Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Former New York Yankees starter Hideki Irabu has been found dead in his California home, according to NBCSports.com.

The suspected cause of death is suicide. Irabu was 42.

Irabu began his career in Japan, but the San Diego Padres purchased his contract from the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japan Pacific League in January of 1997. Those rights then were traded to the New York Yankees that May.

In his rookie season in 1997, Irabu went 5-4 with a 7.09 ERA in 13 games (nine starts) for New York. In three seasons with the Yankees, he was 29-20 with a 4.80 ERA in 74 games (64 starts). Irabu has his best season in 1998, when he went 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA.

Irabu was dealt from the Yankees to the Montreal Expos in December of 1999 and released by the Expos in September 2001.

He finished his major league career with the Texas Rangers in 2002.

In six major league seasons, Irabu was 34-35 with a 5.15 ERA in 126 games (80 starts).

SOURCE: ASN