Former New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka marks his birthday on November 1. The Japanese right-hander, who signed a seven-year, $155 million contract with New York in 2014, spent seven seasons in the Bronx before returning to Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2021.
Tanaka compiled a 78-46 record with a 3.74 ERA across 174 starts for the Yankees, earning two All-Star selections (2014, 2019). He posted a 3-1 record with a 1.77 ERA in six postseason starts, including a complete-game shutout in the 2017 ALDS against Cleveland.
After departing New York, Tanaka rejoined the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the club where he began his professional career and achieved a historic 24-0 season in 2013. The 38-year-old remains one of the most successful Japanese pitchers in MLB history.
