The relief pitching market has been buzzing with activity since Josh Hader signed with the Houston Astros on January 22. Since then, several bullpen pieces have found new homes. Hector Neris joined the Chicago Cubs, Wandy Peralta signed with the San Diego Padres, Keynan Middleton inked a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, and now the New York Mets are adding a flamethrower to their relief corps. They have officially signed Japanese pitcher Shintaro Fujinami.
Fujinami, who started last season with the Oakland Athletics and was later traded to the Baltimore Orioles, had a challenging MLB debut. He struggled, posting a 7.18 ERA in 79 innings between the two teams. However, his performance was a tale of two seasons. With the A’s, a team known for its dysfunction, he had a disastrous 8.57 ERA in 49.1 innings. But once he joined the Orioles, a more competitive team, he showed improvement with a 4.85 ERA in 29.2 innings and 32 strikeouts.
Although a 4.85 ERA is not impressive, Fujinami’s potential and his ability to throw a 100-mph fastball caught the attention of the league. Now, he is set to join the Mets, a team that is experiencing a new sense of leadership under David Stearns. During his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers, Stearns built a team known for developing top-notch pitching talent. With Stearns at the helm, the Mets have the resources to help Fujinami tap into his full potential. In the Nippon Professional Baseball league, Fujinami showcased his skills with a solid 3.41 ERA in 994.1 innings.
The Mets’ decision to sign Fujinami is a calculated gamble. He brings a combination of low risk and high reward to the team, which is quietly assembling a competitive roster for the 2024 season.
