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Braves history: Kenshin Kawakami wasn't as bad as you remember

The Atlanta Braves did Kenshin Kawakami dirty. He wasn't as bad as you think.

By Mitchell Barbee |
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In 2009, the Atlanta Braves dipped into the Japanese market for the first (and to this day only) time, signing starting pitcher, Kenshin Kawakami, to a three-year, $23 million deal.

Two years later, he was marooned in Mississippi after two disappointing seasons with Atlanta and never returned to the major leagues again.

However, despite being remembered as a bust, Kawakami wasn't nearly as bad as you remember, and he was done dirty by the Braves front office.

Kenshin Kawakami was an ace in Japan

Prior to joining Atlanta, Kawakami pitched 11 seasons in the NPB, all with the Chunichi Dragons, and had a career 3.22 ERA. He was a six-time All-Star, a three-time Golden Glove recipient, won the 1998 Rookie of the Year, and won the 2004 MVP and Eiji Sawamura Award (the equivalent to the Cy Young Award).

Kawakami had a 2.30 ERA in 2008, although he was limited to just 117.1 innings. After the season, he became a free agent and prioritized coming to the U.S.

"In January, he got his wish when the Braves signed him to a three-year, $23 million contract.

"With Kenshin," Braves GM, Frank Wren said, "we have acquired a pitcher who will be an integral part of our pitching staff over the next three seasons."

Unfortunately, that did not end up being true.

Kawakami's first season was a success

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Atlanta Braves v New York Mets / Jared Wickerham/GettyImages

Kawakami's first season with the Braves wasn't a resounding success, but it was far from a disappointment. The righty had a 3.86 ERA in 32 games (25 starts) and compiled 156.1 innings.

Things got off to a rocky start for the former NPB MVP, as he had a 7.06 ERA in his first four starts, but he turned things around during his May and June, pitching 56.2 innings to the tune of a 3.18 ERA.

He had a slightly rougher July (4.73 ERA) but then had his best month in August, pitching 37.2 innings and only allowing 12 runs (2.87 ERA).

But then he was moved to the bullpen at the start of September. The Braves claimed it was because they had too many starters and that Kawakami had pitched more than he had in Japan but the righty was not happy with the decision.

2010 was even worse

Kansas City Royals v Atlanta Braves
Kansas City Royals v Atlanta Braves / Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages

With the Braves extending Tim Hudson after the season, it looked like Kawakami might find himself in the same rotation crunch he was in at the end of the season. However, the Braves dealt Javier Vazquez to the Yankees in a trade that netted a fan-favorite (to hate), Melky Cabrera.

Unfortunately, the then 34-year-old got off to another rough start. He had a 5.48 ERA through the first month of the season, but he was able to maintain a 4.13 through the next two months.

After this, for whatever reason, the Braves decided to pretend he didn't exist. He only pitched once in July and was sent down to the minors in August. He was recalled at the end of the month but only saw action in two games.

On the whole, Kawakami had a 515 ERA in 87.1 innings. However, his 4.35 FIP suggested he was likely getting unlucky. Additionally, the Braves staff might have been overemphasizing the Win-Loss record, as Kawakami only had one win and a .091 win percentage.

Banishment to Mississippi

Atlanta Braves v St. Louis Cardinals
Atlanta Braves v St. Louis Cardinals / Ronald C. Modra/GettyImages

In 2011, Kenshin Kawakami threw a perfect game!

Well, at least his MLB 2K11 avatar did, and it won the gamer who used Kawakami $1 million. This might have been the best thing to happen to Kawakami in 2011.

The Japanese native had visa issues getting back into the country during Spring Training and then once he failed to make the team out of Spring Training, the Braves banished him to Mississippi.

Kawakami had expected to go to Gwinnett but the Braves front office said they wanted to keep the Gwinnett rotation open for pitchers who "could have an impact" for the big league club.

The righty struggled with injury and purpose while pitching with the Mississippi Braves and returned to Japan after the season.

After Atlanta

Kawakami ended up playing three more seasons with the Chunichi Dragons. He continued to struggle with injury, starting no more than six games in the three seasons. He retired after the 2014 season.

In retrospect, the Braves' treatment of Kawakami is abhorrent. He was only slightly worse than Derek Lowe, who the team had no issue giving 34 starts a year while he was with the team.

Despite putting up solid numbers, the righty was consistently yanked around with the Braves, and getting sent to Mississippi was embarrassing for the front office.

Kawakami certainly wasn't the ace the Braves hoped they were signing, but he certainly wasn't the dumpster fire they pretended he was.

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