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• Major League baseball player Akinori Iwamura is currently the second baseman for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: [February 9, 1979
  2. Birthplace: Uwajima, Ehime, Japan
  3. Made MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
  4. Contract is for 3 years and $7.7 million
  5. 2006: Chosen to play in the World Baseball Classic representing Japan
  6. Friend of Daisuke Matsuzaka

• From Japan...

  Iwamura was a star third baseman in his native country of Japan, playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League from 1998 to 2006. He won six Japanese Gold Gloves at third base and was a power hitter and run producer.

• ...to Florida

  In 2007, Iwamura signed a three-year contract worth $7.7 million with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after expressing his interest to play in the United States. His first year was a shaky one, as Iwamura, a power-hitter in Japan, had to adjust to the larger ballparks in the U.S. In 2008, his future with the Rays came into question based on the meteoric rise of prospect Evan Longoria through the minor leagues. When Longoria was promoted to the majors in April 2008, Iwamura was moved to second base.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Tampa Bay Rays | Tampa Bay Rays Playoffs | Tampa Bay Rays White Sox | Daisuke Matsuzaka | Grant Balfour | Edwin Jackson | Al Reyes | Jon Switzer | Dioner Navarro | Joel Guzman | Carlos Pena | B.J. Upton | Delmon Young | Greg Norton | Tokyo Yakult Swallows

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