Pittsburgh Pirates taking calculated gamble with Yoshi Tsutsugo

The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly bringing back outfielder/first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo on a one-year deal for the 2022 campaign. It’s a chance for the Pirates to see if Tsutsugo can perform on a consistent basis in a Pittsburgh uniform and if he is a part of the franchise’s future plans.

Here’s where the Pittsburgh Pirates and Yoshi Tsutsugo can help each other in 2022

With Tsutsugo reportedly inking a one-year, $4 million deal, the Pittsburgh Pirates can see if the 30-year-old can replicate the success he found in Japan before coming to Major League Baseball in 2020. In 549 plate appearances covering 132 games with three MLB teams (Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Pittsburgh) since then, Tsutsugo has slashed .209/.309/.388 and smacked 16 home runs. Compare that to 205 home runs in 968 games during his time in Japan and you can see why the Pirates are hopeful he can bring plenty of power to their lineup in 2022.

Pittsburgh did get a glimpse of that power in 2021, with Tsutsugo posting an OPS of .883 and an OPS+ of 136 with 68 total bases in 43 games. Eight doubles and eight home runs were included in those numbers.

While there are questions about Tsutsugo and what he can do at the plate in 2022, there are also questions about where the Pirates will have him play in the field. Last season, he logged 20 games in right field, 15 games in first base, and two in left field. It’s been said that Pittsburgh general manager is hoping that Tsutsugo can take the reins at his natural position at first base.

If that’s the case, it will be interesting to see how the Pirates choose to use Colin Moran, who started 81 games at first base for Pittsburgh in 2021. However, the Pirates never found a complete answer at first last season, especially with Moran missing more than a month with a left wrist fracture. In all, five players started 10 or more games at first base for the Pirates last season.

Pittsburgh is banking on Tsutsugo flashing his power in 2022. If he can, it not only helps the Pirates, but also potentially carves a path for Tsutsugo past this one-year deal.