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Oakland Athletics and their International Man of Mystery

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 22: General view of the Oakland Athletics logos in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JULY 22: General view of the Oakland Athletics logos in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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Leave it to the Oakland Athletics to find a player that virtually no one has heard of. Here’s what we know about their new International Man of Mystery, Shohei Tomioka.

These days, there are few mysteries when it comes to players plying their trade overseas. With an influx of talent from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, it is rare indeed to find a player that has virtually no information available regarding their abilities. Nonetheless, the Oakland Athletics managed to find such a player when they signed Japanese pitcher Shohei Tomioka to a minor league deal.

Tomioka was not exactly a highly regarded prospect in his home country. He had been bypassed in the Nippon Professional Baseball Draft twice, failing to make much of an impression in his career at Toyo University. However, he continued to pitch, playing for an industrial league team last season.

Even with that modest pedigree, Tomioka found himself at a tryout that the A’s had held in Tokyo. In that showcase, his stuff had reportedly improved, impressing the Oakland front office and leading to his signing at the end of January.

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According to reports, the 23 year old righty has a four pitch arsenal, with a fastball, cutter, changeup, and a curve. Tomioka impressed with his velocity at the tryout, with his fastball being clocked at 95 MPH. Based on the one video available of his pitching, Tomioka seems to be a fast worker with a higher 3/4 arm slot, which could result in solid movement.

For now, it appears as though Tomioka has been assigned to the Stockton Ports, the A’s high-A affiliate. He also has an invitation to the major league portion of spring training, presumably to give him more advanced training and instruction. Considering how little is known of their latest international signing, the A’s seem to be confident that he will acquit himself well stateside.

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The Oakland Athletics have signed a real International Man of Mystery. Come spring training, the fanbase may get to see a secret weapon in action.

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