Tazawa Selected to MLB Futures Game
June 25, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Portland, Maine- Portland Sea Dogs' right-handed pitcher Junichi Tazawa has been selected to play in the 2009 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri on Sunday, July 12th. The team is selected by Major League Baseball in conjunction with Baseball America and all 30 Major League clubs. For complete Futures Game Rosters log on to www.minorleaguebaseball.com.
The 11th XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game will be broadcast live on MLB.TV, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD at 2:00 PM on July 12th and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday. The Futures Game features the top prospects in Minor League Baseball, with a team of U.S.-born players competing against players from around the world, as a showcase of the great international talent throughout baseball. Every Major League organization is represented with at least one player. Each roster is compromised of 25 players. Tazawa will play for the World team, which will be managed by Jose Oquendo. Ozzie Smith will manage the U.S. team.
The 23 year-old Tazawa, has posted a 7-4 record with a 2.92 ERA (26 ER/ 71 IP) in 14 starts for the Sea Dogs in 2009. He ranks second in the Eastern League with 71 strikeouts and is tied for second with seven wins. His 2.92 ERA ranks tenth in the league. Tazawa has held opponents to a .225 average.
Tazawa was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent on December 11, 2008. He joined the Red Sox organization after a four-year amateur career with the Nippon Oil ENEOS of the Japan Industrial League. Tazawa posted a 13-1 record with five saves and 0.80 ERA (10 ER/ 113 IP) in 21 games (11 starts) in 2008. He recorded 114 strikeouts and walked 15 over 113.0 innings pitched, an average of 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He established amateur career highs in nearly every category in 2008 including games (210, starts (11), complete games (6), shutouts (4), innings (113.0), and strikeouts (114).
In Tazawa's four year amateur career with Nippon, he appeared in 53 games (13 starts) and posted a 14-3 record with 11 saves and a 1.99 ERA. The Yokohama, Japan native is rated by Baseball America as the seventh ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization. Tazawa is a member of the Red Sox 40-man roster.
Sea Dogs that have participated in the Futures Game in the past include Clay Buchholz (2007), Edgar Martinez (2006), Todd Claus (2005 & 2006), Hanley Ramirez (2005), Juan Perez (2004), Jorge De La Rosa (2003), Ron Johnson (2003), Kevin Youkilis (2003), A.J. Burnett (1999), and Pablo Ozuna (1999).
***Important Information Regarding the Sea Dogs Next Homestand***
Due to a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 1st, game time has been changed to a 6:00 PM start time. Originally this was a 7:00 PM start. The Sea Dogs and New Britain Rock Cats will play two seven inning games. Tickets are good for both games.
The Portland Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field on Tuesday, June 30th at 6:00 PM for a four day/ five game series against the New Britain Rock Cats. Tickets are available for most 2009 Sea Dogs' home games. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.
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