Ex-Dodger Nomo Retires

It was just a matter of time before former Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo decided to hang up his spikes for good, since the Royals had designated him for assignment back in April. Nomo made the announcement today through his web site, but something apparently got lost in the translation to English.

“Retiring. July 17, 2008. I announced my retirement from my playing career.”

The Royals signed Nomo to a minor league contract for the 2008 season worth $600,000 and a chance to earn $100,000 in performance bonuses. However, Nomo didn’t make it through April, which shows that he had nothing left to offer big league teams and it’s been a while since he’s been a legitimate pitcher. However, none of recent struggles should overshadow a very solid big league career, in which he will be remembered as a pioneer for Japanese baseball.

Nomo’s arrival to the Dodgers ushered in a new era for the major leagues. Tuesday’s All-Star Game shows the impact of guys like Nomo, as the game featured Japanese players in each league’s starting lineup.

In addition to being a pioneer, Nomo was also a pretty good pitcher in his own right. He threw two no-hitters, in 1995 with the Dodgers and in 2001 with the Red Sox. In 1995, he also won the N.L. Rookie of the Year. He once led the NL and AL in strikeouts and finished with a record of 123-109.

Guys like Ichiro Suzuki, Hiroki Kuroda, and Hideki Matsui, should all be thankful for Hideo Nomo, who changed the way MLB teams viewed Japanese players.