AP Photo 8 months ago

Japan's Akinori Iwamura makes diving stop on a single by Cuba's Frederich Cepeda in the third inning of their World Baseball Classic game at PETCO Park in San Diego Sunday, March 15, 2009. Cepeda was safe at first.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Japan second baseman Akinori Iwamura makes the across-the-body throw to get Cuba's Leslie Amderson out at first in the second inning of their World Baseball Classic game at PETCO Park in San Diego, Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Team Japan second baseman Akinori Iwamura throws out Team Cuba's Leslie Anderson in the second inning during Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic in San Diego, California March 15, 2009.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Team Japan second baseman Akinori Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Rays is saluted by a security officer before the World Baseball Classic game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, March 7, 2009.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Japan's second baseman Akinori Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Rays breaks his bat for a grounder as China's catcher Yang Yang, right, looks on in the second inning of their Pool A opening game at the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 5, 2009.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Japan's second baseman Akinori Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Rays breaks his bat for a grounder as China's catcher Yang Yang, right, looks on in the second inning of their Pool A opening game at the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 5, 2009.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Team Japan second baseman Akinori Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Rays talks with Cuban Orestes Destrade Cucuas, a former Seibu Lion, after the team's practice at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, of Japan, follows the flight of his two-run, sixth-inning triple off Seattle Mariners' Garrett Olson during a baseball game Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rays Carl Crawford and Ben Zobrist scored on the hit.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, left, and Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura, both of Japan, laugh before a baseball game Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay Rays' Carl Crawford (C) celebrates with the Rays' Akinori Iwamura after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays during their MLB American League baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida September 20, 2009.

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura lands on Toronto Blue Jays Lyle Overbay after forcing him out on the double play during the sixth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida September 19, 2009.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop John McDonald (L) misses the catch, allowing Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura to successfully steal second base and then advance to third on error in the seventh inning of their MLB American League game in St. Petersburg, Florida September 18, 20...

After missing the tag and dropping the ball, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Kyle Phillips (L) tells relief pitcher Josh Roenicke (R) that Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura is diving back to the plate in the seventh inning of their MLB American League baseball game in St. Petersbu...

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Kyle Phillips (L) misses the tag and Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura misses the plate in the seventh inning of their MLB American League game in St. Petersburg, Florida September 18, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Tampa Bay Rays, left to right, B.J. Upton, Akinori Iwamura and Reid Brignac celebrate their 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, in Baltimore.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Boston Red Sox's Josh Reddick (68) is out at second base as Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, top, throws to first for the double play in the fifth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Boston.

Boston Red Sox Victor Martinez tags out Tampa Bay Rays Akinori Iwamura of Japan during the second inning of their American League MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts September 12, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Boston Red Sox first baseman Victor Martinez tags out Akinori Iwamura, of Japan, during the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.

Tampa Bay Rays batter Akinori Iwamura breaks his bat as he grounds out against New York Yankees to end the seventh inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, September 8, 2009.

Tampa Bay Rays pinch-hitter Akinori Iwamura strikes out against New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera for the final out of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, September 7, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, left, of Japan, lines a second inning RBI single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett during a baseball game Wednesday Sept. 2, 2009 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rays' Evan Longoria scored on the hit. Catching for Boston is Jason Varitek.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Tampa Bay Rays batter Akinori Iwamura, of Japan, reacts after a wild swing on a pitch by Boston Red Sox's Jon Lester during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday Sept. 1, 2009 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, left, walks off the field after the Detroit Tigers' 4-3 win in a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Detroit.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Detroit Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco, top, avoids Tampa Bay Rays' Gabe Kapler (27) after getting the force-out at second base in the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Detroit.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura takes a practice swing before his at-bat against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning of a baseball game on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Detroit. The Rays won 3-1.