The Diamondbacks have shown interest in Japanese pitcher Shintaro Fujinami, according to a report from Nikkan Sports (Japanese-language link). The report also lists the Giants and Red Sox as other teams in the mix but suggests Arizona is emerging as one of the favorites to work out a deal with the right-hander.
Fujinami was made available to major league clubs via the posting system on December 1. That opened a 45-day window for MLB teams to negotiate a contract with the 28-year-old. If Fujinami doesn’t sign with an MLB team by January 15, he’d remain a member of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Hanshin Tigers in 2023. Reports of MLB interest and perhaps an early frontrunner just over a week after the posting window opens would seem to bode well for his chances of making the jump to the majors.
One of the more interesting wild cards in this year’s pitching market, Fujinami has already played parts of 10 seasons at Japan’s top level. A highly-regarded amateur talent a decade ago, he made his NPB debut at age 18 in 2013. Fujinami started with an excellent 2.75 ERA over 137 2/3 innings as a rookie, seemingly positioning him as a core piece of the Tigers future. By 2015, he’d posted a 2.40 ERA with 221 strikeouts through 199 innings in his age-21 season. Fujinami also performed well in 2016 but saw his production start to drop off by the ’17 campaign.
Increasingly, the 6’6″ righty battled control problems. That erratic strike-throwing led the Tigers to shuttle him back-and-forth between NPB and their minor league affiliate frequently through 2019. He spent the majority of his time at Japan’s top level in 2020-21 but posted respective ERA’s of 4.01 and 5.21. Fujinami again split his 2022 campaign between NPB and the minors, only throwing 66 2/3 innings at the highest level.
To his credit, he found more success in that relatively limited look than he has in a while. Fujinami managed a 3.38 ERA through 16 appearances. He struck out a strong 23.6% of opponents and importantly only doled out free passes to 7.6% of batters faced. Fujinami’s only a season removed from an untenable 16.8% walk rate in 2021, but he at least flashed more consistent strike-throwing ability this year. He’s long had an arsenal that intrigues scouts, with a fastball that usually sits in the mid-90’s and has topped triple-digits in the past.
The erratic strike-throwing track record could point towards Fujinami being a better fit for the bullpen, but he has an extensive workload as a starter in Japan. Each of the Diamondbacks, Giants and Red Sox could stand to use additional arms in both the rotation and relief unit, making Fujinami an interesting upside possibility for any of that group.
If he does sign with a major league team, the club would owe a fee to the Tigers under the MLB – NPB posting agreement. That’s tied to the size of the contract itself, with the MLB team owing the NPB club 20% of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5% of the next $25MM and 15% of any dollars thereafter. It’d be a major surprise if an MLB deal for Fujinami topped $25MM, so the posting fee is likely to end up at 20% of the contract value.
If 25mil would be a “major surprise” I’m saying 2 years 50 mil.
And if it’s SD, I’m saying bull Shintaro, it’s going to be 15 years at $300MM
Yes but Clip, if SD makes the offer then we KNOW he will go elsewhere for less righ?!???
Haha! Oh man, mic drop….. (feedback squealing)
If he did agree to it, MLB would nix the deal. They’re very selective on who gets to manipulate the CBT.
Haha the desperation of SD. Gotta give it to them… they’re willing to spend.
No doubt. What fanbase wouldn’t want their GM do be going after too FA like this in order to win? This is going to have a positive ripple effect in Pads Nation for years to come. Their going to get generations of fans from some of these moves potentially (Soto, Xander, Machado, Tatis Jr…).
Yeah, must be nice to be a large market fan; I sometimes wonder what it would be like if Ken Kendrick greenlit Correa to AZ, and then I temember I have more productive things to use my time on.
And what a nightmare lineup to face. I dont think right now there is a better 1-9 than SD and I’m a Yankee fan, not SD. They have an incredible mix of speed, power and on base %. They’re going to be a fun team to watch for sure.
But is he doing it to win, or to sell tickets and make headlines? XB was not the best of fits if your trying to build a winner. They already had two SS. He’s a nice addition with the bat, but either of Kim or Tatis, Jr would be better defensively at SS. How is this helping the team win, moving two better defensive players to other positions? Plus it moves Cronenworth from 2B to 1B. As a 2B, his bat was a major plus, one of the best in MLB. As a 1B, he will be better than anyone they had last year, but will not be elite offensively. By doubling Boston’s offer, it may strain their budget so they can’t afford Machado going forward. Yes, its exciting, but I really question whether that are trying to win.
I could see XB being the primary DH and then maybe an infield utility guy? His glove isn’t great but it isn’t horrible. I do understand that is a large overpay for a DH/Utility guy. Especially for 11 years haha that’s crazy
On one hand I agree but man that team is saddling itself with some hefty financial obligations. It was just a few seasons ago they had the top farm system by far now the farm system is near bottom, they have a bloated payroll, and still no rings. This seems like one of those situations where they now have to win a ring or it was all a waste. It’s not the approach I want my Orioles to take
No I can definitely understand that. I think the O’s are going to be very good in another 2 years. They have some great young talent and their farm is looking great. SD I give a ton of props to… they’re going for it anyway they can. The Soto deal alone was so much young talent to give up. But if they can bring it home for 1 season and get their first WS crown then it’s worth it to them. I’m not even a SD fan, just respect the effort even if its reckless as all hell lol.
Stymee: You bring up some excellent points here. I think one of the reasons behind Xander is that they plan on Machado opting outing and he’s a safeguard against that because Machado will be departing (I don’t doubt they will try to keep him though). Xander can then play 2B, SS, or 3B.
10 years 150 million?
$30 Million in deferred money over 15 years after the initial 10
Soco I can’t even wrap my head around that offer but it has me cracking up hahaha
$30 million in deferred money over 15 years.
Ok it just sunk in haha I get it now.
He’s 6’6”. The tallest man in Japan.
Get him AZ!
He’s actually 6’8 on the official npb media site.
Some more on him:
He was once considered one of the greatest, most exciting young players ever. And for a brief period, he really was. And then his manager did this to him: Having thrown 131 pitches through seven innings at rainy Koshien Stadium on Friday night, Hanshin Tigers manage Tomoaki Kanemoto sent right-hander Shintaro Fujinami back out to face the visitors in the top of the eighth inning. He allowed three runs on three hits and a walk, while hitting a batter before leaving the mound after 161 pitches.
After the game, Kanemoto said — according to Sankei Sports — that his purpose was to teach the 22-year-old a lesson.
Roughly translated: “The way he (Fujinami) opened the game was everything. The walks ruined him. My intent was that he was going to throw until the end, however many pitches he threw and however many runs he allowed. I want him to feel the responsibility (that comes with being an ace). I think that’s what he has to feel.”
They took a brilliant, talented guy and destroyed him. He made his debut as an 18-year-old and was a star and known to everyone since he dominated in high school for 2 years at Koshien. He was a number one pick. He had not only blazing speed (98+) but a devastating fork. He also was funny and a star off the field. And then Kanemoto abused him. (The fans rained hell down on Kanemoto, who, as you guessed was later out of baseball.)
A team with good coaching could definitely bring him back. He still has amazing stuff, an unreal fork. He is only 28.
This should be a crime.
He’s a AAAA NPB player. Kei Igawa, Shun Yamaguchi, or Kohei Arihara 2.0
What a dick.
Watched some condensed games on youtube and translated a handful of comments to get a better idea of him. Seems like his control got better throughout last year which culminated in a nice streak without giving up any walks. The fans were saying his delivery looked more consistent and less erratic than when he had his control issues. Seems to be very popular with NPB fans
I really liked his splitter, it has a really nice shape and great armside tumble. It looked like he throws a standard 2-seamer and a sinker. Both seemed like big-league quality pitches with wicked movement. 4-seamer was a bit straight but the velocity and vertical approach angle could play nicely with a couple tweaks. His slider is ok and could tunnel with the 2-seamer. Cutter was nothing special. He didn’t throw it much and I think he’ll probably dump it when he comes here.
I think an MLB coaching staff could work wonders with him. Unless his control issues come back, he looks like he could at least be a solid reliever focusing on his splitter, power sinker, and slider
In one game he actually threw 163 pitches ridiculous….
Jeff Passan wrote a book called “The Arm”. And yeah, it’s about pitchers arm health.
In it he talks about US vs. Japan approaches to pitching. They are Entirely different. Japan sees it as needing to build up strength, like any other mussel.
The book points out that although US and Japan have fire & ice differences in to how to “treat” pitchers arms, they both end up at the same point. Lots of “hurt” arms.
But super scary stuff on Japanese pitcher “training”. Insane pitch workloads (180+) on back-to-back days. It’s horror stories to American eyes
He’s 6’6”?! That’s tall for anybody, but he’s a giant in Japan!
He’s 6’8 and rail thin
For those commenting on his height, better to look at the size of Americans’ guts & arses!
(WP) Here’s another stereotype about Japan you can toss into history’s trash can: Those “little Japanese” aren’t so little anymore.
Japanese people have experienced one of the fastest collective growth spurts ever recorded, according to public health officials.
In the last 30 years, the height of the average Japanese male has gone up nearly four inches, while average female height has increased about 2.7 inches. The average 20-year-old Japanese man today is 5 feet 8 1/4 inches, according to data released this month by Japan’s Health and Welfare Ministry. That is about the same height as European 20-year-olds.
And that was in 1993! Meanwhile, in the US people have been getting shorter but their butts and guts have been getting so big that now most people are fat or obese.
I don’t have an a$$. Wish I did.
My guy you have way too much free time on your hands.
Says the guy who is usually one of the first to comment on most posts.
I mean I keep telling people I have the darn app. That kinda helps.
Ga you broke the Samurai Code!
Seems like a risky signing to me. You always have to factor in some regression when coming from Japan to the US due to the better hitting in MLB, so if he brings with him a 12+% walk rate, that could really impact his effectiveness in MLB. The way teams are spending money this year, I could see some team offering him 2/$12M or 3/$15M but probably not much more than that as he seems to project better as a reliever than a starter (at least to start his MLB career). Maybe his agent negotiates an opt out after year one just in case he exceeds expectations, but if he gets more than a 3 year deal or more than $6M per year, this market is truly crazy.
Sawamura, another number 1 pick but with more sustained success in NPB though without the unreal stuff of Fujinami, signed for 2 years and 3 million with Boston in 2021 and gave them decent work, though he was slightly disappointing overall because of his failure to throw his splitter more in the zone. I can see Fujinami getting something like 2 years and 6 million in this odd market with a chance to earn more if he starts or finishes games.
Sawa was so/so with Boston this guy has much better stuff
Yes, as I said, Fujinami has unreal stuff and is a better bet than Sawamura although Sawamura has had a better, more consistent career up until now and was a useful, though disappointing piece for Boston. I think a team should make a bet on Fujinami and Fujinami should pick a team with good pitching coaches who can adjust his pitch mix.
From what I’ve heard, Hanshin abused his arm severely and it’s surprising to see any resurgence in strike throwing ability. Hopefully he can carve a swingman type of role out in MLB because if the strike throwing ability is legitimate he could actually be effective in MLB.
Effectively wild? I mean the right coach could probably get him right with mechanics etc. AZ’s got Brent Strom and he’s pretty solid at the gig. I actually hope that the Phillies make a run at Senga though. Dude looks nasty.
Sounds like a injury issue
Kind of hoping Hazen is asking in on him. AZ needs RP help more than SP, and he definitely has stuff for Strom to work with. If the bidding doesn’t get too outrageous, it could leave more than enough payroll space to facilitate another BP addition as well.
Another magic box player, great!
Bloom once again could procure a player who has no track record of success against MLB players and spin him as the second coming of Ohtani’s pitching skills. It will be a few years before that rumor could be dispelled much like the greatness of Yoshida.
With Bloom everything is a promise not a fact. The team will have continued success!! (Bloom). Great statement by Bloom. He simply left off the part when that might begin.
Signing unknowns and hyping them is the Bloom way. It’s not surprising to hear he might be in on this guy. All he has to do is fabricate a picture with this guy as the ace of the Boston staff ahead of guys like Whitlock, Crawford and Bello and the offense being centered around Mayer, Yorke and Yoshida. Boston fans and Bloom social media grunts will sell this concept to Red Sox Nation. Ownership will be gullible enough to buy into it too.
Things sure are scary in Boston.