Former Yankees World Series hero Hideki Matsui is now a manager.
The 2009 World Series MVP has agreed to manage the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball league, as Matsui takes over with the team where he rose to stardom in Japan and eventually signed with the Yankees.
Matsui, 52, was a first-round draft pick by the Giants, where he became a prolific left-handed power bat and earned himself a three-year, $21 million deal with the Yanks prior to the 2003 season. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting that season, batting .287 and leading the league in games played. His ground rule double in game seven of the ALCS against Pedro Martinez helped continue what remains one of the most famous rallies in Yankee history.
But his most memorable October heroics came against Martinez years later, when he tagged the Phillies starter for a go-ahead two-run home run after working an eight-pitch at-bat. He finished the clinching game six with six RBI and hit .615 in the series to run away with the MVP award.
Matsui hit .292 across seven seasons for the Yankees, and was lauded for his durability, never missing a game in his first three seasons in pinstripes. He hit 502 home runs in his career when combining his time in Japan and MLB.
The former Yankee hero will manage the Yomiuri Giants.
The former Yankee hero will manage the Yomiuri Giants.
