Tsuyoshi Yoda

Tsuyoshi Yoda (与田 剛)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
• School Asia University
• High School Kisarazu Chuo High School

• Born December 4, 1965 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Japan

BR Register page

Biographical information

Tsuyoshi Yoda is a former Nippon Professional Baseball and minor league pitcher who played in Japan in the 1990s and in the San Diego Padres organization in 1996. He was hampered by circulatory and elbow problems in his career.

He was a number one draft pick by the Chunichi Dragons in the 1989 NPB draft after pitching for NTT Tokyo in the industrial leagues. He also pitched for the Japanese national team in the 1989 Intercontinental Cup and 1989 Asian Championship.

With the Dragons in 1990, he made 50 appearances, saving 31 games (leading the Central League) with a 4-5 record and posting a 3.26 ERA. He gave up only 64 hits in 88 1/3 innings. He was the Central League's Rookie of the Year and Fireman of the Year and also made the All-Star team. He set a NPB record for saves that stood for 25 years before Yasuaki Yamasaki broke it. He made 29 appearances in 1991, losing 3 games (winning none), saving two games and posting a 3.18 ERA.

In 1992, Yoda appeared in 41 games, saving 23 of them and posting a 3.48 ERA. He was 2-5 but struck out 69 while allowing 60 hits in 72 1/3 IP. He made his second and last CL All-Star team. Over the next three seasons (1993-1995), he would appear in only 15, seven and five games, respectively, and post ERAs of 9.78, 12.00 and 12.00, respectively as he battled injuries.

He was signed by the Padres, and played in 11 games for their Double-A affiliate the Memphis Chicks in 1996. He would appear in nine games, going 0-0 with a 11.74 ERA.

Back in Japan, he played for the Chiba Lotte Marines minor league team in 1996 and 1997, and the Nippon Ham Fighters organization from 1998 to 1999. He resurfaced in NPB briefly in '99, allowing one run in one inning. He was signed by Hanshin for the 2000 season and retired after the season in the minors.

Overall in NPB, Yoda was 8-19 with 59 saves and a 4.58 ERA in 148 games.

Following his playing career, he worked as an analyst for NHK broadcasts. He served as the bullpen coach for the 2009 World Baseball Classic Japanese team, which won the title. He became the manager of the Chunichi Dragons for 2019, succeeding Shigekazu Mori; he was 68-73-2 his first season. They improved to 60-55-5 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020, then fell to 55-71-15 in 2021. He was then replaced by Kazuyoshi Tatsunami.

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Playoffs
2019	Chunichi Dragons	Nippon Professional Baseball	68-73-2	5th
2020	Chunichi Dragons	Nippon Professional Baseball	60-55-5	3rd
2021	Chunichi Dragons	Nippon Professional Baseball	55-71-15	5th