Superstar Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai has been posted this offseason for Major League Baseball, with all 30 major league teams being informed about his status on Tuesday. The 27-year-old has a negotiating window that begins on Wednesday and ends at the start of 2026. Imai comes from the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball.
“Every season, I have played with the goal of winning the league championship and the Japan Series and that ambition will not change with a new team,” the Japanese pitcher said during an interview.
What Imai Offers
The right-hander recorded a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings this season for the Lions. He had 178 strikeouts, 45 walks and allowed six home runs. One of his best starts of the year came when he tossed eight innings of a combined no-hitter. In another outing, Imai had a two-hit complete-game shutout, striking out 17 batters.
He has pitched in eight seasons for the Lions, accumulating a 2.18 ERA over the past three years. He generally relies on his fastball and slider to record outs. Imai can also throw a changeup, splitter and he started utilizing a sinker towards the end of this season.
According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network, he has a good chance at landing with the New York Mets or Boston Red Sox, considering both bullpens need depth. He has a similar style to All-Star right-hander Kodai Senga, a fellow Japanese talent.
“I will continue to compete with a strong desire to win and do my best to contribute to my team’s success,” Imai added.
Since Imai is at least 25 and has played a minimum of six seasons in a professional forging league, he will not be subjected to international bonus pool restrictions. He will likely be one of the premier names on the open market this offseason.
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