'Sugano → LAA, Sasaki → SD or LAD', then there are only 6 pitchers there...SoCal is a small NPB
Nov 21, 2024
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Analysts say Japanese pitchers are flocking to the West of the U.S. continent, especially southern California, this winter, as Chiba Lotte Marines Sasaki Rocky, who is about to post, is expected to go to the LA Dodgers or San Diego Padres.
MLB Network reporter John Morosi said on the 20th (Korea time) 'A team is watching Sugano. It's the LA Angels. I have considerable interest in 'Sugano is a right-handed pitcher similar to Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda came to the Major League at the age of 30 and spent seven solid years, he said.
Kuroda joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 when he was 33, threw for four years, then moved to the New York Yankees in 2012 and played for three more years until 2014, when he was 39. He returned to Japan after reigning as the top starting pitcher in the Major League with a 3.45 ERA in 212 career games in the Major League.
Sugano, who was born in October 1989, is 35 years old and has passed his prime. However, stable control like Kuroda and seasoned game management are receiving high scores. Also, Sugano is an FA that doesn't need a posting fee because it's a complete 'free body'.
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After receiving the Central League Sawamura Award for two consecutive seasons in 2017 and 2018, he was named Central League MVP with 14 wins and two losses and a 1.97 ERA in 20 games in 2020, but he was not offered satisfactory conditions by big league clubs during the posting period and eventually knocked down the Major League again this year.
He pitched 1,857 innings in 276 appearances in the NPB's 12-year career, recording 136 wins, 74 losses with a 2.43 ERA and 1585 strikeouts. Sugano's average fastball speed is about 92 miles, and his dependence on the pitch is relatively high. Throw a 82-mile slider, 87-mile cutter, 86-mile splitter and 77-mile curve.
The Angels ranked 27th out of 30 teams with a 4.97 ERA this year. The Angels have been struggling with shaky starters for years. There is a shortage of ace players as well as depth. That's why I pay attention to Sugano.
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The Dodgers in the National League West have two outstanding starters, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani, who underwent elbow surgery last fall, will return to the mound early next season by smoothly progressing his pitching rehabilitation despite his MVP-class performance as the designated hitter this year. Yamamoto was also jagged this year, but he recovered in the postseason and is expected to play well next year.
San Diego, which has rapidly emerged as a rival to the Dodgers in the NL West, has starters Darvish Yu and bullpen Yuki Matsui.
On top of that, Sasaki, who is scheduled to post this winter, is also expected to go to the Dodgers or San Diego. Under this scenario, as many as six Japanese pitchers will show off their power in LA, San Diego and SoCal next season.
jhno@sportschosun.com
