Yusei Kikuchi reportedly to be posted by Seibu Lions this winter

One of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball is likely to be coming to the majors, as the Seibu Lions will reportedly post Yusei Kikuchi.

Following the departure of Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Angels, Yusei Kikuchi had regained the mantle as the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He was coming off of a superlative 2017 campaign, posting a 16-6 record with a dominant 1.97 ERA and a 0.911 WHiP, striking out 217 batters against 49 walks in his 187.2 innings. That performance certainly opened a lot of eyes, and made him an intriguing candidate to eventually come to the major leagues.

Despite what was a step back in 2018, that time is now. According to reports, the Seibu Lions will place Kikuchi in the posting system, allowing him to potentially fulfill his dream of pitching in the majors.

Of course, what was considered a step back for Kikuchi was still a solid year. He posted a 14-4 record, along with a more than respectable 3.08 ERA and a 1.033 WHiP, striking out 153 batters against 45 walks in 163.2 innings. That is still the type of production that will make major league teams pay attention.

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They certainly were throughout the season. According to Jon Heyman of FanCred, the Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, and Royals were all mentioned specifically as potential suitors for Kikuchi. While other teams may be interested, especially as most major league teams sent scouts to watch his starts, those teams may have the most interest.

There are risks surrounding the lefty. Kikuchi has battled shoulder woes in the past, including during the 2018 campaign. He had not eclipsed the 150 inning mark until 2017, although he did manage to reach that threshold this past season despite his problematic shoulder.

Even with those injury concerns, he is still quite the intriguing target. Kikuchi possesses a mid 90s fastball, and holds the record for the hardest pitch by a lefty in NPB history. While he primarily uses his fastball and slider, Kikuchi also has a curve and change that he flashes occasionally to keep hitters off balance.

Naturally, he is not expected to be Ohtani. Not only does he not have that offensive profile, but he is not the type of pitcher that is expected to step in and be the ace of a staff. However, Kikuchi is regarded as a solid third starter, who has the potential to be a bit more. Former major leaguer Frank Herrmann compared him to Patrick Corbin, a solid pitcher in his own right.

According to reports, Yusei Kikuchi will be posted by the Seibu Lions this winter. While he will not be Shohei Ohtani, he will still become one of the more interesting pitchers on the market.