Headlines

  • Cardinals To Promote Jimmy Crooks
  • Pirates Place Isiah Kiner-Falefa On Outright Waivers
  • Red Sox To Promote Payton Tolle
  • Corey Seager To Undergo Appendectomy, Not Ruled Out For Season
  • Frankie Montas To Undergo UCL Surgery
  • Guardians Release Carlos Santana
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2026-27 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Shintaro Fujinami To Play Winter Ball, Plans To Pursue MLB Opportunity

By Steve Adams | October 16, 2024 at 10:47am CDT

Right-hander Shintaro Fujinami is planning to play in the Puerto Rican Winter League this offseason as he looks to demonstrate his health for interested clubs, he revealed in an interview with Japanese news outlet Sponichi. He hopes to continue playing in the United States for the 2025 season.

Fujinami’s one-year, $3.35MM deal with the Mets for the 2024 season was derailed by injuries. The hard-throwing 30-year-old (31 in April) was expected to have a place in New York’s bullpen but landed on the injured list in spring training due to shoulder troubles and never wound up pitching in the majors. He pitched four scoreless rehab innings between Rookie ball, Class-A and Double-A but was hit hard in 32 frames with the Mets’ Triple-A club. In those 32 frames, he yielded a 6.68 ERA and walked just over 22% of his opponents. Fujinami still sat at a hearty 97.3 mph with his heater and fanned 25.7% of his opponents, but that velocity was down from the prior season and his command was a disaster even relative to his own shaky standards.

Many Mets fans raised an eyebrow at the time of the Fujinami signing. A big league deal for a reliever coming off a combined 7.18 ERA in 79 innings between the A’s and Orioles in 2023 indeed looked curious absent more context. But that ghastly earned run average was skewed by a woeful run of four starts with the A’s to begin his big league career. Fujinami pitched just 15 innings in Oakland’s rotation but yielded 24 runs on 19 hits and 12 walks. He was dropped to the bullpen and, after a rough start in that role as well, found his groove.

Over his final 51 1/3 innings of the 2023 campaign, Fujinami posted a far more palatable 4.21 ERA. That’s still hardly an eye-catching mark, but that earned run average was accompanied by a 25.5% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate — vast improvements from his earlier work. He also averaged a blazing 99.2 mph on his heater during that stretch and coupled that with a sharp 12.7% swinging-strike rate. Fujinami was showing an ability to miss bats both off the plate and in the zone and, at times, looking flat-out dominant (as can be seen in GIF form, courtesy of the indispensable Rob Friedman). A modest one-year deal for a then 29-year-old righty who was once a top pick and prospect alongside Shohei Ohtani in NPB seemed perfectly sensible, particularly for a deep-pocketed club like the Mets.

This time around, a big league deal seems less likely (though not impossible, depending how he looks in Puerto Rico). He’ll be showcasing his health in hopes of generating interest among big league clubs. If he looks healthy and regains some the roughly two miles per hour he lost off his heater in the wake of that shoulder injury with the Mets, he could land an invite to spring training next year and compete for a job in a big league bullpen. MLB clubs are constantly drawn to power arms of this nature, so a non-guaranteed deal should be there if Fujinami is healthy and shows some semblance of improved command.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

New York Mets Shintaro Fujinami

MLBTR Podcast: Changes In Minnesota, Cubs’ Prospect Depth, And Possibilities For The O’s
Main
Masataka Yoshida Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
View Comments (30)
Post a Comment

30 Comments

  1. LFGMets (Metsin7) #BannedForBeingABaseballExpert

    11 months ago

    Mets never gave him a chance. He would have easily been our best reliever

    1
    Reply
    • please disperse

      11 months ago

      I get you’re joking but the bullpen saved the team early in the year when the starters didn’t go more than 5 innings. Also funny thing to say about a team a few games from the World Series lol

      3
      Reply
      • Mets Era Thumping Soto

        11 months ago

        He wasn’t joking. He literally believes that.

        2
        Reply
      • LFGMets (Metsin7) #BannedForBeingABaseballExpert

        11 months ago

        @please disperse I am not joking. I’ve been saying this the whole year. Lefties who throw 100 mph don’t just grow on trees. There is no world where a guy like Huascar Brazoban or even earlier in the year relievers like Houser are better than Fujinami. One of the most underated players in the game

        Reply
        • DanzigInTheDark

          11 months ago

          Fuji is a righty, not a lefty.

          I don’t think he would’ve been a savior but I do think it would be worth bringing him back to the Mets org to see if he’s better when healthy.

          2
          Reply
        • Roll

          11 months ago

          Imagine someone who is never wrong and has done extensive research and never misses a game doesnt know right from left.

          Also remember hearing Lindor was horrible and not even a top shortstop in the NL east let alone major league and absolutely horrible in the clutch.

          The only way Fuji would have gotten into majors is if he bought a ticket and sat in the stands or i guess they could have made him one of the concession guy and tried throwing packs of cracker jacks to people. Probably would still miss him with his aim.

          Reply
        • imissjoebuzas

          11 months ago

          Let’s starts a Go Fund Me for LFGMets so he can get a pair of eye glasses. Forget about knowing baseball ( which he does not, but don’t try to argue with him about it) but he can’t even see the Picture that goes with the story which shows Fuji-no-idea throwing righthanded.
          LFGM, you try to stir things up but you are an embarrassment to yourself. And this time you have outdone yourself.

          Reply
    • RussianFemboy

      11 months ago

      That’s just completely not true, and you know that.

      Reply
    • jwt421

      11 months ago

      You know, the Mets could win the WS and you’d comment on here how they’re doing everything incorrectly and would do better if they just took your advice..

      You’re clearly a passionate Mets fan, but considering where they are right now, I’m guessing that Stearns and Co. know more than you about talent evaluation. Looking at his AAA stats suggests why he was never given a chance on a big league roster this year.

      1
      Reply
      • Flanster

        11 months ago

        He most certainly is not a Mets fan. Almost every single comment that he makes disparages whatever the Mets have done. He is nothing but a shi!stirrer

        3
        Reply
      • BannedMarlinsFanBase

        11 months ago

        Hey, where are all those guys that were bashing Stearns and calling for his firing during the offseason?

        I imagine a lot of them will get selective amnesia about their posts.

        Reply
  2. User 2770661946

    11 months ago

    He’ll get a sympathy invite to someone’s Spring Training to improve that team’s relations with Japan. Such a common and transparent practice that should be taken up when the CBA expires.

    Reply
    • kje76

      11 months ago

      Why would that be something that needs to come up in union negotiations? It’s as common as the college basketball team that hires a relative right before a major recruit is eligible for college in basketball or football. As long as there’s no victim, there’s nothing really actionable.

      Honestly, every team in every season signs a handful of guys as AAA filler/lottery ticket types. How do you differentiate between a lottery ticket guy and a signing to help convince an FA to pick your team? No Japanese free agents allowed to be signed when someone has been posted?

      3
      Reply
  3. Jbigz12

    11 months ago

    His arm will draw interest but I doubt anyone reigns in the command to make him worthwhile. Tampa Bay would be the most interesting landing spot.

    2
    Reply
    • Acoss1331

      11 months ago

      Cleveland and Seattle are also pitching clinics, those are other good spots for him.

      1
      Reply
      • Jbigz12

        11 months ago

        Seattle, yes. He wouldn’t have a chance to crack CLE’s pen & they develop their own guys through their system for the most part. Definitely top tier at what they do though.

        1
        Reply
    • Tom the ray fan

      11 months ago

      Rays should pick him up

      1
      Reply
      • BannedMarlinsFanBase

        11 months ago

        If the Rays pick him up before Peter Bendix, we know the story already…50 Saves next year.

        Reply
  4. King Floch

    11 months ago

    Ganbatte, Fuji-san!

    1
    Reply
  5. 10centBeerNight

    11 months ago

    Real life Nuke LaLoosh

    Reply
  6. stymeedone

    11 months ago

    Nuke LaLoosh, with subtitle.

    1
    Reply
  7. Yutaka

    11 months ago

    This article is slightly wrong. He signed with Gigantes as a starting pitcher, which means that he is trying to showcase to MLB teams that he is a starter. He is not aiming for the bullpen in MLB anymore.

    He has the stuff to be a closer, but he simply does not have the attitude to succeed as a bullpen arm. He needs to throw a lot of pitches in order to find his control and that is simply not possible when it is expected that you get three easy outs without much fanfare. As a starter, you get much more time to pitch yourself out of a situation. As a reliever, you will get pulled if you walk the first few batters.

    His control issues might look severe, but I wonder whether it is really that bad (anymore). I saw him throw quite a few good multi-innings in August with Syracuse. Yes, he still throws balls against the backboard, but I remember Ohtani at the WBC as a closer doing the same against Trout. It happens, starting pitchers need time to find their feel for the strikezone. So throwing a few wild pitches is not always an indication of unrepairable bad control/command – it could also mean that you are not warmed up enough.

    Reply
  8. Pads Fans

    11 months ago

    Can Niebla and Padres biomechanics lab fix him? At least to the point where its 25.4% SO he had with Baltimore and just the 12.2% BB like Scott put up? not many LHP that throw triple digits.

    He would be VERY cheap if they can. Like Estrada was.

    Reply
    • Jbigz12

      11 months ago

      And fujinami is not left handed!

      Reply
    • DanzigInTheDark

      11 months ago

      He’s a righty.

      1
      Reply
      • Pads Fans

        11 months ago

        Thanks. I read a comment above that he was a lefty and ran with that instead of looking it up.

        1
        Reply
  9. Dumpster Divin Theo

    11 months ago

    Fujinami. Can’t spell fun without him.

    Reply
    • BannedMarlinsFanBase

      11 months ago

      A lot of things you can spell with that name.

      Come to think of it, what ever happened to Fukudome?

      Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        11 months ago

        Fukudome and Fukuduke is what most of America says when 2 of the most despised teams take the field or court, unless like Phil Donahue, you went to one of those schools and remind people of that every waking moment

        Reply
        • BannedMarlinsFanBase

          10 months ago

          huh?

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Cardinals To Promote Jimmy Crooks

    Pirates Place Isiah Kiner-Falefa On Outright Waivers

    Red Sox To Promote Payton Tolle

    Corey Seager To Undergo Appendectomy, Not Ruled Out For Season

    Frankie Montas To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Guardians Release Carlos Santana

    Brewers Place Trevor Megill On IL Due To Flexor Strain, Sign Erick Fedde

    Guardians Place Carlos Santana On Outright Waivers

    Pirates Designate Andrew Heaney For Assignment

    Astros Reinstate Yordan Alvarez From Injured List

    Nathan Eovaldi Likely Out For Season Due To Rotator Cuff Strain

    Mets To Promote Jonah Tong

    BBWAA To Institute Relief Pitcher Of The Year Award In 2026

    Zack Wheeler Recommended For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Surgery

    Frankie Montas Done For 2025 Due To “Pretty Significant” UCL Injury

    Orioles Extend Samuel Basallo

    Astros Sign Craig Kimbrel

    Pirates Promote Bubba Chandler

    Evan Carter Diagnosed With Fractured Wrist

    Blue Jays Activate Shane Bieber

    Recent

    Cardinals To Promote Jimmy Crooks

    Víctor Robles Suspension Reduced To Seven Games

    Pirates Place Isiah Kiner-Falefa On Outright Waivers

    Diamondbacks Release Rene Pinto

    Front Office Subscriber Chat With Anthony Franco: TODAY At 2:00pm Central

    Braves Select John Brebbia

    Blue Jays, Eloy Jimenez Agree To Minor League Deal

    The Opener: Sale, Tolle, Tong

    Red Sox To Promote Payton Tolle

    Spencer Turnbull Opts Out Of Cubs Deal

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Every MLB Trade In July
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2026-27 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version