Orioles Sign Veteran Japanese Pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano
In a bid to strengthen their pitching roster, the Baltimore Orioles have signed Japanese veteran Tomoyuki Sugano. The 35-year-old brings a wealth of experience and skill to the club, having agreed to a one-year deal worth $13 million.
An Illustrious Career in Japan
Sugano's career has flourished over 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he established himself as one of Japan's foremost pitchers. His impressive career stats include a sterling 2.45 ERA and nearly 300 professional appearances. Such accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, earning him selections to eight NPB All-Star Games, two Most Valuable Player awards, and two prestigious Eiji Sawamura Awards—Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young Award.
Beyond his accolades, Sugano is known for his remarkable strikeout-to-walk (K/BB) ratio of 4.53. His most recent season further highlighted his talents when he posted a 1.67 ERA, struck out 111 batters, and issued just 16 unintentional walks over 156 2/3 innings. Though his fastball operates in the lower 90s, it's supported by a deceptive splitter, a pitch that has consistently confounded hitters in Japan.
Transition to Major League Baseball
The decision to join the Orioles marks Sugano's long-anticipated move to Major League Baseball, a path he considered as early as 2021. His move comes at a critical time for Baltimore, a team that has made strides in the postseason over the last two years but has found themselves unable to progress past the initial rounds.
As Corbin Burnes, the Orioles' ace, explores free agency, Sugano's arrival fills a potential void in the pitching lineup. While Sugano's strikeout rate was 6.4 per nine innings last season—a statistic slightly below MLB’s higher strikeout rates—it is his control, experience, and leadership that make him a valuable asset.
Expectations and Impact
With Sugano's extensive accolades and proven track record, the Orioles can expect not only skill on the mound but also guidance for their younger pitchers. His signing signals the Orioles' commitment to augmenting their rotation with international talent and experienced players capable of lifting the team onto a more competitive platform in Major League Baseball.
Although transitioning from NPB to MLB comes with its own set of challenges, Sugano's robust experience within a highly competitive league suggests he has the acumen to adapt and excel. As the new MLB season approaches, the Orioles’ faithful will watch eagerly to see how this seasoned veteran will perform on baseball's biggest stage. Bringing Sugano into the fold is a strategic maneuver by the team’s management to navigate upcoming competitions with reinforced stability and prowess on the mound.