Updated on February 6,2021
Signing back to Rakuten Golden Eagles
After finishing with just 3 wins 3 losses in 2020 season, his contract with the Yankees ended.
Rakuten Golden Eagles negotiated for his return coinciding 2021 with 10 years since
the great tsunami which kill around 19000 people in the area the Golden Eagles calls home.
On Jan 28, Golden Eagles announced they have agreed to a 2 year contract worth 900 milion yen,
the highest ever in Japanese baseball history, with extra renumeration depending on his performance.
He joined his team sprin camp on Feb 6.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2020
Sept 1
Maku wins his first game of the season. He threw 6 innings, gave up 2 runs including a home run striking out 7 in a game the Yankees won 5 to 3 over the Tampay Bay Rays.
Aug 2
Maku made his first start of the season.
He was off the mound in 2 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs.
The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5 to 2.
Jul 4
During a simulated game, Maku was hit in the forehead by a line drive.
He was diagnoised with a mild concussion.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2019
Oct 18
Makun started in the 4th game of the league series.
He gave up a 3 run home run.
He pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up 4 runs. The team lost 3 to 8 to the Houston Astros.
Oct 12
Makun started in the first game of the American League championship series.
He was awesome, pitching a shut out 6 innings.
Yankees won 7 to 0 against the Houston Astros.
Oct 5
In the 2nd game in American League East for the Yankees,
Makun started. He was supported by his Didi Gregorius's grand slam in the 3rd inning.
Maku pitched 5 innings giving up a run.
The Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 2 games in a row, 8 to 2.
On Oct 7, the Yankees with another win secured its advancement to the championship series.
Sept 20
Makun pitched against the Angels.
He gave up a run in 7 innings, won his 11th game in a 9 to 1 game.
This victory gave the Yankees the American League East victory.
July 14
Makun had a good start but in the 5th inning, he gave up 2 home runs.
He pitched 6 innings.
His team beat the Toronto BlueJays 4 to 2.
Makun earned his 6th win.
All Star Game
Makun got to play at the All Star Game in Cleveland on July 9 to
replace Toronto's Marcus Stroman.
He pitched in the 2nd inning.
He struck out Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers, and retired Nolan Arenado of the Rockies on a flyout to center field.
He allowed Josh Bell of the pirates to get on base.
But took out Wilson Contreras of the Cubs.
He was given the win for the American League 4 to 3 win over the National League.
June 17
Maku was terrific. He pitched well, striking out 10.
He had a shut out victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees won 3 to 0, and won his 5th game
May 12
Makun pitched well giving up just 1 run in 7 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees won 7 to 1.
Makun won his 3rd game.
Apr 4
This time Makun hurled longer innings or 6 2/3 innings.
His team lost 1 to 3 to the Detroit Tigers.
He had to takes his first loss.
Mar 28
Makun was honored to be chosen to open the season. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up 2 runs, and
earned his 1st win in a 7 to 2 game against the Baltimore Orioles.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2018
Sept 14
Makun threw a shut out 6 innings. The Yankees defeated the Toronto BlueJapans 11 to 0.
Makun earned his 12th win.
July 31
Makun hurled a shut out 6 inning. His team beat the Baltimore Orioles 6 to 3.
Makun won his 9th game.
July 25
Makun was amazing. He shut out the Cincinnati Reds and struck out 9.
The yankees won 4 to 0.
May 27
It was a dream match for the Japanese. Makun started. And he faced LA Angles Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani was walked once, struck out twice.
Makun hurled 6 innings giving up a run. His team won 3 to 1.
Makun won his 6th game of the season.
May 21
In the game against the Texas Rangers, Makun pitched 5 innings and gave up 4 runs.
But as his team won 10 to 5, he clinched his 5th win.
Apr 28
To the dismay of fans, a Tanaka vs Shohei Otani could not be witnessed as Otani as out due to a minor injury.
In anycase he pitched 6 innings giving up a run, and won his 4th game.
Apr 23
Makun started against the Minnesota Twins. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up a run. His team clobbered the Twins winning 14-1. Makun earned his 3rd win.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2017
Oct 18
Makun started in the 5th game of the American League championships.
He pitched 7 inning without giving up a run.
He contributed to his team's shut out win against the Houston Astros 5 to 0.
Sept 14
Makun had a solid pitch lasting 7 innings without giving up a run.
He struck out 8.
His team beat the Baltimore Orioles 13 to 5.
He won his 12th win, and a career total 150th.
July 28
Makun was amazing. He struck out 14 in 8 innings. He gave up just 1 run.
Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6 to 1.
June 23
It's the first time Makun against Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers.
He pitched well, striking out 9 in 8 innings although he did face
tough moments with pass balls.
Darvish pitched well too, with both not losing a run.
In the end the Yankess beat the Rangers 2 to 1.
May 8
Makun had a rough starting losing runs in the first inning.
But he improved thereafter while facing a rough 4th inning with bases full, but ending it with a double play.
The game ended 10 to 54 against the Cincinnatti Reds and Maku won his 5th game.
Apr 19
He pitched well this time. He lost just a run in 7 innings.
His team won 9 to 1. Maku earned his 2nd win.
Apr 14
Makun pitched 6 1/3 innings, gave up 3 runs. But he won his first game as his team
beat the St Louis Cardinals 4 to 3.
Apr 2
Makun had the honor of opening the season for the Yankees. But he was a flop.
He lost runs after runs, in all 7. He didn't even finish 3 innings.
His team lost 3 to 7 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2016
June 6
Makun pitched 7 innings. He gave up 2 runs.
His team equalized in the 7th inning.
Then in the 8th inning Carlos Beltran slammed a 3 run homer.
Althought Makun was not accredited with a win, the Yankees beat the Angels 5 to 2.
May 5
Makun pitched an shut out 8 innings.
But his teammates were unable to support him, and his team in the end lost to the Baltimore Orioles 0 to 1.
Apr 5
The opening pitcher for the season is Makun for the 2nd time.
The ceremonial pitch was hurled by Hideki Matsui.
Makun was pitching fairly well but gave up a grounded run to
Houston Astros Carlos Correa and a home run.
After the reliever gave up more runs.
The Yankees lost 3 to 6.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2015
Sept 2
Makun was not in the best shape. He gave up 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings.
But his teammate blasted defeating the Boston Red Sox 13 to 8 and
Makun won his 11th game.
Aug 15
Makun has had his ups and downs.
It was his up day, hurling over the distance against the Toronto Blue Jays
giving ups just one run hurling 112 pitches.
It's his 9th win.
June 15
For the first time Makun and Ichiro faced eachother.
Ichiro hit off 2 singles from Makun.
Makun gave up 2 runs and with that lost the game to the Florida Marlins 2 to 1.
June 9
Makun pitched pretty well again, despite giving up a home run to Bryce Harper in the 4th inning.
He pitched 7 innings.
The Yankees beat the Washington Nationals 6 to 1 and earned his 4th win.
June3
Makun returned pitching well against the Seattle Mariners.
He gave up only a run in 7 innings.
The Yankees won 3 to 1.
He earned his 3rd win.
On disabled list
On Apr 28, it's announced Makun is on the disabled list for tendinitis of the right wrist.
Apr 23
This time Makun hurled 6 1/3 innings giving up just one run.
The best performance so far. His team took the lead after he left the mound.
So he wasn't credited for the team's 2 to 1 win over the Detroit Tigers.
April 14
Makun started for the 2nd time.
He had unstable pitches in the 4th inning.
In the 5 innings he pitched he gave up 4 runs.
Thanks for great batting of his teammates he earned a win.
The Yankees won 14 to 4 against the Red Sox.
April 6
Makun won the honor to start for the Yankees in the opening game of the season.
Makun pitched well the first 2 innings.
He lost control of the ball after the 3rd giving up 5 runs in 4 innings he pitched.
The Yankees lost to the Toronto BlueJays 1 to 6.
WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2014
Sept 21
Makun is back. He started and lost a run in the first inning.
But he kept on pitching to the target of 70 pitches.
That's 5 1/3 innings.
The Yankees won 5 to 2 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Makun earned his 13th win.
July 9
Makun lost the most number of runs in the game against the Cleveland Indians.
It's 5 runs in 6 2/3 innings.
He faced his 4th loss. Then he was placed on the disabled list for a sprained elbow.
He was diagnosed with a 6 month rehabilitation plan.
July 3
Makun already gave up a run in the first inning.
But thanks to Carlos Beltran's 3 run home run, the Yankees gained the lead
and Makun won his 12th game despite giving up 4 runs or his worst this season.
It ended 7 to 4 against the Minnesota Twins.
After this game Makun was
June 28
In the 9th inning,Boston Red Sox's Mike Napoli slammed a home run off Makun.
That gave the Red Sox a 2 to 1 victory.
Makun succumbed to his 3rd loss.
June 17
Maku gave up a home run to the first of the Toronto BlueJays at bat.
But he lasted until the 6 innings with that only run he gave up.
In the end, the Yankees won and Maku earned his 11th win.
June 11
He handled the troubled 8th inning.
In the 9th Seattle Marines Robinson Cano homered off him.
But Makun still earned his 10th win in the 4 to 2 game.
June 5
He was on to face the Oakland Athletics.
He gave up a home run in the first inning.
He won the 6th inning game.
The Yankees won 2 to 1.
May 31
In the game against the Minnesota Twins, Maku hurled a shut out 8 innings.
The game ended 3 to 1 and he won his 8th game.
May 25
Makun did not have an easy time. He was supported by his team's RBIs including that of Derek Jeter.
He lost 54 runs in 6 2/3 inning and earned his 7th win.
The Yankees won 7 to 1 against the Chicago White Sox.
May 20
For the first time in 2 season, Makun lost a game. It's against the Chicago Cubs.
He hurled 6 inning and gave up 4 runs.
He was accounted for 3.
The Yankees lost 1 to 6.
May 14
Makun started and in the 9th inning he had his first base hit of the season
playing against the NY Mets.
For the first time Makun pitched the 9th inning with the Yankees.
He shut out the Mets and secured his 6th win.
May 9
Makun was supported by his team. He himself gave up 2 runs in the 6th inning. He lasted until the 7th inning. The Yankees won 5 to 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers. It's his 5th win.
May 4
Makun gave up a home run already in the first inning.
But he stayed on until the 7th inning, and hurled 113 pitches.
His team won 9 to 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Apr 27
Makun appeared unfazed by Ichiro's failure to catch a fly ball.
Ichiro made up for it with an RBI hit.
However, after that, Makun gave up a home run, and he
was off the mound in the middle of the 7th inning.
The Yankees in the end defeated the LA Angels 3 to 2.
Apr 22
Makun pitched 7 innings, gave up a homer each to David Ortiz and Mike Napoli.
But he had the backing of his teammate.
The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 9 to 3 and Makun earned his 3rd win.
Apr 16
This time, Makun had a smooth start.
He pitched a shut out 8 innings and struck out 10.
He only gave up 2 base hits.
His team won with the support Carlos Beltran's home run.
It's 3 to 0 against the Chicago Cubs.
It's his first win at Yankees Stadium.
Apr 9
It's the first game Makun started at Yankees Stadium.
He had a good start but in the 2nd inning, he gave up a 3 run home run to
the Baltimore Orioles Jonathan Schoop.
He was able to keep the Orioles from getting more runs.
Meanwhile his teammates, Beltran and Kelly Johnson each homered to equalize.
Makun hurled 7 innings and struck out 10, and left the game with a no decision.
But in the end the Yankees lost 4 to 5.
Apr 4
Makun started for the first time in the major leagues and with the Yankees.
He pitched against the Toronto Blue Jays in Rogers Centre.
The first at bat he pitched against Melky Cabrera. He homered off Makun.
He lost 2 more runs in the 2nd inning.
But Makun pitched better later and struck out 8 in 7 innings.
Meanwhile his team batted in runs, led by Ichiro.
He earned his first win in the 7 to 3 games.
Makun flies to NY on chartered plane
On Feb 11, Makun gave his introductory news conference at Yankees Stadium.
He wore number 19.
He said he wanted to win the World Series.
He flew in chartering a Japan Airline dreamliner.
Makun notches deal with Yankees
Masahiro Tanaka held a news conference on Jan 23 to confirm he has
completed a deal with the Yankees.
It's reported a 7 year confract for 2.3 million dollars.
Or the 5th highest deal in MLB.
For Kaz's past performances, go to ARCHIVE