View source for So Taguchi

{{Short description|Japanese baseball player (born 1969)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name        = So Taguchi<br />田口 壮
|image       = Taguchisou 20160320.JPG
|image_size  = 250px
|caption     = Taguchi with the Orix Buffaloes
|position    = [[Outfielder]] / [[Coach (baseball)|Coach]]
|team        = 
|number      = 
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1969|7|2}}
|birth_place = [[Nishinomiya]], [[Japan]]
|bats        = Right
|throws      = Right
|debutleague =NPB
|debutdate   = April 4
|debutyear   = 1992
|debutteam   = Orix BlueWave
|debut2league =MLB
|debut2date  = June 10
|debut2year  = 2002
|debut2team  = St. Louis Cardinals
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate   = October 4
|finalyear   = 2009
|finalteam   = Chicago Cubs
|final2league = NPB
|final2date   = August 27
|final2year   = 2011
|final2team   = Orix Buffaloes
|statyear    = 
|statleague  = NPB
|stat1label  = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value  = .276
|stat2label  = [[Home run]]s
|stat2value  = 70
|stat3label  = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value  = 429
|stat2league = MLB
|stat21label = Batting average
|stat21value = .279
|stat22label = Home runs
|stat22value = 19
|stat23label = Runs batted in
|stat23value = 163
|teams       =
;As player
*[[Orix Buffaloes|Orix BlueWave]] ({{npby|1992}}–{{npby|2001}}) 
*[[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2007}})
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2008}})
*[[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|2009}})
*[[Orix Buffaloes]] ({{npby|2010}}–{{npby|2011}})
;As coach
*[[Orix Buffaloes]] ({{npby|2016}}–{{npby|2024}}) 
|awards      = 
* 2× [[World Series champion]] ([[2006 World Series|2006]], [[2008 World Series|2008]])
* 2× [[Japan Series]] champion ([[1996 Japan Series|1996]], [[2022 Japan Series|2022]])
}}

{{nihongo|'''So Taguchi''' |田口 壮|Taguchi Sō|extra=born July 2, 1969}} is a Japanese former professional [[baseball]] [[outfielder]]. He played in [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] (NPB) for the [[Orix BlueWave|Orix BlueWave / Buffaloes]], and in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]], and [[Chicago Cubs]].

Taguchi is the third Japanese-born player to win a [[World Series]] after [[Hideki Irabu]] in 1998 and [[Tadahito Iguchi]] in 2005. Taguchi is also the first Japanese player to win two World Series with different teams – with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in [[2006 World Series|2006]] and the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in [[2008 World Series|2008]].

==Early life==
Taguchi was born and raised in [[Nishinomiya, Hyōgo]], Japan. He graduated from [[Kwansei Gakuin University]] in his hometown, with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[Business Administration]]. He was a teammate of [[Ichiro Suzuki]] when the two played for the Orix BlueWave in the [[Pacific League]] of NPB. Although he was drafted by the BlueWave as an [[infielder]], he was moved to the outfield later in his career.

==Career==

===St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2007)===
[[File:So Taguchi for the Cardinals batting.jpg|thumb|left|Taguchi with the St. Louis Cardinals.]]

He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a [[free agent]] in {{mlby|2002}} at the age of 32, a year in which he rose through the [[minor league]] system, playing for the [[New Haven Ravens]] and the [[Memphis Redbirds]], compiling a .262 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], with 6 [[home run]]s and 51 [[Run batted in|RBI]]. He eventually earned a call-up on September 7, and recorded the first [[Hit (baseball)|hit]] of his major league career in the second inning against the [[Chicago Cubs]]. Taguchi became the first (and to date only) [[List of Japanese players in Major League Baseball|Japanese-born player]] in Cardinal history. He originally requested to wear the number 6, but he couldn't because it was retired for [[Stan Musial]], nor could he turn 6 upside down because 9 is retired for [[Enos Slaughter]]. He could not wear the number he had at the Olympics because 1 was retired for [[Ozzie Smith]]. He was also unable to double 6 as [[Rick Ankiel]] was on the roster that year. Finally, he decided to wear 99.

[[File:Taguchi.jpg|thumb|right|Taguchi signing autographs before a game against the [[Houston Astros]] on May 30, {{mlby|2006}}.]]
Taguchi got another brief call-up in {{mlby|2003}}, then got more playing time with the Cardinals in {{mlby|2004}}, appearing in 109 games. He was included on the '04 Cardinals postseason roster, and appeared in two games of the [[2004 World Series]], which the Cardinals lost to the [[Boston Red Sox]] in a four-game sweep. In {{mlby|2005}}, injuries to outfielders [[Larry Walker]] and [[Reggie Sanders]] opened up manager [[Tony La Russa]]'s lineup card, and Taguchi became an everyday [[Player (game)|player]]. He responded with his best season, batting .288 in 396 [[at-bat]]s with eight home runs and 53 RBI, and contributing with his stellar [[Defense (sport)|defense]] at all three outfield positions as the Cardinals won 100 games and had the best record in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]].

Cardinal radio announcer [[Mike Shannon]] took to calling Taguchi "the So-man" and praising his hard work and extreme personal courtesy. By habit, Taguchi would even give a little bow to the umpire whenever he stepped up to the plate. His modest and happy demeanor, as well as shyness due to struggling with English in interviews early on, endeared him to St. Louis fans.

In {{mlby|2006}}, Taguchi's playing time declined somewhat, his at-bat total falling to 316 from 396 the year before.  However, Taguchi would make the playoff roster for the Cardinals for the third year in a row, and have a heroic postseason moment: on October 13, 2006, he hit the go-ahead home run off [[Billy Wagner]] in the top of the 9th inning of Game 2 of the [[National League Championship Series|NLCS]]. The home run gave the Cardinals a 7–6 lead in a game they would win 9-6.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200610130.shtml October 13, 2006 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 2 at Shea Stadium Play by Play and Box Score – Baseball-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  Taguchi played in four of five games of the [[2006 World Series]] for the Cardinals, hitting .182, and won a [[World Series ring]] as the Cardinals defeated the [[Detroit Tigers]] four games to one. Taguchi agreed to a one-year deal worth $925,000 with the St. Louis Cardinals for the {{mlby|2007}} season.

Taguchi returned to the Cardinals in 2007 and had another solid season, batting .290 as a part-time player, with 307 at-bats in 130 games. He was one of manager [[Tony La Russa]]'s most valuable pinch-hitters; of 46 games in 2007 where he's shown to have had just 1 AB, Taguchi picked up 15 hits. Taguchi played 617 innings in the field, with 41 starts (and 22 other appearances) in center (where [[Jim Edmonds]] was banged up) and 21 starts (20 other) in left (where the Cardinals hadn't settled on one player until 2008 and [[Skip Schumaker]]). Taguchi played sparingly in right field (2 starts, 6 other) and part of a game at 2B.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6843|title=So Taguchi player page; also click 'Game Log' > '2007'/'2008'|publisher=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref>

===Philadelphia Phillies (2008)===
[[File:So Taguchi on the bases in June 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Taguchi with the Philadelphia Phillies]]

After the 2007 season ended, the Cardinals declined Taguchi's option for {{mlby|2008}}, then decided to forgo arbitration and release Taguchi on December 5, 2007, after Taguchi's agent had requested his release earlier in the week.<ref>Strauss, Joe. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/F68C02C1694D92A0862573A90017568B?OpenDocument "LaRussa: Now, it's personal."] ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch''. 2007-12-06. Retrieved on 2007-12-07. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207134054/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/F68C02C1694D92A0862573A90017568B?OpenDocument |date=December 7, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071207085240/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071205&content_id=2319238&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: St. Louis Cardinals News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

On December 23, 2007, Taguchi was signed to a one-year deal by the Philadelphia Phillies with an option for {{Baseball year|2009}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071223&content_id=2336269&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |title=The Official Site of The Philadelphia Phillies: News: Philadelphia Phillies News<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-12-23 |archive-date=2007-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225072321/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071223&content_id=2336269&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Taguchi's numbers fell off sharply, his batting average dropping from .290 in 2007 to .220 in 2008, and he got only 91 at-bats for the whole season. However, he was included on Philadelphia's postseason roster and won his second championship ring when the Phillies won the [[2008 World Series]]. (Taguchi was 0-for-4 pinch-hitting in the NLCS and did not appear in the World Series.)

Shortly after winning the World Series, the Phillies decided to decline Taguchi's option and make him a free agent.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3658883&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb Phils buy out Taguchi]</ref>

===Chicago Cubs (2009)===
[[File:So Taguchi, CHC.jpg|thumb|right|Taguchi with the Chicago Cubs.]]

Taguchi agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs for the {{Baseball year|2009}} season, and was invited to spring training.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3836941 Ex-Card Taguchi signed by Cubs]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090116&content_id=3746747&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |title=Cubs ink Taguchi to Minor League deal |access-date=2009-01-16 |archive-date=2009-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121175018/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090116&content_id=3746747&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Taguchi was signed in part to provide a Japanese teammate for Cubs outfielder [[Kosuke Fukudome]].  Taguchi did not make the Cubs roster and was optioned to Triple-A. After spending most of the season in the minors, Taguchi, who hit .248 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 85 games in the minors, was called up to the Cubs on September 16, 2009, replacing the injured [[Sam Fuld]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/09/cubs-call-up-so-taguchi-to-replace-fuld.html|work=Chicago Tribune|title=Cubs call up So Taguchi to replace Fuld|date=September 16, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|archive-date=September 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922165857/http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/09/cubs-call-up-so-taguchi-to-replace-fuld.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>  He appeared in 12 games and got three hits in 11 at-bats.

===Orix Buffaloes (2010–2011)===
In January 2010 Taguchi's old team, the Orix BlueWave (since merged with the Kintetsu Buffaloes to form the [[Orix Buffaloes]]), announced that they had signed Taguchi to return and play for them in 2010.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20100123_ap_formercardinaltaguchireturnstojapan.html "Former Cardinal Taguchi returns to Japan"] {{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref>

On July 31, 2012, Taguchi announced his retirement on his official blog.<ref>[http://taguchiso.blogspot.jp/2012/07/blog-post_31.html "So Taguchi Official Blog"]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://yakyubaka.com/2012/08/01/so-taguchi-announces-his-retirement/ |title="So Taguchi announces his retirement" |access-date=2012-07-31 |archive-date=2012-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109045304/http://yakyubaka.com/2012/08/01/so-taguchi-announces-his-retirement/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Baseball Commentator===

In September 2012, Taguchi embarked on a new career as a baseball commentator.<ref>[http://taguchiso.blogspot.jp/2012_09_01_archive.html "So Taguchi begins a new career"]</ref> By 2013, Taguchi was employed by Japanese broadcaster [[NHK]] to announce Major League Baseball games.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/columns/joe-holleman/so-taguchi-now-big-time-baseball-announcer-in-japan/article_d1959c5c-99c4-5cd7-9974-fdc6b8810849.html|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|title=So Taguchi now big-time baseball announcer in Japan|date=October 28, 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Taguchi learned English from his wife, Emiko, a former television reporter who speaks it fluently. He also practiced by watching films such as ''[[Finding Nemo]]'' and ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' <ref>[https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-2nlcs101406&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Cards' win is So special – MLB – Yahoo! Sports<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  The family still owns a home in [[St. Louis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlmag.com/news/sports/so-taguchi/|title = Former Cardinals outfielder So Taguchi now coaches in Japan. This is what he misses most about St. Louis.|date = 14 March 2019}}</ref>

The couple has one son, Kan, who was born December 24, 2003.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070827042234/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=408039 The Official Site of The Philadelphia Phillies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He is a member of the baseball team at [[Grand Canyon Antelopes baseball|Grand Canyon University]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kan Taguchi - Baseball |url=https://gculopes.com/sports/baseball/roster/kan-taguchi/10827 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Grand Canyon University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
{{baseballstats| mlb=408039| espn=5004| br=t/tagucso01 | fangraphs=1186|brm=taguch001so-|retro=T/Ptagus001}}

{{2006 St. Louis Cardinals}}
{{2008 Philadelphia Phillies}}
{{2022 Orix Buffaloes}}
{{Orix BlueWave 1991 Draft Picks}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taguchi, So}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Kwansei Gakuin University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball outfielders]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Japan]]
[[Category:Memphis Redbirds players]]
[[Category:New Haven Ravens players]]
[[Category:Orix BlueWave players]]
[[Category:Orix Buffaloes players]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for Japan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Nishinomiya]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]