Japanese Pitching Maestro Tomoyuki Sugano Preps for MLB Debut

Tomoyuki Sugano, the most esteemed Japanese pitcher of his era who has spent his entire career in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), is all set to make a grand entrance into Major League Baseball (MLB) as an international free agent this winter. This comes as per highly reliable sources in the sports arena.

A Storied Career in Japan

Sugano, on the verge of celebrating his 35th birthday, is currently basking in the glory of a career resurgence. His phenomenal performance this season, including an impressive 1.67 ERA across 24 starts, has helped the Yomiuri Giants clinch the Central League championship.

A two-time recipient of the Sawamura Award (Japan’s equivalent to the Cy Young), twice Central League MVP, and a four-time ERA champion, Sugano’s stellar comeback has paved the path for his long-awaited MLB debut.

Previous MLB Bid and Return to Japan

In 2020, Sugano was posted by the Yomiuri Giants, sparking anticipation of his signing with an MLB team. However, negotiations failed to materialize before the posting deadline, compelling Sugano to return to Tokyo. Here, his uncle and Giants’ legendary manager, Tatsunori Hara, continued to helm the team.

Following Hara’s retirement before the current season, Sugano has demonstrated remarkable pitching under the guidance of Shinnosuke Abe, the Giants’ veteran catcher and a longtime collaborator.

Sugano’s Pitching Arsenal

This season, Sugano’s pitching repertoire has included a 92 mph four-seam fastball and a two-seamer. He also employs an 82 mph slider and an 87 mph cutter approximately 20% of the time. His pitch mix is rounded out with an 86 mph splitter and a 77 mph curveball. According to DeltaGraphs, Sugano’s six-pitch mix has yielded positive run values on all six pitches this season, leaving NPB batters at a loss.

Sugano’s Impressive Performance

Sugano’s command and pitchability have more than compensated for his lack of velocity. Over 156⅔ innings this season, Sugano has allowed only 16 walks and a mere six home runs. This is an impressive feat in a league where the home run rate is half that of the MLB. His strikeout count stands at an impressive 111.

Sugano’s Transition to MLB

Unlike players who are posted, international free agents are unrestricted in their signing. NPB players gain the privilege of international free agency after nine successful seasons. Sugano, after spending twelve remarkable years with the Giants, is poised to make his MLB debut.

Most of Sugano’s contemporaries, including Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Masahiro Tanaka, Kodai Senga, Kenta Maeda, Yusei Kikuchi, and Shota Imanaga, have already transitioned to the MLB. Sugano, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 210 pounds, has managed to stay fit this season and has more than doubled his innings pitched compared to last year.

The Upcoming MLB Market

The upcoming winter market for starting pitchers is shaping up to be competitive, with top performers such as Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, Max Fried, and Jack Flaherty. The prospective inclusion of Roki Sasaki, a 22-year-old fireballer, may spark interest from every MLB team. Other potential high-value free agents include Luis Severino, Nick Pivetta, Nathan Eovaldi, Sean Manaea, Nick Martinez, and Michael Wacha. Shane Bieber and Walker Buehler are also considered attractive options.