View source for Tadahito Iguchi

{{Short description|Japanese baseball player (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name         = Tadahito Iguchi
| image        = 2011marines iguchi.jpg
| image_size  = 250
| caption      = Iguchi with the Chiba Lotte Marines
| position     = [[Second baseman]] / [[First baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
| team         = 
| number       = 
| bats         = Right
| throws       = Right
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1974|12|4}}
| birth_place  = [[Nishitōkyō, Tokyo]] [[Japan]]
| debutleague  = NPB
| debutdate    = May 3
| debutyear    = 1997
| debutteam    = Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
| debut2league = MLB
| debut2date   = April 4
| debut2year   = 2005
| debut2team   = Chicago White Sox
| finalleague  = MLB
| finaldate    = September 28
| finalyear    = 2008
| finalteam    = Philadelphia Phillies
| final2league = NPB
| final2date   = September 24
| final2year   = 2017
| final2team   = Chiba Lotte Marines
| statleague   = NPB
| stat1label   = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value   = .270
| stat2label   = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value   = 251
| stat3label   = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat3value   = 1,017
| stat2league  = MLB
| stat21label  = Batting average
| stat21value  = .268
| stat22label  = Home runs
| stat22value  = 44
| stat23label  = Runs batted in
| stat23value  = 205
| teams        = 
'''As player'''
* [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks|Fukuoka Daiei Hawks]] ({{npby|1997}}–{{npby|2004}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2007}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2007}})
* [[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|2008}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2008}})
* [[Chiba Lotte Marines]] ({{npby|2009}}–{{npby|2017}})
'''As manager'''
* Chiba Lotte Marines ({{npby|2018}}–{{npby|2022}})
|highlights    =
;NPB
* 3× [[Japan Series]] champion ([[1999 Japan Series|1999]], [[2003 Japan Series|2003]], [[2010 Japan Series|2010]])
;MLB
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|2005}})
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{JPN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[Baseball at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Japan national baseball team|Team competition]] }}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Tadahito Iguchi'''|井口 資仁|Iguchi Tadahito|born December 4, 1974}}, nicknamed "'''Gucci'''",<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikkunēmu |script-title=ja:ニックネーム |trans-title=Nickname |url=https://www.marines.co.jp/special/2019marinefesta/#nickname |access-date=April 23, 2019 |work=千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト 「マリンフェスタ」特設サイト |language=ja}}</ref> is a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] served professional [[baseball]] [[second baseman]] and former [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] of the [[Chiba Lotte Marines]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] (NPB).

As a member of the [[Chicago White Sox]] in [[2005 World Series|2005]], Iguchi became the first Japanese-born position player to win the [[World Series]].

==Early life and amateur career==
[[File:Tadahito Iguchi, 2006.jpg|alt=|thumb|Iguchi playing [[Second baseman|second base]] for the [[Chicago White Sox|White Sox]] in 2006.]]
Born in [[Tanashi, Tokyo]], Japan as {{Nihongo|Tadahito|忠仁}}, Iguchi began playing in high school and after graduating in 1993, went to [[Aoyama Gakuin University]] where he distinguished himself by hitting the [[Tohto University Baseball League]] record of eight [[home run]]s in a season and winning the [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|triple crown]]. He was a member of [[Japan national baseball team|Japanese National Team]] in [[Baseball at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Summer Olympics]] that won the [[silver medal]].

==Professional career==
===Fukuoka Daiei Hawks===
He was the first pick in the 1996 [[Draft (sports)|draft]] by [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks|Fukuoka Daiei Hawks]].

In his debut year of 1997, he hit a [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] in the first game of his professional career. He suffered a shoulder injury in the 2000 season and had a surgery which ended his season. After the season ended, he changed the [[Kanji]] of his first name to the current one {{Nihongo||資仁}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sandiegoyuyu.com/index.php/features-2/interviews-en/1801-yuyu-interviewtadahito-iguchi |title=YuYu Interview: Tadahito Iguchi |date=June 16, 2008 |magazine=San Diego YuYu}}</ref> He recovered fully in 2001 hitting 30 [[home run]]s and leading the league with a personal best 44 [[stolen base]]s. In 2003, he hit over .300, had over 100 [[Run batted in|RBI]] and led the league in steals.

===Chicago White Sox===
He left Fukuoka Daiei after the 2004 season to play for the [[Chicago White Sox]]. During the {{mlby|2005}} MLB season, he had a .278 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with 15 [[home run]]s and 15 [[stolen base]]s. In the [[2005_American_League_Division_Series|2005 AL Division Series]], he hit a go-ahead 3-run home run in [[2005_American_League_Division_Series#Game_2|Game 2]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-05 |title=Iguchi's three-run homer lifts White Sox |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/251005104 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105084452/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/251005104 |archive-date=2022-01-05 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> against the [[Boston Red Sox]], helping the White Sox to a win on their way to a three-game ALDS sweep over Boston, and ultimately a [[2005 World Series|World Series]] championship three weeks later.

In 2006, Iguchi had two multi-homer games, both times hitting a grand slam (during the May 20 game involving a [[Cubs–White Sox rivalry#Barrett vs. Pierzynski|bench-clearing brawl]]) and another home run.

Earlier that same year, on April 15, he made arguably the best defensive play of his career against the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], falling after charging, and while fielding, a slow infield chopper hit by [[Bengie Molina]].<ref>{{Cite youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0XmUkw9IQ |title=Iguchi Makes an Incredible Throw While Falling |date=2013-04-28 |last=MLB |first= |author-link=Major League Baseball |type=Television production |orig-date=Originally broadcast April 15, 2006 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrigan |first=Thomas |date=2019-05-12 |title=These classic infield throws will astonish you |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/greatest-infield-throws-in-baseball-history |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Despite this, Iguchi would throw Molina out by plenty from his horizontal position.

===Philadelphia Phillies===
On July 27, 2007, he was traded to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for [[pitcher]] [[Michael Dubee]]. He was the first Asian-born player to join the Phillies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-07-27 |title=Phillies acquire Iguchi |url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=2112873&vkey=pr_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007074144/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=2112873&vkey=pr_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |archive-date=2012-10-07 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>

===San Diego Padres===
[[File:Tadahito Iguchi on May 11, 2008.jpg|thumb|Iguchi with the San Diego Padres]]
On December 18, 2007, Iguchi signed a one-year deal with the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krasovic |first=Tom |date=2007-12-12 |title=Cubs get Fukudome as Padres get Iguchi |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/padres/20071212-9999-1s12padres.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015021210/http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/padres/20071212-9999-1s12padres.html |archive-date=2012-10-15 |website=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref>  He was released on September 1, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-31 |title=Padres releasing Tadahito Iguchi |url=http://www.protrade.com/content/DisplayArticle.html?sp=S635edfbe-77b9-11dd-83ad-056cf90382ab |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910214151/http://www.protrade.com/content/DisplayArticle.html?sp=S635edfbe-77b9-11dd-83ad-056cf90382ab |archive-date=2008-09-10 |website=ProTrade}}</ref>

===Second Phillies stint===
On September 5, 2008, Philadelphia signed Iguchi, making it the second time the team had acquired him, in less than 14 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iguchta01.shtml|title=Tadahito Iguchi Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=June 11, 2012}}</ref> Because Iguchi joined the Phillies after September 1, he was ineligible for the team's postseason roster; thus, Iguchi was not with the Phillies when they defeated the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] in the World Series (although he did receive a [[World Series ring]]).

===Chiba Lotte Marines===
On January 19, 2009, he returned to Japan to play for the [[Chiba Lotte Marines]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowman |first=Mark |date=2009-01-19 |title=Iguchi planning to return to Japan |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090119&content_id=3749406&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220144351/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090119&content_id=3749406&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp |archive-date=2009-02-20 |website=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lotte makes Iguchi 3-year, Y600 mil offer |url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/lotte-makes-iguchi-3-year-y600-mil-offer |website=Japan Today}}{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
[[File:Iguchi tadahito.jpg|thumb|Iguchi with the Chiba Lotte Marines]]
Iguchi announced his retirement from baseball after the close of the 2017 season in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-29 |title=White Sox honor Iguchi with retirement ceremony before home finale |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/09/29/baseball/mlb/white-sox-honor-iguchi-retirement-ceremony-home-finale/#.Wdba1-zP1qZ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006012225/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/09/29/baseball/mlb/white-sox-honor-iguchi-retirement-ceremony-home-finale/#.Wdba1-zP1qZ |archive-date=2017-10-06 |website=The Japan Times}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
On October 12, 2017, Iguchi was hired as the [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] of the [[Chiba Lotte Marines]], filling the role that was left vacant after [[Tsutomu Itō]] stepped down from the position.

On October 2, 2022, he announced his resignation as the manager of the team.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
{{baseballstats |mlb=435338 |espn=6217 |br=i/iguchta01 |fangraphs=8581 |brm=iguchi001tad |retro=I/Piguct001}}

{{Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 1996 draft picks}}
{{2005 Chicago White Sox}}
{{2010 Chiba Lotte Marines}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iguchi, Tadahito}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Aoyama Gakuin University alumni]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Chiba Lotte Marines managers]]
[[Category:Chiba Lotte Marines players]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox players]]
[[Category:Fukuoka Daiei Hawks players]]
[[Category:Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Lake Elsinore Storm players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Japan]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball first basemen]]
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball shortstops]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for Japan]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Japan]]
[[Category:Baseball people from Tokyo Metropolis]]
[[Category:People from Nishitōkyō, Tokyo]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:San Diego Padres players]]