The Baltimore Orioles have signed veteran pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano out of Japan, the group introduced Monday. Based on ESPN, it is a one-year, $13 million contract for the 35-year-old right-hander.
Sugano, 35, is making the leap to the U.S. main leagues after 12 seasons in NPB, Japan’s prime skilled circuit. Over these 12 seasons, he is pitched to a 2.45 ERA with a Okay/BB ratio of 4.53. He is coming off a standout 2024 season for the Yomiuri Giants during which he pitched to a 1.67 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 16 unintentional walks in 156 2/3 innings.
Earlier within the offseason, CBS Sports activities highlighted Sugano as probably the most notable non-Roki Sasaki worldwide gamers who may come to MLB in time for the 2025 season. Here is a part of R.J. Anderson’s write-up:
It’s possible you’ll recall Sugano’s title from just a few years in the past, when he tried to return to MLB solely to return to NPB after failing to achieve an settlement earlier than the 2021 season. He is set to once more try the leap — this time as a 35-year-old with practically 300 skilled appearances to his title.
Sugano had a extremely completed profession in Japan, making eight All-Star Video games and successful a pair of MVP and Eiji Sawamura Awards. (The Sawamura is basically NPB’s model of the Cy Younger Award.) He has a broad arsenal, together with a low-90s fastball and a splitter, that performs up because of his above-average command. Sugano struck out solely 6.4 batters per 9 this previous season, nevertheless, limiting his ceiling.
The Orioles, who’ve made the postseason in every of the final two years however have didn’t advance previous the opening spherical, nonetheless profile as contenders. Nonetheless, they face the doubtless lack of ace Corbin Burnes, who’s on the free-agent market and could also be priced past what the Orioles are prepared to spend.
Whereas Sugano does not profile as a stateside ace because of his lack of swing and miss, he does give the Orioles further depth and potential worth by the requirements of mid-rotation to back-end starters.
