Kenji Johjima
| AB | 1609 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .268 |
| OBP | .31 |
| SLG | .411 |
| HR | 48 |
- Full name Kenji Johjima
- Born 06/08/1976 in Sasebo, Japan
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Beppudai Fuzoku
- Debut 04/03/2006
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The first Japanese catcher to sign with a U.S. team, Johjima agreed to a three-year, $16.5 million contract in November. A perennial all-star and Gold Glover in Japan, he was the Pacific League MVP in 2003 and batted .378 as Japan won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. Johjima should be a solid all-around catcher in the States. He controls the strike zone well and should produce for average as well as gap power. Defensively, he's an agile receiver with good catch-and-throw skills. He loves to run a pitching staff, and he's learning English quickly. Having polished his game during nine seasons in the Japanese majors, Johjima has no glaring flaws. He's a below-average runner, but so are most catchers. He doesn't draw many walks because he puts the ball in play so easily. He missed time in 2005 with shoulder tendinitis and hairline fracture in his fibula, though neither is a long-term concern. Johjima won't make an Ichiro-like impact, but he should fill a position at which Seattle has gotten little production for years.
