The 19-year career that former Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara has enjoyed almost never happened. After playing outfield on a highschool team alongside ace pitcher
After playing outfield on a highschool team alongside ace pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama, Koji went to an Osaka university not known for its baseball team. He moved from outfielder to pitcher because of a coaching staff that encouraged players to pick their own positions. Fortunately, Koji switched from the field to the mound and never looked back.
He was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants and debuted the same year as another former Red Sox player, Daisuke Matsuzaka.