As it stands, Masahiro Tanaka has had a strong run with the New York Yankees.
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While he may not have the resume of Yu Darvish and Hideo Nomo, he still has put together a solid career. A two time All Star, Tanaka has won double digit games every season he has been in the majors, serving as a key piece atop the Yankees rotation. Although he has had his own injury concerns, he has made at least 20 appearances every year.
That success has manifested itself in his career numbers. Thus far, Tanaka has posted a 75-43 record, along with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.128 WHiP. Over his 1006.1 innings, he has 947 strikeouts and 200 walks. In fact, his 1.8 BB/9 rate is the best amongst all active pitchers with at least 1000 innings pitched.
While Darvish has had his struggles over the past two seasons, Tanaka has continued to pitch well. With a potent Yankees lineup behind him, he is likely to continue to accumulate those counting numbers, pushing his value even higher. The biggest obstacle at this point may be Tanaka’s health, as his elbow has to be a concern moving forward.
Masahiro Tanaka is not the greatest Japanese pitcher to come to the majors just yet. However, in a couple of years, the New York Yankees starter may be able to make a claim to that crown.