Red Sox Memories: The remarkable 2013 Red Sox season of Koji Uehara

Koji Uehara saves the 2013 season for the Red Sox

In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry used audacity and the threat of warfare to open up the Japanese markets to the West or specifically the United States. The Japanese baseball market has opened significantly with the threat of dollars. Money certainly talks with Japanese teams receiving compensation for departed players. Japanese players consequently get the challenge of the major leagues and a princely sum of money.

The Boston Red Sox have not been on the sidelines watching the talent parade, but have been active participants. There is a significant list of players from Japan who have played for Boston. The results have been mixed and the failures are noteworthy. One particular success saved – and I do mean saved – a season.

In 1999, Koji Uehara entered Nippon baseball. The 24-year-old right-hander certainly busted onto the scene with a flourish of awards. Koji won 15 consecutive games, became Rookie of the Year, and won the Eiji Sawamura Award. Sawamura was a Japanese pitching legend and the award in his honor was their version of the Cy Young Award.

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Uehara’s career was checkered in Japan spending ten seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. The checkered is injury-related – the plague of pitchers in particular. The Giants converted Uehara to a closer and occasional starter before being posted in the post-2008 season.

Uehara had been offered a contract initially by the Angels when graduating from college in 1998, thus possibly circumventing the posting system. A similar method the Red Sox used with Junichi Tazawa. Ten years later the Baltimore Orioles signed Uehara to a two-year deal at $10 million. That introductory season was injury-ravaged and Uehara made 12 appearances and all were starts. Those would be the only starts of Uehara’s MLB career.

Uehara moved on to Texas and then Boston made one of their most historically successful free-agent signings. A simple one-year contract for $4.25 million to be a setup for Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan who both subsequently were injury lost for the season. Koji became closer by necessity.

Uehara was not a hard thrower by the standards of the times, rarely touching 90 MPH on his fastball. What the killer pitch was is a split-finger that was as elusive as a popup in a hurricane. The Wiley veteran also had remarkable control with just a career 1.5 BB/9 in his nine MLB seasons. Uehara looked hittable and looks can be deceiving.

At one point in 2013, Koji retired 37 consecutive batters. Uehara’s numbers for the season were unworldly – a 1.09 ERA/1.61 FIP, 38% of batters took the walk of shame back to the dugout, and a 3.1 fWAR that was best among the American League relievers. More impressive to me than the legendary Dick Radatz. An appearance by Koji created a magnetically positive outlook. Then came the playoffs.

The first order of baseball business was the Tampa Bay Rays. Series game three saw Uehara surrender a two-out home run to Jose Lobaton to provide Tampa with a win. Would that place a damper on the Red Sox fan’s incessant optimism? That was the high water mark for the Rays.

In the ALCS it was three saves against the Tigers. The effervescent Uehara became the MVP of the ALCS. Next up was two saves against the Cards and a title for Boston. That season may have created for me some real romanticism as I look back.

In 2014, the Red Sox faded but Uehara made the All-Star team. Koji notched 26 saves and went 6-5 with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.1 fWAR. The 2015 season was similar statistically, but his season ended in early August with an injury. The 2016 season was another injury disappointment followed by free agency and a one year deal with the Cubs.

At 43-years-old Uehara returned to Japan and the Giants for two more seasons. In 2019, Uehara announced his retirement after 21 seasons combined with NPB and MLB. For me, it was that one remarkable season when Uehara saved the season. In late July the Red Sox were stalled and it looked like another potential swoon, but Koji became the glue to hold it together.