lost to the Yomiuri Giants in six games. In 2001, Okoshi was 6 for 26 with a triple, walk, four steals and 12 runs in a career-high 81 games. In 2002, he hit .241/.302/.367 in 69 games. He wrapped up in 2003 by going 4 for 18 with a double, walk and 3 steals in 35 games. He pinch-ran twice in the 2003 Japan Series and scored once as Daiei beat the Hanshin Tigers.

Overall, the former pitcher hit .237/.291/.327 in 365 NPB games, with just 211 at-bats. He had more runs (56) than hits (50) and stole 15 bases in 20 tries. He later taught physical education at the high school level.

Primary Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com by Gary Garland