Daisuke Matsuzaka graduated from Yokohama High School in Japan in 1998. In the quarterfinals of that year's Koshien national high school baseball tournament, he threw 250 pitches in 17 innings to beat powerhouse P.L. Gakuen. Later, in the final, he threw a no-hitter--the first ever in a final--to win both the tournament and the admiration of the nation. This performance garnered the attention of a great many scouts. After his graduation, he was taken by the Seibu Lions with the first pick of the 1998 draft.

In his first professional season (1999), he had 16 wins and 5 losses as the team ace, and was voted Rookie of the Year. In 2003, Matsuzaka logged 16 wins and 7 losses. He won the Pacific League ERA title with a 2.83 mark. Matsuzaka also played for Japan's National Baseball Team, and pitched against South Korea.

He participated in the 2004 Olympic Games and was a key player in Japan's acquisition of the bronze medal.

He is purported to have thrown the legendary gyroball in a live game, although Matsuzaka denies this.

Named MVP of the 1st World Baseball Classic (WBC), after going 3-0 in the series.

--Wikipedia