The Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week their intention to allow second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi to pursue an opportunity in Major League Baseball via the posting system, the Japan Times reports.
The 29-year-old Kikuchi doesn’t carry eye-popping offensive totals throughout his career. He’s a lifetime .271/.315/.391 hitter, including .261/.313/.406 in 619 plate appearances in 2019. He walked at a 6.6 percent clip this past season and struck out in 16.4 percent of his plate appearances, which is roughly in line with the solid contact numbers he’s posted throughout his career.
Where Kikuchi shines, however, is with the glove. He’s regarded as one of Japan’s best defensive players and has won a Golden Glove honor in each of the past seven years. There’s no shortage of highlights available on YouTube, and fans of the World Baseball Classic may recall some standout plays from the 2017 tournament (as well as an opposite-field, game-tying home run against Team USA’s Nate Jones).
Late in September, Will Hoefer of Sports Info Solutions profiled Kikuchi while looking at some NPB players who might try to make the jump to MLB this winter, noting that Kikuchi led all NPB second baseman with 20 Defensive Runs Saved in 2018-19. Kikuchi is only listed at 5’7″ and 152 pounds, but Simon notes that he’s a plus runner, which helps him take advantage of the aforementioned contact skills.
Whether Kikuchi’s defensive prowess will garner the attention of big league teams remains largely an unknown at this point. The offseason market for second basemen already has plenty of serviceable options in free agency, as Howie Kendrick, Brian Dozier, Starlin Castro, Jonathan Schoop, Ben Zobrist, Jason Kipnis, Eric Sogard, Brock Holt and Wilmer Flores are among the many veterans available. The trade market, too, figures to have a few options, including Jonathan Villar.
Under the current iteration of the posting system, the Carp can post Kikuchi anytime between Nov. 1 and Dec. 5. The old blind bidding and set release fee systems are no longer in place, having given way to a new system that entitles a player’s former club to a release fee that is determined based on the size of the contract he signs in Major League Baseball. That posting fee is equal to 20 percent of a contract’s first $25MM, plus an additional 17.5 percent of any guaranteed money from $25-50MM and finally another 15 percent for any dollars over $50MM. With regard to minor league contracts, the posted player’s former club would receive a release fee equal to 25 percent of the signing bonus (plus a supplemental release fee if the player is added to the active roster and receives a Major League salary).
The Carp have yet to announce the specific date on which Kikuchi will be posted. He’s the second NPB player known to be up for posting this winter, joining Yokohama DeNa BayStars slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo. Seibu Lions center fielder Shogo Akiyama, meanwhile, is seeking a Major League opportunity as well but is not subject to the posting system, as he has more than nine years of service time in NPB. He’s a pure free agent who can sign with any team.
postfest!
Any baseball player listed at 5′ 7″” and 152 is ok with me. A bit heavier than I am….but go Kikuchi
Altuve,Haha
Maybe the Cleveland Indians.
There’s not going to be a rush to sign him.
Munenori Kawasaki comes to mind…
Doesn’t walk enough to lead off.
dont think a barely .270 AVG is getting it done either
.270 means nothing if they get on base at a constant rate
If he doesn’t walk enough and his average isn’t high enough, then how is he getting on base at a constant rate?
Either that or you are just looking for any mention of batting average just so you can put down people for using it.
I think I know which one it is.
I don’t think his career .315 OBP would be considered getting on base at a constant rate.
Doubt any team that signs him is expecting him to be a full time 2B lead off guy. More realistic expectation is he profiles as a super utility guy whos bat is ok but can give you solid defense at 2B maybe ss or 3B and corners or cf maybe
Mariners all over it
Watching the Premier 12, this dude is an absolute stud. Every time he came up with RISP, he delivered.
Has baseball in Japan severely changed with analytics as well? Just a random, curious thought.
Interesting question! I hope somebody with some insight can answer.
It has, https://1point02.jp/op/gnav/leaders/pl/pbs_dashboard.aspx?sn=2014&lg=0&tm=0&ps=0&sl=1&sr=0&pn=-1 has been very helpful in explaining why Matt Murton was let go by the Hanshin Tigers after 2015.
Thank you, andrew! Really interesting.
Not really. Teams use it to a degree but players are also not extreme pull hitters so there are no drastic shifts. Also, launch angle and swinging for the fences in all situations is definitely not a thing.
Shame he doesn’t hit left handed. He would become a little more valuable
I could see the A’s taking a flier on him. The A’s have an opening at 2nd Base, with realistically the spot going to Sheldon Neuse as their other options are kind of meh; Barreto (who hasn’t been able to take the job that’s been practically his for the taking for 2 years) or Profar, who is probably going to be DF’d.
With the A’s infield defense, plugging in another GG caliber infielder would make the A’s infield insane. Load up on ground ball relievers and you’re set. Anyone seen Chad Bradford 2.0?
Do they have the money? Idk about that
Do they need money? We’re talking about a lifetime .271/.315/.391 hitter in Japan…
Then why do we even want him? Being good on defense is one thing, but he doesn’t even get on base. That’s not worth it for a contender.
If he hit left handed, maybe. HARD maybe. But he doesn’t, and we’re loaded with young middle infielders that deserve the opportunity more than he does.
Actually, with rosters expanding to 26 in 2020, one-dimensional type players such as Kikuchi will be easier to justify having.
He’s a guy worth taking a flier on–won’t cost a lot of money.
Not to say the A’s need or don’t need him….
That 26th spot will go to Mateo or Barreto. Both out of options, both right handed, both 24, both with similar question marks offensively and defensively as this guy.
Beane is gun shy after the disaster that was hiro nakajima
I’m thinking Rays, Giants, or Mariners.
Giants already have a completely useless infield from an offensive standpoint.
Cubs, if he’s cheap. Plan B if Hoerner isn’t ready.
No
So he’s Yolmer Sanchez, but he can only hit right-handed.
Not even that. Yolmer is solid at 3b defensively and passable at SS.
This guy is Nick Madrigal without a hit tool.
Maybe a Double A team is interested.
.271 career hitter in Japan. What would
Any team expect from him?
No marbles
Hay trade rumors, have not heard anything about Shogo lately. Any chance we might see a post in the upcoming days? Maybe an idea of what he would be looking for contract wise?
judging on what contract they expect he will get, id assume he’s probably not even interested in playing in the MLB at all.
Pure glove guy who doesn’t get on base enough either.
Maybe a depth option for a fringe contender.
Red Sox need a second basemen
CHAVIS is good for .225, 80 homers and 90 rbi
Chavis is not much of a second basemen
What kind of contract is this guy ganna be looking for? 3/$21 I would think a lot of teams might be interested. I am curious how he hits left handers. That will also make a difference to a few teams.
That seems like a lot of money…..
Hes not getting 3/$21 lmaooooo
This last year, just .214 vs. LHP.
He’ll go to Seattle like every other player that gets posted and be an after thought. His numbers really dont pop-hell be okay nothing great
I could see the orioles going for him. He won’t cost a lot to sign, they have no real middle infielder options in the minors, and it would allow Villar to be traded or moved to SS.
I doubt he’ll get more than $1 million as he looks like a very good utility player here. 3.8 WAR last year in Japan. Averaged 4.3 WAR per year since 2014 though, so he should be able to hit enough to be worth the investment considering his top tier defense. https://1point02.jp/op/gnav/leaders/pl/pbs_dashboard.aspx?sn=2014&lg=0&tm=0&ps=0&sl=1&sr=0&pn=-1 for his advanced stats in Japan. Click the box for English by the way.
With the juiced ball he will be an MVP candidate if his defense is as solid as they say.