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| Height: 6-2
Weight: 230
Throws: R
Bats: L Born: Jun 12, 1974, Kanazawa, Contract: Signed through 2009. |
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| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Player Notes |
| September 30, 2008 Hideki Matsui came to clean out his locker, and though he was seen limping due to surgery on his knee, he still believes he will be ready to rock for Spring Training 2009, according to the NY Daily News. |
| September 16, 2008 Hideki Matsui will miss his fourth straight start tonight but is supposedly going to play Sunday before having surgery on his troublesome knee according to the Journal News. |
| September 7, 2008 Matsui will have knee surgery in the off-season, but he would like to return to the Yankees as an outfielder and possibly even a first baseman in 2009, according to the New York Post. |
| August 24, 2008 Hideki Matsui went 1-for-4 with a walk in the Yankees win over the Orioles. He also scored a run in his sixth game since coming off the DL. |
| August 23, 2008 Hideki Matsui had a solo homer Saturday, his second in five games since returning from the DL. |
| August 21, 2008 New York's only run production Thursday night was off the bat of Hideki Matsui. His three-run homer in the seventh inning was all the Yankees could muster against Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays losing 14-3. |
| August 19, 2008 Hideki Matsui went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first game back off the DL on Tuesday night. |
| August 19, 2008 The Yankees have activated Hideki Matsui from the 15-day DL, MLB.com reports. The outfielder had been sidelined since June 22 due to a sore left knee. |
| August 18, 2008 Manager Joe Girardi indicated that Hideki Matsui could be limited to a DH role when he is activated from the DL, according to the NY Daily News. His ailing knee has held up favorably in three rehab games, and he could be back in pinstripes as soon as Tuesday. |
| August 17, 2008 Manager Joe Girardi commented that Hideki Matsui should be activated from the DL Tuesday, according to the AP. Matsui had 15 at-bats during a simulated game at the Yankees spring training complex in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, facing left and right-handed pitching. Girardi said the swollen left knee that has hindered the rehab process several times seems to be holding up. Girardi added, "Every time he would get to bat, it would just blow up, but it hasnt this time. So far the knee is good and well make a decision tomorrow." |
| August 16, 2008 Hideki Matsui went 1-for-3 with a single in his second rehab game on Saturday. He has been out since June 22 due to a sore left knee. |
| August 15, 2008 Hideki Matsui hit a solo homer Friday in his first minor league rehab game. Matsui is working his way back from a left knee injury. |
| August 14, 2008 Hideki Matsui, who is on the DL with a swollen left knee, will begin a minor-league rehab assignment in Tampa today, according to the NY Daily News. |
| August 11, 2008 Hideki Matsui, who is recovering from a swollen left knee, ran the bases for the first time Monday since being sidelined in late June by the injury, according to the Journal News. |
| August 9, 2008 New York Yankees designated hitter and left fielder Hideki Matsui intensified the running program for his injured left knee on Saturday and is believed to be nearing a rehab assignment in the minor leagues, according to CBSSports.com. |
| August 6, 2008 Hideki Matsui hit 37 pitches during batting practice at the Yankees facility in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, according to the AP. Matsui, coming back from a left knee injury, is expected to begin a running program Thursday. |
| August 3, 2008 Hideki Matsui will head to Florida this week to continue his rehab on his swollen left knee, according to the Associated Press. So far the brace has worked, Girardi said. Obviously, the activity hes had isnt really baseball activity. |
| July 29, 2008 Hideki Matsui restarted baseball activities Monday for the first time since the All-Star break and said his inflamed left knee felt fine afterward, according to the NY Post. He took 20 swings off a tee and five swings of soft-toss. "He's going to hit off a tee for a few days and see how it responds," GM Brian Cashman said, "and then if all goes well, then we'll take it up a notch." |
| July 28, 2008 Hideki Matsui hopes to return in two weeks according to MLB.com. He took 20 swings off a tee and five soft tosses before Monday night's series opener against the Orioles and afterwards said, "So far, it's looking pretty good." |
| July 21, 2008 Yankees general manager Brian Cashman doesn't sound positive about Hideki Matsui returning from an injured left knee. The outfielder opted against surgery on Monday. "I wouldnt say Im optimistic at this point," Cashman tells Newsday. "I think it speaks a lot to his heart. The doctors looked at him and recommended surgery. He wants to give this another try." |
| July 21, 2008 Hideki Matsui had his left knee examined again on Monday, and he has opted against surgery, ESPN.com reports. |
| July 19, 2008 Hideki Matsui met with team doctors recently, according to MLB.com. The outfielder/DH said through an interpreter he had been told to "avoid activities and stay quiet" through the weekend. Matsui, who has had continued swelling in the knee, said the possibility of surgery was still "out there," though no timetable has been discussed. |
| July 15, 2008 Hideki Matsui may undergo season-ending surgery on his right knee, which has kept him off the field since June 22, according to Yankees.com. |
| July 15, 2008 Hideki Matsui didn't hit Tuesday after experiencing more discomfort in his sore left knee, according to the AP. The Yankees had hoped he might be ready to return from the DL when eligible on Friday. Matsui said, "Perhaps you can say so, its a short-term setback. Im going to hit tomorrow, thats the plan anyway." |
| July 11, 2008 Hideki Matsui, who is recovering from a swollen left knee, may take batting practice on Saturday, according to the AP. He could also start a running program soon, and said (through a translator), "I think if everything goes well, then probably sometime the beginning of next week. As of right now, Ive had no problems at all." |
| July 8, 2008 Hideki Matsui took 45 swings off a tee Tuesday, and he reported nothing negative after the session. "I felt pretty good," Matsui said through a team spokesman. "No pain. I hope to keep going in a positive direction." Still, Yankees manager Joe Girardi can't rule out the possibility of surgery, according to MLB.com. |
| July 7, 2008 Team trainers noted that Hideki Matsui is making some progress in his recovery from a swollen left knee, but GM Brian Cashman suggested that playing the outfield would not be part of Matsui's rehab work, according to the NY Daily News. |
| July 3, 2008 Hideki Matsui may be sidelined until after the All-Star break, according to the New York Daily News. |
| June 28, 2008 The Yankees hinted that Hideki Matsui could need surgery on his ailing left knee if it doesn't start feeling better. The slugger was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. |
| June 27, 2008 Updating a previous report, Hideki Matsui has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a sore knee, according to the AP. The team activated hurler Sidney Ponson as a corresponding move. |
| June 27, 2008 Hideki Matsui will be placed on the disabled list after Game 1 of today's double-header at Shea Stadium, this according to LoHud.com. The Yankees plan to activate Sidney Ponson to start the second of the two-game tilt and moving Matsui to the DL will make room on the 25-man roster. |
| June 27, 2008 The New York Post is suggesting that Yankees' skipper Joe Girardi might shelf outfielder Hideki Matsui due to his bum knee. "You don't want it to come to that, but if it's in the best interest of the club, we will talk about it." Matsui said the knee is improving daily and feels that he could DH today in the first game against the Mets New York Mets at the Stadium. And he said he isn't that far away from returning to the outfield. He hasn't played there since June 15. |
| June 26, 2008 Hideki Matsui is out of the Yankees lineup on Thursday night due to a flare up with his injured knee, according to the Associated Press. Matsui will be reexamined on Friday when he could rejoin the lineup at DH or possibly be sent to the DL. Its always a possibility, manager Joe Girardi said. You dont want it to come to that, but if we feel its in the best interests of him and the ballclub, thats something well talk about. |
| June 25, 2008 Hideki Matsui was not in the outfield mix this week because of his swollen left knee, this according to the New York Daily News. The Japanese import also awoke Tuesday with a stiff neck so he was removed from the pinch-hitting mix, too. |
| June 20, 2008 Hideki Matsui has missed the last two games with a sore knee, but that streak will end on Friday as he will be in the lineup to face the Reds, according to MLB.com. "He seems fine," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He gave me a thumbs up when he came in today. Obviously he'll take BP, and I don't think there's any restrictions. |
| June 19, 2008 Hideki Matsui is battling soreness in his left knee and is not in the starting lineup today, but could be available to pinch-hit against the Padres, according to MLB.com. |
| June 18, 2008 Yankeee outfielder Hideki Matsui is out of tonight's lineup due to soreness in his left knee, according to MLB.com. |
| June 12, 2008 Hideki Matsui knocked in all four Yankees runs on Thursday night as he hit a grand slam off Joe Blanton in the Yankees victory over the Athletics, 4-1. |
| May 22, 2008 Hideki Matsui has a good record against Brian Burres, tonight's opposing hurler for Baltimore, according to MLB.com. Matsui has hit two homers, a single, and forced two walks over 10 career plate appearances against the Orioles' lefty. |
| May 20, 2008 Hideki Matsui has hit safely in 17-of-20 home games at Yankee Stadium this season, according to MLB.com. |
| May 18, 2008 Hideki Matsui had the Yankees only two RBI on Sunday night thanks to his sixth home run of the season. |
| May 10, 2008 Hideki Matsui's 17-game hitting streak came to an end last night, as he went 0-for-4 against Detroit, according to the NY Daily News. |
| May 7, 2008 Hideki Matsui went 1-for-4 top extend his hitting streak to 16-games on Wednesday night. |
| May 6, 2008 Hideki Matsui is locked in. The outfielder went 3-for-3 on Tuesday night and now owns a 15-game hitting streak. Matsui is up to .342. |
| May 1, 2008 Hideki Matsui had only one hit on Thursday night but it was enough to extend his hitting streak to 11-games. |
| April 28, 2008 Hideki Matsui had two RBI in Monday's 5-2 win over the Indians. It was Godzilla's first game since Friday and allowed New York to earn a split of the four-game series after losing the first two. |
| April 28, 2008 Hideki Matsui is back in the Yankees lineup tonight after missing Saturday and Sunday's contests. Godzilla is hitting sixth and playing left field. |
| April 15, 2008 Hideki Matsui hit his third home run of the season on Tuesday night as the Yankees defeated the Rays, 5-3. |
| April 14, 2008 Hideki Matsui has a good track record against Andy Sonnanstine, tonight's opposing hurler for Tampa Bay, according to MLB.com. Over his career against Sonnanstine, he is 3-for-8 with two homers. |
| April 7, 2008 Hideki Matsui had two hits and two RBI on Monday night for the Yankees. Matsui is now hitting .375 with six RBI though seven games as his knee hasn't gotten in the way of him spraying balls all over the field. |
| April 6, 2008 Hideki Matsui went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and notably blasted his second homer of the season in a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. That was a great outing for him as he was only hitting 4-for-16 coming into today's game. |
| April 1, 2008 Hideki Matsui is batting eighth for the Yankees tonight after never hitting lower than sixth for them last season. He was slowed this spring while recovering from knee surgery, so perhaps he'll be moved up in the order in due time. Manager Joe Girardi has said that Robinson Cano will stay in the sixth spot, so Matsui could possibly end up in the five spot (where Jason Giambi is hitting tonight) or the seventh spot (where Jorge Posada is hitting). Matsui is manning the DH spot until his knee feels good enough so that he can play the outfield. |
| March 17, 2008 Hideki Matsui went 3-for-4 with three RBI against Boston on Monday. He continues to enjoy a solid spring with a .333 average (7-for-21). |
| March 14, 2008 Hideki Matsui made his first appearance in the outfield Thursday and looked fine, even making a running catch in the second inning, according to the New York Daily News. Matsui underwent offseason knee surgery but should be fine for the opening day. |
| March 9, 2008 Hideki Matsui returned to the New York Yankees' lineup, his spring debut Sunday. The team's designated hitter received his first live action and looks rusty in the process. Matsui was 0-for-3 with two groundouts and a flyout. |
| March 9, 2008 Hideki Matsui is slated to make his spring debut on Sunday, according to the New York Daily News. "I'm ready," Matsui said. "I'm good." He'll DH Sunday in his first game action since undergoing knee surgery in November. He should also take part in Monday's game. |
| March 6, 2008 Hideki Matsui was back in the cages on Wednesday taking batting practice for the first time since suffering a stiff neck last weekend. Matsui told the Daily News he is at about 80-90% strength and felt now pain in his neck. "I didn't swing 100%, but I felt pretty good," he said through his interpreter. Matsui said he expects to get in his first spring game by next week. Skipper Joe Girardi said it "might be a little sooner." |
| March 5, 2008 Hideki Matsui took 33 swings in batting practice, the first time he has swung a bat since straining his neck on Saturday, this according to the AP. Matsui is also dealing with an injured knee that is a greater concern, though he is still on schedule to to make the opening day lineup, though he might need to DH at the start of the year. |
| March 4, 2008 Hideki Matsui was unable to take batting practice for the second straight day Monday because of a stiff neck. "It's not a big deal," manager Joe Girardi told the NY Post of Matsui not taking BP. The outfielder is slated to start playing in games next Monday, and Girardi said the neck problem wouldn't alter those plans. "It won't slow him down when he gets in games," Girardi said. "Except for the cutting he looks good. I have watched him do cutoff and relays and there are no problems. I haven't seen anything to think he would have a setback." The neck isn't the issue with Matsui, it's his surgically repaired knee. At this point, he should be fine for opening day, but keep tabs on him to make sure he doesn't suffer any setbacks. |
| March 3, 2008 Hideki Matsui is slated to take batting practice on Monday. He tweaked his neck two days ago and is still rehabbing his right knee. "The running is the important part, the cutting," manager Joe Girardi tells MLB.com about the knee. "And he's not having any problems. When I saw him the first day in Spring Training, I [said], 'Wow, he looks great.'" Matsui is expected to be ready for opening day. |
| March 2, 2008 Hideki Matsui didnt take batting practice Sunday due to a stiff neck. He may hit Monday, though, and could see his first game action this week, according to the AP. Matsui is coming back from offseason knee surgery. Matsui is behind the other hitters but should be up to full speed by the start of the season. |
| February 24, 2008 Hideki Matsui said he is pleased with how his right knee has responded so far, according to the AP. The outfielder, who had surgery on his right knee last November, admitted earlier this month that he's not yet in game shape but expects to be by the end of spring training. Matsui isn't sure when he'll play in his first spring game, but he still expects to be ready for opening day. Call us pessimistic, but we'll still be keeping a close eye on Godzilla this spring to make sure he doesn't have any setbacks. |
| February 14, 2008 Hideki Matsui admitted to MLB.com that although he hasn't returned to game shape quite yet, he expects to be there by the end of spring training. The outfielder admitted on Thursday that his running ability was affected over the last two months of the year due to pain in his right knee. "We still have about a month and a half until opening day," Matsui said through an interpreter. "That's a lot of time. I'm sure that by then, I should be feeling pretty good." Keep an eye on Matsui's progress this spring. Even if it turns out that he's ready by opening day, this could turn out to be a reoccurring problem. |
| February 13, 2008 Hideki Matsui will meet with the Yankees medical staff today to determine what course of action will be taken with his surgically repaired right knee. The outfielder had surgery in November but has been experiencing some lingering soreness. He could be on a lighter program at the start of camp, according to the NY Post. |
| February 12, 2008 Hideki Matsui may not be at full strength when position players report next week, according to the New York Daily News. The outfielder is slated to fly to Tampa today to talk to team doctors and trainers due to lingering soreness in his right knee. Matsui's knee began bothering him in late August last year, and he proceeded to hit just .185 in September. This is a definitely a situation worth monitoring. |