Newest Red Sox relief pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura began using Darude’s song “Sandstorm” as his entrance song when he pitched in Japan after seeing former Boston closer Koji Uehara use it during the 2013 World Series.
The righty met with the media via Zoom on Wednesday after signing a two-year, $3-million contract with an option for 2023. Escalators and bonuses could increase the deal to $7.65 million.
“I think Koji Uehara had a lot of influence in my decision-making process,” Sawamura said through an interpreter. “He told me a lot of good stuff about the Red Sox and his experience. He shared with me all his experiences. Back in 2013 when the Red Sox won the World Series, he was coming out of the bullpen (at) Fenway with the Sandstorm entrance music. And that was really a cool moment for me. So I started using ‘Sandstorm,’ the same music, in Japan. So I think Koji Uehara had a lot of influence and helped me get to where I am today.”
Will he use “Sandstorm” as his entrance song with the Red Sox, too?
“It’s top secret right now. I can’t tell you.” Sawamura said.
The 32-year-old had a 2.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 75 saves and 790 strikeouts in 352 outings (88 starts) in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization from 2011-20. He has averaged 8.2 strikeouts and 2.7 walks per nine innings (868 ⅓ innings).
Sawamura spent his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants until they traded him to Chiba Lotte midway through 2020. He posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 22 games (21 innings) after the trade.
He throws an upper-90s fastball and a split-fingered fastball.
“I’m a baseball player and my job is to pitch at the highest level as possible,” Sawamura said. “And over the last couple of years, I started kind of thinking about coming to the MLB. And I believe MLB is the highest level of baseball in the world and I just want to see how well I can pitch at this level.”
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