Shinya Tsuruoka

Shinya Tsuruoka (鶴岡 慎也)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

• High School Shonan High School

• Born April 11, 1981 in Kimotsuki-gun, Kagoshima Japan

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Biographical Information

Shinya Tsuruoka was a NPB Gold Glove winner in 2009.

Tsuruoka played for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yokohama in the industrial leagues after high school. He was MVP of a minor league All-Star game in Japan in 2005. He debuted with the Nippon Ham Fighters later that year, going 1 for 8. His first hit came off Josh Stewart. He hit .241/.251/.340 in 76 games in 2006 while splitting catching duties with Shinji Takahashi. Tsuruoka went 0 for 6 in the 2006 Japan Series.

Tsuruoka hit .203/.230/.233 in 57 contests in 2007 and was 0 for 8 in the 2007 Japan Series. He saw an increased role in 2008 as Takahashi began playing more at 1B and DH, but he remained a weak offensive threat at .210/.247/.248 with 41 runs produced in 97 contests.

Tsuruoka became the starter in 2009 as Takahashi moved to first base even more; youngster Shota Ono was inserted as the backup. He hit .221/.279/.293 but won Pacific League Gold Glove honors at catcher.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com