Japanese shortstop Takashi Toritani has hired Scott Boras as his agent, and Boras will spend the next month or so gauging Major League interest in his new 33-year-old client, writes MLB.com’s Phil Rogers. Toritani is not yet committed to jumping from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported earlier this month that he was expected to make the move.
Toritani, who has spent his entire career with the Hanshin Tigers, is a lifetime .285/.372/.412 hitter that comes with a solid defensive reputation. He’s been incredibly durable, with Boras referring to his client as the “kind of the Cal Ripken of Japan.” While Toritani’s offense isn’t likely to be on par with that of the Baltimore iron man, Boras points out that Toritani has not missed a single game in the past 10 seasons — a highly impressive feat. Even more impressive, however, is that Toritani has not missed so much as an inning at shortstop in that stretch — an incredible span of 1,444 games. (Not surprisingly, Toritani is the NPB record holder for consecutive games played.)
According to Boras, Toritani would be eligible to sign with a Major League club after November 30, but he doesn’t have much interest in coming to the Majors as a part-time player. Toritani is looking for a chance to be a regular player. Given the thin market for middle infielders and the possibility that Toritani could likely slide over to second base if needed, it’s certainly possible that a big league team would look at him as a potential everyday option. Hanley Ramirez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie and Stephen Drew are the biggest names up the middle, though Ramirez may sign as a third baseman. On the international front, Cuban defectors Jose Fernandez and Hector Olivera may be able to step directly into a big league lineup at second base, but it’s not clear when either will be cleared for free agency by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control and MLB.
Those who watched the 2013 World Baseball Classic may recall Toritani, who played for Japan in that tournament, going 4-for-15 with a single, double, triple and a home run (video link).
The Padres could certainly look at him to replace the question mark that is Cabrera. He wouldn’t block Treat Turner either
Before the news of Boras representing him, I wanted the Braves to give him a look… I’m thinking now he’ll be priced out of their range and he wouldn’t want to play 2B or 3B. Ah, if only Chris Johnson wasn’t given that bogus extension….
“Not surprisingly, Toritani is the NPB record holder for consecutive games played.”
No he isn’t: link to baseball-reference.com
JP wiki mentions that some other gent other than Kinugasa is in front of Toritani too, since Toritani’s only third all time.
Tomoaki Kanemoto is 2nd. He also holds the “full innings” consecutive game streak.
Remember when Kanemoto broke Ripken’s consecutive inning streak. Also you think Boras do his homework regarding the consecutive streak.
I knew that had to be wrong. People were already talking about Sachio Kinugasa when Ripken was chasing Gehrig’s MLB record, and he passed Kinugasa the next season with the man actually attending the game.
Seems like a good fit for the Mets. Good defense and an ability to get on base.
Except the Mets and Boras dislike each other.
They seem to be doing just fine with handling Matt Harvey and his innings cap for 2015. I do not think they dislike each other despite all these weird space and supermarket analogies.
The Mets have Murphy, Flores, Herrera, and Reynolds at 2B and it’s unlikely this guy hits enough to start. I really don’t see him as much of an SS.
I’ve never had the good fortune to watch Mr. Toritani play. But having seen Mr. Boras American clients play over the years – all of whom he believed should have been headed into the Boras Wing in Cooperstown – I’m not putting Mr. Toritani on my early short list for Gold Glove SS candidates in 2015.
Make no mistake – I like Mr. Boras a lot. He truly is brilliant at what he does. Truly a living legend. I wish I could have hired him to represent me in my profession.
If it makes you feel any better, the stuff about his defensive reputation was more just from reports I’ve read on him online, before he even hired Boras. I think the perception is that he’s a better defender than hitter, though I admittedly don’t know a ton about the guy aside from the fact that he is apparently indestructible and heals at a Wolverine-like rate.
Off the Japanese wikipedia:
Style: 2013 lowest ball-strike rate
(no idea what that means). Selective eye, led in OBP in 2011, achieved a
team record of 104 BB during 2013.
Some opposite field for power.
2009’s 20 hrs included 3 to LF and 1 to CF. 2010, out of 19 hrs, 7 to
LF 3 to CF. Plays worse against lefties, have some kind of “drop ball”
trouble.
An average of 4.17s to 1B. Low steal success rate, but
something about somewhat aggressive stealer. Ran 100M in 12 s. Strong
armed enough to man 2nd and 3rd during WBC. Something about high “range
factor”. Some high UZR numbers.
Misc: Eldest of three brothers.
Pitched in HS at 143 KM/H. Something about about visiting children’s
ward at Osaka University hospital in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Seems like an interesting guy that most teams should take a look at.
I’m guessing Toritani actually went 4-for-5 at the ’13 WBC. :-D
Curious to see how he does in the MLB.