Kenshin Kawakami (川上 憲伸, born June 22, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Kawakami was born in Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan. He attended Tokushima Shogyo High School and later Meiji University before entering professional baseball.
Japanese Professional Career (NPB)
Kawakami began his NPB career with the Chunichi Dragons in 1998. He was named the Central League Rookie of the Year that season, posting a 14–6 record with a 2.57 ERA. He helped the Dragons win the Central League title in 1999, though they lost the Japan Series to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in five games.
On August 1, 2002, Kawakami pitched a no-hitter. In 2004, he went 17–7 and led Chunichi to another Central League title, but the team fell to the Seibu Lions in seven games in the Japan Series. That year, Kawakami was named Central League MVP and received the Eiji Sawamura Award, given to the best pitcher in Japan. He won 17 games again in 2006 and led the league in both wins and strikeouts. In 2007, Kawakami helped the Dragons win the Japan Series for the first time in 53 years, defeating the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in five games.
Over his NPB career (1998–2008, 2012–2014), Kawakami compiled a 117–76 win–loss record, a 3.24 ERA, and 1,381 strikeouts. He was a six-time NPB All-Star, a three-time Golden Glove Award winner, and a two-time Central League Best Nine selection.
Major League Baseball Career (MLB)
On January 13, 2009, Kawakami signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut on April 11, 2009, against the Washington Nationals, earning his first major league win with eight strikeouts over six innings. In 2009, he finished with a 7–12 record and a 3.86 ERA over 25 starts.
The 2010 season was difficult for Kawakami, as he went 1–10 with a 5.15 ERA. After a stretch of nine consecutive losses, he earned his only win of the season on June 26 against the Detroit Tigers. He was later moved to the bullpen and, following the season, was outrighted to the Braves' Double-A affiliate, the Mississippi Braves. He spent the entire 2011 season at the Double-A level.
In MLB, Kawakami posted an overall record of 8–22 with a 4.32 ERA and 164 strikeouts over two seasons.
Return to Japan and Retirement
Kawakami returned to the Chunichi Dragons for the 2012 season. He struggled with shoulder injuries, making only a combined 12 starts over the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He signed a one-year extension for 2014 but managed only six starts. He announced his retirement in October 2015.
Pitching Style
Kawakami threw a four-seam fastball around 90 mph (touching 94 mph), a shuuto (sinker), a slow curveball, a splitter, and a cutter.
Post-Playing Career
Following his retirement, Kawakami has worked as a baseball commentator and runs a YouTube channel called "CUTTER Channel by KENSHIN KAWAKAMI."
Personal Life and Philanthropy
In response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Kawakami donated $50,000 to relief efforts.
