In 2002, when the Cardinals signed their first Asian-born player, outfielder So Taguchi of Japan, the results weren’t immediately favorable. Taguchi experienced demotions and failure before he adjusted to American professional baseball. To his credit, Taguchi persevered and developed into a productive major leaguer who contributed to championship teams.
An award-winning fielder, Taguchi was a 10-year veteran of the Japan Pacific League when he rejected two multi-year offers to remain in Japan, deciding instead he wanted to test his skills in the United States.
An agent, Alan Nero, arranged through an international scouting service for Taguchi to work out for big-league clubs in Arizona in November 2001. Two Cardinals scouts, Joe Sparks and Marty Keough, attended the workout and filed glowing reports, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The Yankees, Rangers and Diamondbacks made offers to Taguchi, but the Cardinals’ proposal was the best: a $600,000 signing bonus and a three-year contract with a base salary of $1 million per year.
When the Cardinals announced the deal in January 2002, Taguchi, 33, became the third Japanese position player to sign with a big-league club in the United States, joining outfielders Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners and Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the Giants.
Bill DeWitt, owner of the Cardinals, hailed the signing of their first Asian-born player as “a new day for the organization.”
Leap of faith
Entering spring training, the Cardinals had decided to move Albert Pujols from left field to third base. Taguchi was seen as a candidate for the open outfield spot.
Though neither general manager Walt Jocketty nor manager Tony La Russa had seen Taguchi play, La Russa said, “We trust our scouts.”
Jocketty said it was “very possible” Taguchi would be the starting left fielder for the 2002 Cardinals. A more cautious La Russa said, “We’ll see where he fits in the mix.”
Taguchi, who asked for uniform No. 6., the same he had worn in Japan, settled on No. 99 after being told No. 6 had been retired in honor of franchise icon Stan Musial.
Placido Polanco, Kerry Robinson, Al Martin, Eli Marrero and Eduardo Perez were Taguchi’s competition for the starting left field job.
“I absolutely feel at this stage of my career I can develop more and be an even better player,” Taguchi said.
He told Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch he accepted less money to play in the United States than he would have gotten to stay in Japan because “there are some things that matter more than money. I wanted to measure myself.”
Overmatched
After observing Taguchi in spring workouts and intrasquad games, La Russa said, “He’s a solid defensive player who knows how to run the bases. The question about him is how well he hits.”
Said Jocketty: “We’re not expecting him to hit home runs. We think So truly does the little things to help win a game.”
Once exhibition games began, Taguchi struggled. He went hitless in his first 14 exhibition game at-bats and never recovered.
Taguchi was batting .125 (4-for-32) in the exhibition season when Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch wrote, “The Taguchi experiment has been a huge mistake … He has seemed like a high schooler in being overmatched by ordinary pitchers.”
Strauss noted Taguchi “never drove a pitch as far as the warning track in batting practice.”
Before an exhibition game with the Orioles, La Russa had a long conversation with Taguchi in the dugout and informed him the Cardinals wanted to send him to Class AAA Memphis. Taguchi had an escape clause in his contract that allowed him to become a free agent rather than accept an assignment to the minors. He impressed the Cardinals by agreeing to report to Memphis.
“I am going to stay to see this through,” said Taguchi, whose spring training batting average was .146 (6-for-41) at the time of his reassignment. “I want to play in St. Louis. I want to play for this organization. I want to play for Tony La Russa.”
Said La Russa: “He believes he can play in this league and is prepared to show it.”
Champion Cardinal
After demoting Taguchi, the Cardinals decided to open the season with Pujols in left field and Polanco at third base.
In June 2002, Taguchi was called up to the Cardinals and made his big-league debut against the Mariners and his former Japan teammate, Suzuki, in Seattle. Taguchi appeared in four games for the Cardinals before he was sent back to Memphis.
In August, Taguchi was dropped a level to Class AA New Haven.
Taguchi fought his way back, hitting .308 in 26 games with New Haven. He was called up to the Cardinals in September. In 19 games with the 2002 Cardinals, Taguchi hit .400 (6-for-15).
Showing steady improvement, Taguchi played six years with the Cardinals, batting .283. He helped the Cardinals win two National League pennants (2004 and 2006) and a World Series championship (2006).
In eight seasons in the big leagues (Cardinals, Phillies and Cubs), Taguchi hit .279. He had a .331 career batting average (101-for-305) with runners in scoring position.
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