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Rockies Recall INF Kazuo Matsui; INF Jason Smith Designated For Assignment

August 22, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


DENVER - The Colorado Rockies announced this afternoon that infielder Kazuo Matsui (#16) has been recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. He is expected to be in uniform for tonight's game in Milwaukee, and will be looking to make his Rockies debut. To make room on the roster for Matsui, infielder Jason Smith has been designated for assignment.

Kazuo Matsui (kah-ZOO-oh mat-SOO-ee), 30, was acquired by Colorado from New York-NL along with cash considerations in exchange for infielder/outfielder Eli Marrero on June 9. He was immediately optioned to Colorado Springs, where he played in just 6 games before going on the disabled list June 20 with lower back stiffness. He spent over a month on the disabled list before he was reinstated on July 24. Overall in the Pacific Coast League, Matsui has batted .278 with 3 home runs, 16 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 31 games for Colorado Springs. Over his last 18 games in the PCL, he hit .292 (21-for-72) with 3 home runs, 14 RBI and 19 runs. Matsui played mostly shortstop for the Sky Sox, but also saw time at second base.

Matsui began this season on the Mets disabled list with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and was activated on April 20. Matsui hit an inside-the-park home run in his first plate appearance on April 20 at San Diego, becoming the first player in major league history to begin his career with a home run in his first plate appearance for three straight seasons (2004-06). Matsui posted a hit in each of his first 8 games in 2006 and had a 9-game hit streak from May 3-14.

Matsui became the first Japanese infielder to sign with a major league team when he joined the Mets on Dec. 17, 2003. The switch-hitter has batted .256 with 11 home runs and 75 RBI in 239 major league games, all with New York-NL over three seasons beginning in 2004. He has been successful in 22 of 26 stolen base attempts in the majors. Matsui had a .200 average with one home run and 7 RBI in 38 games/31 starts for the Mets this year prior to the trade. Originally signed as a shortstop, Matsui has played primarily second base over the last two campaigns.

There have been two Japanese natives to play for the Rockies, both pitchers. Masato Yoshii made 29 starts for Colorado in 2000 while Mac Suzuki appeared in 3 games with one start for the club in 2001. A pair of other former Rockie pitchers, Craig House and Jeff McCurry, were born in Japan to U.S. military families.

Smith has batted .263 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI in 49 games over 2 stints with Colorado this season. The Rockies have 10 days to trade, release or outright Smith to the minor leagues.

With these moves, the Rockies now have 36 players on the club's 40-man roster.

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