So Taguchi
Born: 7/2/1969 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
MLB Debut: 2002-06-10 | Final Game: 2009-10-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 170 lbs
Biography
So Taguchi, born in 1969, was a Japanese professional baseball player who enjoyed a successful career in Major League Baseball from 2002 to 2009. Primarily recognized as a versatile position player, Taguchi made a significant impact during his time in the league, appearing in 672 games. He recorded 382 hits, which included 19 home runs and 163 RBIs, while boasting a career batting average of .279. Additionally, Taguchi demonstrated speed on the basepaths, accumulating 39 stolen bases over his tenure.
Taguchi's career unfolded during a dynamic era in baseball that saw an increase in international players making their mark in the major leagues. He was known for his reliable defensive skills and adeptness at situational hitting, contributing to his teams in various ways. His journey from Japan to the MLB symbolized the growing globalization of the sport, and he served as an inspiration for many aspiring players from his homeland. After concluding his playing career on October 4, 2009, Taguchi left behind a legacy characterized by perseverance and adaptability in the competitive landscape of professional baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 672 | 1369 | 197 | 382 | 74 | 7 | 19 | 163 | 39 | 102 | 195 | 0.279 | 0.332 | 0.385 | 0.717 | -1508.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | STL | NL | 19 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.400 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | STL | NL | 43 | 54 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0.259 | 73.4 |
| 2004 | STL | NL | 109 | 179 | 26 | 52 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 6 | 12 | 23 | 0.291 | -65.4 |
| 2005 | STL | NL | 143 | 396 | 45 | 114 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 53 | 11 | 20 | 62 | 0.288 | -237.7 |
| 2006 | STL | NL | 134 | 316 | 46 | 84 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 11 | 32 | 48 | 0.266 | -642.7 |
| 2007 | STL | NL | 130 | 307 | 48 | 89 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 7 | 23 | 32 | 0.290 | -241.4 |
| 2008 | PHI | NL | 88 | 91 | 18 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 0.220 | -394.5 |
| 2009 | CHC | NL | 6 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.273 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 32 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0.219 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NLCS | PHI | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 2006 | NLDS2 | SLN | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | WS | SLN | 4 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.182 |
| 2006 | NLCS | SLN | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2005 | NLDS1 | SLN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 2005 | NLCS | SLN | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 2004 | WS | SLN | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 |
| 2004 | NLDS1 | SLN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2004 | NLCS | SLN | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 569 | 285 | 712 | 17 | 16 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | SLN | OF | 14 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | SLN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | SLN | OF | 38 | 8 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | SLN | OF | 103 | 36 | 99 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | SLN | OF | 131 | 90 | 183 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2006 | SLN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | SLN | OF | 123 | 71 | 182 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | SLN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | SLN | OF | 109 | 64 | 172 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2008 | PHI | OF | 48 | 12 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | CHN | OF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 3 |
| Left Field | 276 |
| Center Field | 226 |
| Right Field | 125 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | PHI | NL | $900,000 |
| 2007 | SLN | NL | $925,000 |
| 2006 | SLN | NL | $825,000 |
| 2005 | SLN | NL | $550,000 |
| 2004 | SLN | NL | $1,200,000 |
| 2003 | SLN | NL | $1,200,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $5,600,000 | ||