Call to the pen
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Fantasy Baseball: Five rookie pitchers to target in 2019

By Jason Evans

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: Justus Sheffield #61 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday September 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: Justus Sheffield #61 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday September 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty images) /
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Yusei Kikuchi pitcher for the Aces in action during the Australian Baseball League match between the Melbourne Aces and the Brisbane Bandits at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 17, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) /

Yusei Kikuchi

The Seattle Mariners are undergoing a bit of a transformation this off-season. Out the door is Robinson Cano, James Paxton, Edwin Diaz and Mike Zunino. In their place has come a bunch of prospects and young players as they go through their process.

They did spend some money, however, adding Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to anchor their rotation with one of the more creative contracts you’ll see a free agent sign.

Whether you consider him a rookie or not because he played professionally overseas or not, for all intents and purposes he’s a rookie in the MLB and he’s a rookie you should consider for your fantasy baseball squad.

Back in 2017, Kikuchi went 16-6 with a 1.97 ERA, striking out 217 in 187.2 innings. No matter what level of ball you play at, those numbers pop out at you. Last season wasn’t as good, as he went 14-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 163.2 innings, striking out 153.

He’s going to be starting from day one. You don’t even have to stash him on your fantasy baseball roster and wait for him to get called up. Even though the Mariners are a team in transition, this is an arm to take a chance on.

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