The Rangers announced that first baseman/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo has been signed to a minor league contract. Tsutsugo’s deal contains an invitation to the Rangers’ big league Spring Training camp.
Tsutsugo came to the majors in the 2019-20 offseason, but Texas will be the fifth different organization Tsutsugo has suited up during his relatively brief time in North American baseball. A well-regarded slugger during his NPB career, Tsutsugo has only shown brief flashes of that form in MLB, hitting .197/.291/.339 over 640 plate appearances with the Rays, Dodgers, and Pirates.
Most of Tsutsugo’s offensive production came over a 43-game, 144-PA stint with Pittsburgh in 2021, which led the Bucs to re-sign him to a one-year, $4MM deal last offseason. Unfortunately for both sides, Tsutsugo managed only a .478 OPS over 193 PA in 2022, and he generated a sub-replacement level -1.3 fWAR. The Pirates released Tsutsugo in August and he caught on with the Blue Jays on a minor league deal, but Toronto never gave Tsutsugo a call back up to the majors.
Now entering his age-31 season, Tsutsugo will look for a fresh start as he tries to break camp with Texas. Tsutsugo offers a left-handed bat, a decent walk rate amidst his overall offensive struggles, and the ability to play first base and both corner outfield slots (though the Bucs only used Tsutsugo as a first baseman and DH in 2022). It makes for something of an imperfect fit on the Rangers roster, however, since starting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and first-choice DH Brad Miller are also both left-handed hitters. The Rangers could see Tsutsugo as another depth option for its unsettled left field picture, even if Texas might prefer to see what it has in its younger players — assuming a much more established veteran than Tsutsugo isn’t ultimately acquired to take over the everyday left field job.
Wow!
Its gotta be past your bed time.
Is this what foreign hitters turn into in the MLB?
Ohtani & Ichiro say hello.
But that’s just 2. There may be more, but I wonder how many have come here and how many become stars relative to US draft picks.
Matsui
Choo is Korean but still foreign
Choo was signed by the Mariners as a teenager and spent 5 years in the minors so he wasn’t really any different than any other player drafted and developed by an MLB team.
And the hundreds of Dominican republic players that have had success
Where’s hideki
No, just the marginal at best ones.
Makes me nervous about how Yoshida transitions to MLB, especially when he is already a terrible fielder
Yeah. I fear that too. I thought Seiya Suzuki would be an MVP candidate, but his performance further dampens my view of Asian posted players/”free agents.” I do love Yoshida’s BB:K ratio, though, for recent seasons. That has to be something.
The Pirates had Jung Ho Kang a few years ago, a guy who really showed some promise and power. Unfortunately, he had this penchant of drinking and driving that South Korean authorities objected to
Shame. Young man couldn’t stay out of his own way. No, he wasn’t Arenado-like, but he was a pleasant surprise for awhile
I’m pretty sure that the drinking wasn’t really the problem; the manly lifestyle was most likely what kept him out of MLB.
The Reds were ecstatic when they landed Shogo Akiyama. That didn’t go so well. Kim on the Padres ain’t exactly the offensive force he was advertised to be either. We’ll see how the Sox new guy does.
O ya his ouis weren’t the problem ok ??
Plus he played every infield position
He was busted twice for DWI in South Korea, so yea it was drinking that ruined his MLB career
Nope. His story was a bit different. Language barrier and lifestyle were things he was overcoming. But South Korean judicial system precluded him being granted a work visa after his second DUI, effectively killing his career
Suzuki has been working out with Ohtani in Japan during the offseason. He’s gotten a lot bigger from what I’ve seen. He’s put on 20-30lb. Says he thinks that’s what it takes to hit in the majors. He’s got the work ethic down so I wouldn’t judge him by his rookie season with the Cubs.
I mean, aren’t all Dominican, Cuban and Venezuelan players considered “foreign?”
I meant guys who are signed from another country’s major league teams instead of guys who are drafted. International drafts are one thing; guys like Ohtani, Darvish, Suzuki, etc. are in another category in my view.
I know, just messing with you.
You do know that there is no international draft so technically they are not drafted from the Domincan or Cuba, etc. Just FYI. the difference is the posting fee that you have to any of the Asian leagues.
And the rich get richer….
What do you mean?
Just joking around. Poking fun at commentary regarding higher budget teams acquiring good players.
This is a no joking zone sir
1000 lashes to the boy!
Yoshi Ranger
Ranger Yoshi
A bit surprised Tsutsugo didn’t opt to return to Japan.
Even more surprised that Marwin did.
Marwin Gonzalez had a career year in 2017. There is nothing suspicious about that, right? Nothing to see here; carry on…
And who was gonna sign marwin??
Who wasn’t? Have you seen his 2017 numbers!
Got go where the money is, YC!
I was just kidding. Marwin is toast offensively. Actually, writing this I am surprised he didn’t go to the Red Sox after all the Cora hype last season. Cora says he’s one of the best players in the MLB. Reminds me of the Yankees love affair with IKF.
Fans already want him DFA’d from his invitation to Spring Training camp.
Not any good
He will not make the cut during spring training and he will opt out to return to Japan
I read an interview with him where he said “it’s not a dream if you can easily give up on it” about his major league career. I agree with you though. He’ll be like Arihara. A year in the minors maybe and then back to Japan with a payrise that comes with having played in the majors.
Incredible signing!
You again? Smh. Get a life.
give him a chance and see what happens. it could be that he needed a while to figure out MLB pitching. you never know but I wouldn’t count on it.
Buffalo had him in RF for the game I was at in Worcester in September.
His offensive numbers with Pittsburgh in 2021 were great, and he has hit well in the minor leagues. The only place he hasn’t hit well has been MLB. His defense, though, looks really bad in terms of dWAR, fielding percentage, and range factor. I think he can still be of some worth like Josh Smith. They just need 5 of these guys for one to pan out as a regular and maybe 10 to get a star. I want to see Happ/Kepler/McCarthy here the Rangers don’t have to risk seeing all of them fail until one doesn’t.
Forget this BS, sign Adam Duvall right hand bat, good glove, probably affordable on a one year deal
Look at how many recent ex-Pirates are signing minor league deals.