Tsutomu Takanezawa

Tsutomu Takanezawa (高根澤 力)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 181 lb.

• School Nihon University
• High School Bunsei University of Art High School

• Born October 25, 1973 in Tochigi Prefecture Japan

Catcher Tsutomu Takanezawa has played for the Japanese national team. After college, Takanezawa played for the Mitsubishi Motors industrial league squad. He debuted with the national team in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, going 0 for 7 with a walk. In the 2003 Baseball World Cup, he hit .208/.345/.375 but scored 8 runs in 8 games and threw out the lone baserunner who tried to steal against him.

Takanezawa's brightest moment on the international stage was in the 2005 Baseball World Cup. He hit .375/.448/.875 with 4 homers and 8 RBI in 8 games and threw out one of 2 attempted base-stealers. He tied for third in the Cup in homers, trailing Yulieski Gourriel and Joey Votto. Takanezawa was named to the tournament All-Star team as the best catcher.

Sources

• Defunct IBAF site
• Japanese Wikipedia entry