"For the Seibu Lions, Imai had a record of 10-5 this season with a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts compared to just 45 walks across 163.2 innings pitched. The right-hander has a few powerful weapons, including an above average fastball and slider that leaks down instead of right to left, similar to Trey Yesavage's slider which has been a nasty strikeout pitch for him. Imai's 27.8% strikeout rate led the NPB, paired with an elite 7.0% walk rate."
"Against right-handed hitters, Imai builds around a fastball-slider combo. The four-seamer comes in around 95-99 mph and is thrown 53.5% of the time, mostly functioning as a strike pitch with a nearly 70% strike rate. It doesn't miss too many bats (12.4% SwStr), which is why his devastating slider carries so much weight. Thrown almost 40% of the time, his north-to-south slider dominates with a 53% whiff rate, and strong zone presence (about 40%) to keep hitters honest."
"Imai will enter the posting process on November 19, agent Scott Boras said Wednesday. This will open the 45-day window for the 27-year-old to sign with a Major League Baseball team. According to Francys Romero, the New York Yankees are favourites to land the next Japanese star, which would make the AL East a whole lot scarier."
Tatsuya Imai will enter the NPB posting process on November 19, opening a 45-day window for all 30 MLB teams to negotiate. The 27-year-old right-hander posted a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA, 178 strikeouts and 45 walks across 163.2 innings for the Seibu Lions this season. Imai led the NPB with a 27.8% strikeout rate and paired that with an elite 7.0% walk rate. He relies on a 95-99 mph four-seam fastball and a north-to-south slider; the slider generates a 53% whiff rate and strong zone presence. The New York Yankees are viewed as favorites to pursue him, and Imai projects to command a significant contract comparable to recent high-profile Japanese pitchers.
Read at Jays Journal
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