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Portrait of Koji Uehara

Koji Uehara PCubs

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2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 44)
IP ERA WHIP SO W L SV WARP
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Birth Date4-3-1975
Height6' 2"
Weight195 lbs
Age48 years, 11 months, 25 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
0.82015
0.62016
0.52017
2018
0.22019
proj
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2009 BAL MLB 12 12 66.7 2 4 0 71 12 48 7 108 9.6 1.6 0.9 6.5 0% .302 1.25 3.60 4.05 95 3.96 85.0 1.2
2010 BAL MLB 43 0 44.0 1 2 13 37 5 55 5 114 7.6 1.0 1.0 11.3 0% .294 0.95 2.36 2.86 75 2.55 57.6 1.2
2011 BAL 0 43 0 47.0 1 1 0 25 8 62 6 105 4.8 1.5 1.1 11.9 0% .194 0.70 2.59 1.72 70 2.31 53.7 1.4
2011 TEX 0 22 0 18.0 1 2 0 13 1 23 5 107 6.5 0.5 2.5 11.5 0% .200 0.78 4.28 4.00 86 2.69 62.6 0.4
2012 TEX MLB 37 0 36.0 0 0 1 20 3 43 4 104 5.0 0.8 1.0 10.8 0% .200 0.64 2.34 1.75 79 2.76 63.4 0.9
2013 BOS MLB 73 0 74.3 4 1 21 33 9 101 5 101 4.0 1.1 0.6 12.2 0% .188 0.57 1.63 1.09 47 1.90 45.4 2.4
2014 BOS MLB 64 0 64.3 6 5 26 51 8 80 10 101 7.1 1.1 1.4 11.2 0% .273 0.92 3.11 2.52 73 2.33 57.1 1.7
2015 BOS MLB 43 0 40.3 2 4 25 28 9 47 3 117 6.2 2.0 0.7 10.5 0% .248 0.92 2.40 2.23 89 2.97 69.4 0.8
2016 BOS MLB 50 0 47.0 2 3 7 34 11 63 8 116 6.5 2.1 1.5 12.1 27% .260 0.96 3.46 3.45 102 3.94 87.1 0.6
2017 CHN MLB 49 0 43.0 3 4 2 38 12 50 7 8.0 2.5 1.5 10.5 26% .284 1.16 3.80 3.98 98 4.16 88.5 0.5
2011 TOT MLB 65 0 65.0 2 3 0 38 9 85 11 105 5.3 1.2 1.5 11.8 0% .000 0.72 3.06 2.35 74 2.41 56.1 1.8
CareerMLB43612480.72226953507857260986.61.51.110.732%.2530.892.852.66802.9366.311.1

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
1999 YOM npb JCL 25 25 197.7 20 4 0 153 24 179 12 7.0 1.1 0.5 8.1 0% -.656 0.90 -1.74 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2000 YOM npb JCL 20 20 131.0 9 7 0 112 22 126 20 7.7 1.5 1.4 8.7 0% -.548 1.02 -0.32 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2001 YOM npb JCL 24 22 138.7 10 7 0 133 28 108 18 8.6 1.8 1.2 7.0 0% -.747 1.16 -0.22 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2002 YOM npb JCL 26 1 204.0 17 5 0 173 23 182 18 7.6 1.0 0.8 8.0 0% -.695 0.96 -0.84 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2003 YOM npb JCL 27 0 207.3 16 5 0 190 23 194 28 8.2 1.0 1.2 8.4 0% -.648 1.03 3.33 3.17 0 0.00 0.0
2004 YOM npb JCL 22 0 163.0 13 5 0 135 23 153 24 7.5 1.3 1.3 8.4 0% -.541 0.97 3.64 2.60 0 0.00 0.0
2005 YOM npb JCL 27 27 187.3 9 12 0 164 22 145 24 7.9 1.1 1.2 7.0 0% -.733 0.99 3.66 3.32 0 0.00 0.0
2006 YOM npb JCL 24 24 168.3 8 9 0 157 21 151 24 8.4 1.1 1.3 8.1 0% .279 1.06 3.42 3.21 0 0.00 0.0
2006 JPN wor WBC 2 2 10.1 1 0 0 14 0 8 2 12.5 0.0 1.8 7.1 0% .375 1.39 5.04 2.67 0 0.00 0.0
2007 YOM npb JCL 55 0 62.0 4 3 32 47 4 66 4 6.8 0.6 0.6 9.6 0% .265 0.82 1.98 1.74 0 0.00 0.0
2008 YOM npb JCL 26 12 89.7 6 5 1 90 16 72 11 9.0 1.6 1.1 7.2 0% .292 1.18 3.45 3.81 0 0.00 0.0
2009 BAL MLB AL 12 12 66.7 2 4 0 71 12 48 7 108 9.6 1.6 0.9 6.5 0% .302 1.25 3.60 4.05 95 3.96 85.0
2010 BAL MLB AL 43 0 44.0 1 2 13 37 5 55 5 114 7.6 1.0 1.0 11.3 0% .294 0.95 2.36 2.86 75 2.55 57.6
2010 BOW AA EAS 2 2 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 105 4.5 4.5 0.0 4.5 0% .200 1.00 3.85 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2010 NOR AAA INT 2 0 2.0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 9.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 0% .286 1.00 2.29 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2011 BAL MLB AL 43 0 47.0 1 1 0 25 8 62 6 105 4.8 1.5 1.1 11.9 0% .194 0.70 2.59 1.72 70 2.31 53.7
2011 TEX MLB AL 22 0 18.0 1 2 0 13 1 23 5 107 6.5 0.5 2.5 11.5 0% .200 0.78 4.28 4.00 86 2.69 62.6
2012 TEX MLB AL 37 0 36.0 0 0 1 20 3 43 4 104 5.0 0.8 1.0 10.8 0% .200 0.64 2.34 1.75 79 2.76 63.4
2012 ROU AAA PCL 3 0 3.0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 9.0 0.0 0.0 12.0 0% .429 1.00 0.99 0.00 57 3.19 66.3
2013 BOS MLB AL 73 0 74.3 4 1 21 33 9 101 5 101 4.0 1.1 0.6 12.2 0% .188 0.57 1.63 1.09 47 1.90 45.4
2014 BOS MLB AL 64 0 64.3 6 5 26 51 8 80 10 101 7.1 1.1 1.4 11.2 0% .273 0.92 3.11 2.52 73 2.33 57.1
2015 BOS MLB AL 43 0 40.3 2 4 25 28 9 47 3 117 6.2 2.0 0.7 10.5 0% .248 0.92 2.40 2.23 89 2.97 69.4
2015 GRN A SAL 1 0 1.0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 27.0 0.0 0.0 9.0 0% .600 3.00 1.48 9.00 90 5.58 122.4
2016 BOS MLB AL 50 0 47.0 2 3 7 34 11 63 8 116 6.5 2.1 1.5 12.1 27% .260 0.96 3.46 3.45 102 3.94 87.1
2017 CHN MLB NL 49 0 43.0 3 4 2 38 12 50 7 8.0 2.5 1.5 10.5 26% .284 1.16 3.80 3.98 98 4.16 88.5

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2009 1047 0.5110 0.5158 0.7667 0.6505 0.3750 0.8362 0.6406 0.2333
2010 673 0.5037 0.4978 0.7134 0.6460 0.3473 0.7671 0.6121 0.2866
2011 912 0.5329 0.5482 0.6820 0.6667 0.4131 0.7346 0.5852 0.3180
2012 513 0.5166 0.5750 0.6610 0.7019 0.4395 0.6720 0.6422 0.3390
2013 1037 0.5535 0.5574 0.6332 0.6829 0.4017 0.6811 0.5323 0.3668
2014 945 0.5079 0.5418 0.6367 0.6938 0.3849 0.7387 0.4469 0.3633
2015 628 0.4618 0.5159 0.6080 0.6552 0.3964 0.7158 0.4552 0.3920
2016 761 0.4704 0.5388 0.6927 0.6872 0.4069 0.8130 0.5122 0.3073
2017 682 0.5293 0.5308 0.6796 0.6953 0.3458 0.7291 0.5676 0.3204
Career71980.51240.53570.67720.67470.38950.74690.55330.3228

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-04-10 2014-04-17 DTD 7 6 Right Shoulder Soreness - -
2012-06-10 2012-08-26 15-DL 77 66 Right Upper Back Strain Latissimus Dorsi - -
2010-05-18 2010-06-27 15-DL 40 35 Right Elbow Strain Flexor Pronator Mass -
2010-03-26 2010-05-06 15-DL 41 28 Left Thigh Recovery From Strain Hamstring -
2010-03-18 2010-03-26 Camp 8 0 Left Thigh Strain Hamstring -
2009-06-24 2009-10-05 60-DL 103 92 Right Elbow Strain Flexor Tendon -
2009-05-24 2009-06-11 15-DL 18 16 Left Thigh Strain Hamstring -
2009-04-29 2009-05-05 DTD 6 5 Chest Contusion Sternum -
2009-03-09 2009-03-25 Camp 16 0 Thigh Strain Hamstring -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2017 CHN $6,000,000
2016 BOS $9,000,000
2015 BOS $9,000,000
2014 BOS $4,250,000
2013 BOS $4,250,000
2012 TEX $4,000,000
2011 BAL $3,000,000
2010 BAL $5,000,000
2009 BAL $5,000,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
9 yrPrevious$49,500,000
9 yrTotal$49,500,000

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
9 y 0 dISE Baseball2018

Details
  • 2019. Retired 5/19.
  • 1 year/$1.87M (2018). Signed by Yomiuri Giants of Japan 3/9/18.
  • 1 year/$6M (2017). Signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 12/16.
  • 2 years/$18M (2015-16). Re-signed by Boston as a free agent 10/30/14. 15:$9M, 16:$9M.
  • 1 year/$4.25M (2013), plus 2014 option. Signed by Boston as a free agent 12/6/12. 13:$4.25M, 14:$4.25M vesting option, guaranteed with 55 appearances in 2013. Performance bonuses: $0.125M each for 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 games finished. Award bonuses, including $50,000 for All-Star selection.
  • 1 year/$3M (2011), plus 2012 vesting option. Signed by Baltimore as a free agent 12/9/10. 11:$3M, 12:$4M vesting option (vests with 55 games or 25 games finished in 2011). 2011 performance bonuses: $0.1M each for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 games. $0.1M each for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 games. $0.15M - $0.25M for games finished (10-55). 2012 performance bonuses up to $1M based on GF (if option vests). Award bonuses. Limited no-trade protection (may block deals to 6 clubs). May elect to become XX(B) free agent when contract ends. Acquired by Texas in trade from Baltimore 7/30/11. (Orioles pay $2M to Rangers in deal.) 2012 option vested 8/31/11.
  • 2 years/$10M (2009-10). Signed by Baltimore as a free agent from Japan 1/13/09. 09:$5M, 10:$5M. Free agent after 2010. $3M in performance bonuses up to 34 starts, 200 IP.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
90o 0 2.2 1.9 57 0 52.7 37 16 61 7 .245 1.00 2.89 3.11 -0.9 -0.1
80o 0 1.8 1.6 51 0 46.6 35 15 54 6 .260 1.08 3.29 3.54 -2.9 -0.3
70o 0 1.6 1.4 46 0 42.3 34 14 49 6 .271 1.15 3.58 3.85 -4.1 -0.4
60o 0 1.4 1.3 42 0 38.7 33 14 45 6 .280 1.20 3.83 4.13 -4.9 -0.5
50o 0 1.2 1.1 39 0 35.4 31 13 41 6 .289 1.25 4.08 4.39 -5.5 -0.6
40o 0 1.1 1 35 0 32.2 30 13 37 5 .297 1.31 4.32 4.66 -5.9 -0.6
30o 0 0.9 0.9 31 0 28.9 28 12 34 5 .306 1.37 4.59 4.94 -6.2 -0.7
20o 0 0.7 0.7 27 0 25.1 25 11 29 5 .317 1.44 4.90 5.29 -6.3 -0.7
10o 0 0.5 0.5 22 0 20.0 22 9 23 4 .332 1.54 5.35 5.77 -6.0 -0.7
Weighted Mean01.21.138034.73013405.2861.244.044.35-5.2-0.6

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BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

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BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2017-02-13 20:00:00 (link to chat)NL catchers or middle relievers you see w surprising value in 2017?
(db from Pgh)
At NL catcher, I like Andrew Susac and Devin Mesoraco, especially Mesoraco. I think a lot of other folks like Susac, too, so he might not end p being a bargain. Mesoraco is more likely to be available at a bargain price due to the ssignificant injury concerns.

As for NL middle relief, I like Edubray Ramos, who is so good that he might end up being promoted from middle relief to closer sooner rather than later. I also like Grant Dayton and Koji Uehara due to their K rates. (Scooter Hotz)
2015-09-21 20:30:00 (link to chat)Name some guys who is not currently a closer, but could be on opening day?
(Davin from Pittsburgh)
Joakim Soria, Tyler Clippard, Wade Davis and does Koji Uehara count? (Bret Sayre)
2015-06-16 20:00:00 (link to chat)If the Red Sox were characters on Game of Thrones, who would they be? thanks
(Bill from Los Angeles)
This is super played out ...

... and as such, right in my wheelhouse.

Xander Bogaerts: Jon Snow
Mookie Betts: Danaerys Targaryen

Ben Cherington: Ned (tried to do the right thing, will probably lose head)
Wade Miley: Catelyn (doesn't do much but yell)
Rick Porcello: Robb Stark (handsome, ineffective)
Clay Buchholz: Sansa (WHAT EVEN ARE YOU?)
Eduardo Rodriguez: Arya (so much potential)
Brock Holt: Bran (takes a lot of forms)
Joe Kelly: Rickon (why do you exist?)
Mike Napoli: Hodor (...yep)
Christian Vazquez: Benjen Stark (plz come back)

John Henry: Tywin (still calling the shots)
Dustin Pedroia: Tyrion (most watchable/resourceful)
Larry Lucchino: Cersei (...)
David Ortiz: Jaime (lost a step but still badass)
Blake Swihart: Tommen (keep trying, little guy)

John Farrell: Stannis (stern but no one seems to listen)
Melisandre: Pablo Sandoval (is your power real or what)
Our Hopes/Dreams: Shireen

Hanley Ramirez: The Hound (unlikeable but powerful)
Koji Uehara: Brienne (still rooting for ya)
Daniel Nava: Pod (you too!)

Junichi Tawawa: Bronn (just gets stuff done)
Allen Craig: Janos Slynt (just doesn't)
Shane Victorino: Jorah (always hurt)
Jackie Bradley: Theon (has he not suffered enough?)
Justin Masterson: Beric Dondarrion (should not have been revived)

Craig Breslow: Doran (smart, ineffective)
Alejandro De Aza: sandsnake 1
Alexi Ogando: sandsnake 2
Tommy Layne: sandsnake 3

The Yankees: Roose Bolton
The Rays: Ramsay Bolton
The Blue Jays: The Night's King
The Orioles: Mance Rayder

And two for the book readers ...
Yoan Moncada: Young Griff
Rusney Castillo: Patchface (Ben Carsley)
2014-08-25 13:00:00 (link to chat)When it comes to saves in 2015, can you please rank the following. Vic Black, Josh Fields, Zach Putnam, Junichi Tazawa. Thanks dude.
(Corey from San Jacinto)
Putnam, Fields, and Black, Tazawa with the caveat that anything can happen between now and ST 2015. If you're looking for fluidity, Chicago and Houston are better place to go than Boston (sounds like they might bring back Koji Uehara) and New York (Mejia is OK if he's healthy, and Familia looks like a solid back-up plan). (Mike Gianella)
2014-06-11 12:00:00 (link to chat)Koji Uehara's stats as a one-inning Red Sox reliever: 0.97 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 10.7 K/BB. Putting aside the fact that he'd probably get hurt by the fourth game, what's your best guess of what those stats would be if he were used as a starter instead?
(Wilson from Newport)
That's a great question. Koji was a starter when he first came to MLB. He had a 4.05 ERA in 66.2 IP so he was alright, but not anything like what he is now out of the pen.

There's so much to take in. Koji is older and has suffered injuries in the relatively recent past. He throws two pitches, when most starters need three at least by conventional wisdom. Also, most starters go until they have trouble so that means most starters run into some trouble at some point in their starts. As a reliever, Koji goes one inning and then that's it. So I'll say his ERA goes up to 3.something. Low threes. He'd give up more hits, more homers especially, but the walks would probably stay down (he has near perfect control). 1.15 WHIP and 4ish K/BB. But that might be overselling it. It probably is. (Matthew Kory)
2014-02-18 14:00:00 (link to chat)Would you take Danny Salazar or Koji Uehara in a standard 5x5 fantasy league?
(Jake from Flagstaff)
Salazar. (Ronit Shah)
2014-01-21 18:00:00 (link to chat)My Yordano Ventura and Koji Ueharra for his Kris Bryant? Thoughts?
(proffitt9 from Tampa)
I like Ventura better than Bryant, but that seems like a lot to give up for Bryant in any format, even if it's a dynasty league. I don't value closers a lot, but Koji Uehara provided significant value in 2013 and should do the same this year. I might do that if I were giving back a lesser prospect. (Mike Gianella)
2013-12-10 18:00:00 (link to chat)Hola. In a 10 team 5x5 with OPS instead of AVG and starting 5 OF, CI, MI, and 1 UTIL, plus 9 P (can be SP or RP). I am leaning toward the following 5 keepers at the cost of the round in (): Fielder (1), Votto (2), Craig (6), Choo (9), Dunn (21). My other options are Beltre (2), Stanton (2), Kinsler (3), Perkins (19) and Uehara (23). Did I choose the right 5? If you keep 2 players from the same round (e.g. Beltre and Votto), it costs that round and the preceding round (e.g. 1st and 2nd). So I couldn't keep 2 2nd's and a 1st. In other words, I can only choose 2 of the 4 from Fielder, Votto, Beltre and Stanton. Stanton's injuries and Beltre's age concern me and I'm loathe to keep closers. Muchas gracias!
(Miguel from Venezuela)
Hola Miguel.

The move to Texas obviously helps Prince Fielder a great deal, but I'm not convinced that it provides a complete panacea for his woes at the plate last year. Fielder was a mechanical mess last year, and while I'm sure the Rangers know this and will work on it, he isn't a sure thing. Given the differences in position, I might keep Adrian Beltre over Fielder. It might sound crazy, but Beltre has been an elite third baseman the last couple of years. His age worries me a little bit, but Fielder's off year combined with his physique worries me a little bit as well. Yes, I know Fielder hasn't been hurt and plays a lot but I'm not convinced this trend can last indefinitely.

I might consider Koji Uehara over Adam Dunn, but in an OBP league Dunn in that slot is probably worth it. I am wary of Dunn's age and that any decline in bat speed in 2014 would impact Dunn a lot. He'll be 34 next year, which doesn't sound old but isn't a great age for a hitter of Dunn's profile. (Mike Gianella)
2013-10-30 12:00:00 (link to chat)If there is a game 7, how many pitches will Jon Lester throw in it? How many will John Lackey throw it in? How many will Koji Uehara throw in it?
(William from Los Angeles)
Lackey won't be back for a Game 7. If he throws a lot of pitches and Boston loses he won't be back, and if he gets crushed so much so that he doesn't throw many pitches, the team won't want him back even if he can come back. Wouldn't shock me if Lester threw an inning, but almost certainly not more than that. Koji may throw six. (Matthew Kory)
2013-10-28 18:00:00 (link to chat)Do you know of any intriguing Asian players headed over next year? And how do you rank some of the Japaense pitchers who surprised this year, guys like Uehara and Iwakuma?
(japanaese ice from northern california)
Masahiro Tanaka is the guy everyone is talking about. The 24-year-old pitcher (he'll be 25 in 2014) throws mid 90s heat, has solid secondary offerings and has dominated in Japan. He's closer to Yu Darvish than Daisuke Matsuzaka, and could be a top pitcher next year.

Koji Uehara is one of the best closers in the game. His stuff is legit and he has always been hard to hit, even as a non-closer prior to 2013. Iwakuma is another pitcher who really shouldn't have been as much of a surprise as he was. Most of his struggles came in 2012 as a relief arm; he has dominated as a starter ever since 2012. Iwakuma should be a Top 25-30 pitcher even if he slips a little in 2014. He's really good, and his ability to pitch 200+ innings is the only thing I'm wondering about. (Mike Gianella)
2013-09-17 13:00:00 (link to chat)Have you been able to figure out what makes Koji Uehara so effective?
(a-nathan from Champaign)
I think it's (a) his velocity crept back up the past few years and (b) he's now throwing splitters as much or more than fastballs which is quite nasty. (Harry Pavlidis)
2012-12-20 14:00:00 (link to chat)Lindbergh and miller talked about their favorite/least favorites moves on the podcast the other day. Your favorite/least favorite offseason move?
(Roberto from jury duty (fml))
Glad I could make jury duty go by a little faster, Roberto - and I've got my own appearance to look forward to not long from now.

If we count extensions, I wasn't a fan of the Brandon League move for the Dodgers; if we limit this to free-agent signings, relative to some of the deals handed out since, the three-year, $25 million hitch the Royals gave Jeremy Guthrie seems a little out of place. Specifically, I liked the one-year, $6 million deal for Scott Feldman and the two-year, $15.5 million deal for Brandon McCarthy. And from a bullpen standpoint, one year and $4.25 million for Koji Uehara looks good.

To just choose two, I'll take League and Feldman. (Daniel Rathman)
2012-05-04 13:00:00 (link to chat)Best bullpen in baseball?
(Takahashi from Salt Lake)
A year ago, remember how bad the Rangers' bullpen was? It was their big weakness and it was going to bring them down and it would never survive a hot summer in Arlington. And now they have converted their closer to a starter and they still have a) Koji Uehara working mop-up innings! This is incredible to me. Isn't Koji Uehara one of the, oh, 20 best relievers in baseball? Maybe 15? And he is their sixth- or seventh man. He came in to the ninth inning down by six the other day. That's just his role! 2) They have Mark Lowe, who would be the easy answer to the Astros' closer question above if he were on the Astros, who hasn't pitched a game in even average leverage all year. The highest ALi he has this year is 0.49, which is ahead by five runs in the seventh inning. 3) They have the best bullpen in baseball. It's probably close, but I really want to be definitive, so I'm going to add "and it's not even close." (Sam Miller)
2011-09-26 13:00:00 (link to chat)Based on pure stuff/dominance/command (whatever strikes you), which pitchers are you most looking forward to watching this postseason?
(Lucas Apostoleris from Amherst, MA)
Kenley Jansen is the guy that has piqued my interest most recently, but I'll have all offseason to look at him, I suppose.

Of the pitchers who look playoff-bound, Craig Kimbrel is just amazing. I'm curious about Verlander's BABIP this year. Doug Fister is an interesting story. I've wanted to look at Alexi Ogando's switch to the rotation. Koji Uehara fascinates me, with his splitter and high flyball/popup rate. Josh Collmenter and Ian Kennedy are interesting.

Of course there's no way I'll end up analyzing all or even most of those guys, but those are a few names who grab my attention. (Mike Fast)
2011-07-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)How much do you think getting bullpen help would help the Angels make the post-season this year? They've already said they don't want to pay for the top-tier guys like Adams or Bell. What other relievers are out there that might make a difference? Koji Uehara?
(Dennis from LA)
Uehara or maybe Jim Johnson. I mean, there are about 424 available right handed relievers, and most of those are second tier guys. Thing about relievers is, let's say you get a Chad Qualls. Qualls could go out for 20IP and give up 2ER or Give up 14ER. It's too tough to predict with the less than elite players, of which there are very few. So, you bring in someone(s) with good stuff who's pitching well & you cross your fingers and pray. (Mike Ferrin)
2011-04-25 13:00:00 (link to chat)Will Koji Uehara ever become a reliable source of saves now that he is the favorite? ALso, what are your thoughts on Edwin Jackson?
(Charles Darwin from San Fran)
As Mike Petriello has said, as long as Uehera is healthy, he should be great in the role. I'm a big fan of Koji--I drafted him in a few leagues with the expectation the job would eventually be his.

As for Jackson, I have an article in the works looking at him and how he is changed (if at all) since coming to Chicago. (Marc Normandin)
2010-12-02 13:00:00 (link to chat)most interesting FA SP still out there for someone like Pitt, Nats, etc?
(frank from vegas)
A couple questions out there like this, and I have to apologize and say I don't really have a great answer. My default answer was Jason Frasor, but he accepted arbitration. I like Koji Uehara, and Jenks (if he's non-tendered -- haven't heard much about that lately, so Sox fans in the know feel free to inform me) is probably a good bet. (Ken Funck)
2010-03-18 14:00:00 (link to chat)Reports are that Koji Uehara is pitching well this spring. Last year he didn't hold up physically as a starting pitcher. Is there any reason to believe he will hold up better in the bullpen?
(TGisriel from Baltimore)
Well, that's the hope. Frankly, the Orioles are keeping their fingers crossed about Uehara's health. (John Perrotto)
2009-09-10 13:00:00 (link to chat)Thank you for answering my earlier question. Looks like Koji Uehara is back with the team, though he's apparently not game-ready yet. How concerning is it to have a partial tear of the flexor tendon in your pitching elbow, and what is his prognosis for next year? Can he resume starting?
(Sumi from Monterey Park)
It's bad, plus he has a history of shoulder problems. The O's will use him as a reliever going forward. (Will Carroll)


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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC


Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2023, Koji Uehara threw 7,561 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2009 and 2017, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2017, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (87mph) and Splitter (79mph). He also rarely threw a Cutter (82mph).