Former big leaguer Shintaro Fujinami has returned to Japan. He signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, the team announced. The hard-throwing righty was released from a minor league deal with the Mariners last month.
This probably marks the end of Fujinami’s two and a half seasons in affiliated ball. The 6’6″ righty has an upper-90s fastball but hasn’t been able to harness his stuff. The rebuilding A’s took a one-year, $3.25MM flier on Fujinami in advance of the 2023 season. They initially gave him a rotation opportunity, but he struggled mightily in seven starts and quickly moved to the bullpen.
While Fujinami had an 8.57 ERA in 34 appearances with the A’s, they managed to flip him to the Orioles at the trade deadline. He tallied 29 2/3 frames of 4.85 ERA ball for Baltimore. Fujinami secured a big league split deal from the Mets in his return to free agency. He never made an MLB appearance with New York, spending time on the injured list before being designated for assignment.
Fujinami pitched in Puerto Rico over the winter to land another affiliated opportunity. He secured a minor league contract with Seattle in January but struggled to a 5.79 ERA with 26 walks in 18 2/3 Triple-A innings. He’ll now head back to NPB, where he owns a 3.41 earned run average in parts of 10 seasons.
So what’s the general consensus these days, is NPB on par with AAA competition? Better? Worse?
Better than AAA for the most part. Many of the top players could probably compete in MLB but there’s a lot of roster filler beyond the top tier.
Given the game’s prospects now are generally in AA I would think japans league is better. It’s not as good as it was 10 years ago given how many Japanese guys seem to be leaving in the early 20s. Generally for mlb as a whole it would be best to limit the amount of players who can come over each year, you want that strong feeder league to keep supplying talent.
it’s generally considered 4a
Way better than AAA. Pitching is close to MLB level hitting way behind MLB
Look at this guy trying to steal the spotlight from the All-Star game
i remember someone saying this guy was a great reliever and couldnt even make it to a major league roster in the last year in a half even with all these injuries.
Definitely someone on here. The amount of mediocre players on here who get overhyped is hilarious.
People think a 40 year old pitcher with a .5.00 ERA is going to fetch top prospects at the deadline lol.
He hit 104 mph but his control is good awful. That why he couldn’t make it in MLB
Fujinami has been awful so this is noteworthy because Yokohama just released Trevor Bauer. Bauer was Yokohama’s worst starter this year (markedly worse than fringe MLBers like Anthony Kay and Andre Jackson) and they view Fujinami as more worthy of a roster spot. Hopefully this puts an end to all of the weirdos who constantly (still) suggest Bauer for MLB rotations. He’s cooked.
I sure hope that’s the case. But for some reason I feel like the Bauer support will never end
now that you mention that, does shintaro count against the mlb restriction?
Bauer got screwed over. I don’t think he has what it takes anymore. But he does deserve a chance.
Assuming the allegations were false I feel like he got blackballed because of his personality
But I absolutely don’t feel bad for him he should’ve not been such a horrible guy and cancer
“But he does deserve a chance.”
Baseball players who can’t even cut it in the NPB don’t just get gifted roster spots on MLB teams. He had his chance. He blew it by pitching poorly. He’s not entitled to anything else.
This is supposed to be MLB trade rumors. Not junk Japanese baseball rumors
If success or failure of a guy moving across the world because he can throw 100mph isn’t newsworthy or interesting to you, why watch baseball?
your right it is MLB rumors a former MLB pitcher that was released from a MLB system not that long ago is going to Japan.
Some of us actually follow NPB updates along with our MLB and team updates in the Trade Rumors app. There are also other sports trade rumors as well. Maybe you should respect the incredible amount of work that the Trade Rumors team does to bring us updates and content and if you don’t want to read it, then don’t click on it 🙂
Where’s the comment from LGFM (Mets in 7) who comstantly proposed that Fujinami be called up to the Mets last year?
Another year of more walks and HBPs than strikeouts for the flamethrower in AAA.
Another great scouting mistake by scouts who only use the radar gun.
Sayonara Shintaro!
@imissjoebuzas Fujinami is better then 90% of MLB relievers. He just never got a chance
LGFMets: You can never admit you are absolutely wrong, can you ?
You have to be his agent. But remember 10% commission on nothing is still nothing.
Grow up and take repsonsibility for your mistaken comments. I have backed down and admitted I was wrong
how is it that relievers recovering from TJ surgery that cant play this year got more money and a major league deal where Fujinami couldnt get even a split deal. Also guys like Zach Pop and Troy Taylor are in the major leagues over him. You sure you didnt mean to say 90%+ of relievers are better than (who you claimed at one time as lefty) Fujinami.
Saw him in KC a few seasons ago. He was really nice to my son. But my old scouts take was it seemed like he was struggling to adjust to American culture at that point. It didnt help that he was on that A’s team as the relocation was announced. He had flashes. But he was all over the place on the mound.