Jo Matumoto Explained

Jo Matumoto
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:5 February 1971
Birth Place:Sao Paulo, Brazil
Bats:Left
Throws:Left

Jo Matumoto (born February 5, 1971) is a Brazilian former professional baseball player. He is a left-handed pitcher.

Matumoto was born in Brazil and is of Japanese descent. He emerged from relative baseball obscurity, signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 as an undrafted free agent at the age of 36.[1] Matumoto's wife had contacted agent Randy Hendricks as she desperately searched for someone in North America to give Matumoto an opportunity.[2] Matumoto did not speak any English at that time.[3] He became a free agent at the end of the season.

While playing baseball in Japan, Matumoto was part of an "industrial league" team in Japanese professional baseball, essentially the Japanese equivalent of the Minor League Baseball circuit. He was signed by the Nippon Blue Jays[4] —a team unaffiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, but founded by a former Toronto Blue Jays farm team player, fellow Brazilian Jose Pett.[2] Matumoto would play in Japan from 1996 until 2001.[5]

Matumoto returned to Brazil and has seen action playing for their national baseball team since and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the South American Games when he led Brazil to a victory over Venezuela.[1] [2] He was considered the ace of the national team.[1] [4] [6] Matumoto pitches with a three-quarters delivery, throwing in the high 80s with a solid slider. His best pitch was a screwball.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official Site of The Toronto Blue Jays: Official Info: Blue Jays sign Matumoto . 2007-02-24 . 2011-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518170006/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070223&content_id=1812793&vkey=pr_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor . dead .
  2. News: Bastian . Jordan . Matumoto can't believe his good fortune . MLB.com . July 20, 2011.
  3. News: Jays put pitching talent through their paces; Matumoto headed to minors . . July 20, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110140929/http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=558f6c64-a9d5-4c01-9101-599cebbd0f2e&k=80333 . November 10, 2012 .
  4. News: Fidlin . Ken . Jays give old rookie a shot . . https://archive.today/20130115092313/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2007/02/24/3662169-sun.html . usurped . January 15, 2013 . July 20, 2011.
  5. News: Brazilian pitcher goes on storybook odyssey . . . July 20, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121024084637/http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=f6ac6333-3b3f-4a18-aeb4-77990174b41c&k=3255 . October 24, 2012 .
  6. News: Wife's plea gets Matumoto a job . . July 20, 2011 .
  7. News: Brazilian pitcher agrees to minor league contract with Blue Jays . . https://archive.today/20120910115426/http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/baseball/20070223-1316-bba-bluejays-matumoto.html . dead . September 10, 2012 . July 20, 2011 .
  8. Web site: Transaction Analysis: February 21–28, 2007 . March 2007 . . July 20, 2011.

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