Shigeru Kuwata

Shigeru Kuwata (桑田 茂)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 189 lb.
• High School Hokuyo High School

• Born December 20, 1960 in Higashiosaka, Osaka Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Diminutive lefthander Shigeru Kuwata played in Nippon Pro Baseball from 1983 to 1988 and was included in one of the biggest trades in NPB history. He was known for his vast array of pitches thrown from a three-quarters angle.

He first came up with the Chunichi Dragons of the Central League in 1983, going 2-4, 4.82 in 23 games, all in relief. he struck out 36 batters in 37 1/3 innings. However he struggled in 1984, going 0-2, 7.31 in 14 games, including his first 3 starts in the top level, and spent time back in ni-gun, the Japanese minor leagues. In 1985, he was 2-2, 3.80 as a swingman for Chunichi, with 7 of his 18 appearances being starts. By then his strikeout rate had dropped significantly, to 18 in 45 innings, against 26 walks. In 1986 he continued to struggle, going 2-4, 4.19 in 25 games (11 starts), with a K/W ratio of 47/38 in 77 1/3 innings.

On December 23, 1986, he was one of four players sent to the Lotte Orions of the Pacific League to acquire superstar slugger Hiromitsu Ochiai, alongside Kazuhiko Ushijima, Sadaharu Hiranuma and Seiji Kamikawa i what was called the "Trade of the Century" in Japan. Player trades are already a rarity there, but that of a player of Ochiai's status was virtually unheard of. In his case, however, the change of uniform was not beneficial for his career. He hardly ever played for Lotte, with only 6 games over the next two seasons, all in relief, for a total of 5 2/3 innings, during which he gave up 4 runs. he retired in 1989 as he realized he would never make it back into the top squad.