On Monday, the Baltimore Orioles enhanced their pitching staff by securing the services of Japanese hurler Tomoyuki Sugano under a $13 million deal for a year.
Having a 1.67 ERA in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Yomiuri Giants in 2024, Sugano, a right-handed starting pitcher, demonstrated excellent precision on the mound, amassing 111 strikeouts and allowing only 16 walks across 156.2 innings.
The 35-year-old, who is a three-time Central League Most Valuable Player and a Japanese triple crown winner in 2018, boasts a repertoire of six pitches, predominantly using his four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, and splitter. Additionally, he includes a sinker and curveball in his arsenal, albeit sparingly, according to NPB statistics.
Sugano’s most recent encounters with Major League hitters were during the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where he struck out Nolan Arenado three times and once each Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and Adam Jones.
For the Orioles, Sugano adds a veteran presence to a burgeoning starting rotation. Should Baltimore fail to secure the services of Corbin Burnes, one of the most high-profile remaining American players in the free agency market, Sugano’s role will be even more crucial as he fills the void left by an ace in the rotation.
According to Baseball America, Sugano is projected as a fourth or fifth starter, suggesting a probable adjustment from his impressive NPB statistics. While his fastball velocity has declined with age, reaching around 92-93 mph compared to his previous range of 94-96, he remains effective with a low 2.6% walk rate and a diverse array of pitches. The report also indicates that his strikeout rate is likely to improve against MLB hitters given the tendency for Japanese hitters to make more contact.
This marks the second time that Sugano has been posted by the Giants. In 2020, he initially explored opportunities in MLB but returned to the Yomiuri Giants after failing to secure a deal in the U.S., signing a four-year contract worth $40 million.
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