A's Agree With Shintaro Fujinami
2 years agoThe Oakland Athletics agreed with Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami on a one-year deal, pending a physical, on Wednesday, according to a source. The 28-year-old was posted by the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan last month and is expected to join Oakland's starting rotation in 2023. The 28-year-old had a career-best 1.118 WHIP in 107 1/3 innings pitched last year in his 10th year with the Tigers. Fujinami is 6-foot-6 and has a fastball that sits in the upper-90s. Along with his 1.118 WHIP last season, he had a 3.38 ERA and 23.6% strikeout rate in Japan. Fujinami displayed better command in 2022, but it has been an issue for him before. Expect him to have an up-and-down first year in the big leagues, but he will be heading to a nice ballpark for pitchers.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan