Tsuyoshi Wada
A crafty Japanese left-hander who mastered the strike zone at home to become an ace, then journeyed to MLB to help the Cubs end a historic championship drought.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Japanese baseball player·Birthday: February 21·Millennials
Biography
Tsuyoshi Wada's story is one of precision and perseverance. In Japan, he wasn't a flamethrower; he was a surgeon, dissecting lineups with a sharp fastball, a deceptive changeup, and pinpoint control. For the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, he was a model of consistency, a cerebral pitcher who racked up wins and helped anchor a dynasty. His move to Major League Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles was derailed before it began by Tommy John surgery, a brutal delay for a player in his thirties. Undeterred, he rehabbed and finally debuted with the Chicago Cubs in 2014. Though not a star stateside, his role was crucial: he provided reliable innings during the team's foundational rebuilding years. Returning to Japan, he resumed his ace status, adding more championships to his legacy, proving his excellence was not bound by geography but by his meticulous approach to pitching.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tsuyoshi was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tsuyoshi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Tsuyoshi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award in Japan in 2010 after posting a 17-8 record with a 3.14 ERA for the SoftBank Hawks.
- Was a key member of multiple Japan Series championship teams with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, including in 2011 and later in his career.
- Made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2014 after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- Pitched in the major leagues during the early stages of the Cubs' rebuild that culminated in the 2016 World Series title.
Did You Know?
He led Japan's Pacific League in wins twice, in 2010 and again in 2017 after returning from MLB.
He did not allow a run over 14 innings in the 2011 Japan Series, earning the series MVP honor.
His first MLB win came in a start against the Cincinnati Reds on September 16, 2014, where he pitched 5.2 scoreless innings.
He was teammates with MLB star Yu Darvish on the SoftBank Hawks early in both of their careers.
“A pitcher's job is to dissect the lineup, not overpower it.”
