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Hideki Matsui | Outfielder

Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Age / DOB:  (38) / 6/12/1974
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 210
Bats / Throws: Left / Right
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Latest News

Recent News

Hideki Matsui has decided to retire from baseball.
Matsui will make things official soon with a press conference in New York. The 38-year-old drew free agent interest this winter from a couple of big league teams but decided against returning for an 11th MLB season. He wound up batting .282/.360/.462 with 175 home runs and 176 RBI over 1,236 total games here in the states. Thu, Dec 27, 2012 01:10:00 PM
Source: Daigo Fujiwara on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Astros general manager Jeff Lunhow told Daily Sports that the team has had internal discussions about adding Hideki Matsui as a potential DH.

Matsui appeared in 34 games with the Rays during the 2012 campaign, posting a horrifying .147/.214/.221 line with two homers and seven RBI in 95 at-bats before being DFA'd. The 38-year-old veteran hasn't stated publicly whether he intends on playing or not in 2013.
Related: Astros
Source: Patrick Newman on Twitter
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 09:11:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Rays released DH/OF Hideki Matsui.

Matsui was designated for assignment by the Rays last week after batting just .147 (14-for-95) with two homers and a .435 OPS in 34 games played. It's possible the 38-year-old could generate interest elsewhere, but there's a non-zero chance that he has played his final game in the big leagues.
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 02:17:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Rays designated DH/OF Hideki Matsui for assignment.

He was cleared to make room for Ryan Roberts, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Matsui really struggled during his time with the Rays, batting just .147 14-for-95) with two homers and a .435 OPS in 34 games played. This could be the end of the line for the 38-year-old.
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 01:08:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui is starting at designated hitter for the Rays Sunday.

Matsui has been limited to pinch-hitting duty nearly all month due to a sore hamstring. He's obviously feeling better, but that .175/.241/.263 batting line remains ugly to look at.
Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter
Sun, Jul 15, 2012 11:53:00 AM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui (hamstring) is running better but remains limited to pinch-hitting duty.

Matsui hurt his hamstring this past Monday and hasn't started a game since. He might be available to after the All-Star break.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Sun, Jul 8, 2012 12:34:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui flied out as a pinch-hitter in his return to action Thursday.

Matsui hadn't played since exiting Monday's game with hamstring tightness. He could be available to start this weekend.
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 10:44:00 AM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui (hamstring) could pinch-hit on Tuesday.

Matsui made an early exit from Monday's game after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring. The veteran outfielder is fully expected to avoid the disabled list.
Source: Joe Smith on Twitter
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 04:15:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui (hamstring) doesn't expect to be placed on the disabled list.

Matsui left Monday's game with left hamstring tightness. While he's optimistic right now, the Rays could make a roster move if he doesn't improve in a couple days.
Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:54:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui has been diagnosed with left hamstring tightness.

It's not clear at this point how long he'll be out, but it's usually more than a day-to-day injury. Matsui entered play Monday with just a .177/.235/.266 batting line and two homers over 25 games with the Rays.
Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 07:58:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui left Monday's game with an undisclosed injury.

It looked like Matsui might have tweaked his knee while chasing a foul ball. He initially stayed in but was pinch-hit for by Jeff Keppinger.
Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 07:44:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's loss to the Tigers.

Both knocks were singles. The two-hit day leaves Matsui 14-for-79 through his first 25 games in a Rays uniform. If he doesn't get going soon, he could be a candidate for release. He's off the radar in mixed leagues for the time being.
Sun, Jul 1, 2012 05:19:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Thursday's loss to the Nationals.

Matsui is now hitting .158 (9-for-57) with a .507 OPS in 17 games since joining the Rays and hasn't delivered an extra-base hit since June 9. His roster spot could be in jeopardy once Matt Joyce's back issue is resolved and Luke Scott returns from the disabled list.
Thu, Jun 21, 2012 10:34:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui struggled in his return to New York on Tuesday, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in a loss to the Yankees.

Rays manager Joe Maddon hit Matsui in the cleanup spot tonight, hoping to capitalize on the strong emotions of his homecoming of sorts. The poor performance drops Matsui's average to just .150 on the season. With Desmond Jennings returning to the lineup, he'll have to perform much better if he expects to receive consistent at-bats in the Rays lineup. He shouldn't be owned in all but the deepest of AL-only leagues at this point.
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 10:45:00 PM
Hideki Matsui - OF - Rays

Hideki Matsui clubbed his second home run of the season, helping to lead the Rays to a 5-0 victory over Wei-Yin Chen and the Orioles on Friday.

Matsui's two-run homer in the first inning put the Rays up 5-0, which would hold as the game's final score. He's always had tremendous power, and as long as he's healthy and receiving regular at-bats should be able to contribute to the Rays offense. He's now 2-for-9 with a pair of homers and four RBI in his first three games with the Rays.
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:28:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Jose Molina
2Jose Lobaton
1B1James Loney
2B1Kelly Johnson
2Sean Rodriguez
SS1Yunel Escobar
3B1Evan Longoria
LF1Matt Joyce
2Sam Fuld
CF1Desmond Jennings
RF1Ben Zobrist
DH1Luke Scott
2Ryan Roberts
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1David Price
2Jeremy Hellickson
3Matt Moore
4Alex Cobb
5Roberto Hernandez
6Jake Odorizzi
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Fernando Rodney
2Joel Peralta
3Kyle Farnsworth
4Jake McGee
5Cesar Ramos
6Jamey Wright
7Brandon Gomes
8Josh Lueke
9Jeff Niemann
10Juan Carlos Oviedo