The next Japanese star to head stateside may be power hitting outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo.
With Yusei Kikuchi ready to be posted, it is time to look ahead to who the next Japanese star to come stateside will be. Although signing any player from overseas is a bit of a gamble, pitchers have tended to fare better in the majors, with the likes of Hideo Nomo, Masahiro Tanaka, and Yu Darvish, amongst others, thriving at the major league level.
That list of offensive players is not nearly as extensive. for every Ichiro Suzuki or Hideki Matsui, there are plenty of players like So Taguchi, Kosuke Fukudome, or Kazuo Fukumori. However, NPB slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is looking to change that narrative, as he is looking to pursue his dream of playing in the majors.
The 27 year old outfielder would certainly be an intriguing bat if he were to be posted. He broke into Nippon Professional Baseball at just 18 years old, and broke through as a star after a few years. Over the past three seasons, Tsutsugo has established himself as one of the top power hitters in NPB, belting a total of 110 homers and 92 doubles.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Last season was another banner year for the slugger. He produced a .295/.393/.596 batting line, hitting 38 homers and 33 doubles in his 580 plate appearances, while drawing 80 walks and striking out only 107 times.
Although that production would lead to a bevy of suitors, there are obstacles to Tsutsugo coming to the majors. He just renewed his contract with the Yokohama Bay Stars for 2019, and he is still three years away from being an international free agent. However, there is always the posting system, which would allow Yokohama to recoup something for their power hitting outfielder.
If the Bay Stars do indeed choose to post Tsutsugo, he would be the first player on the team to go through that system. It is something that team president Shingo Okamura would be willing to consider in this case however, as they may not stand in his way if Tsutsugo truly pushes for a chance to head to the majors.
Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is looking to pursue his dream of coming to the majors. He may well prove to be the next Nippon Professional Baseball star to come stateside.