Tomoyuki Sugano is headed to the major leagues at last, after the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night agreed to a US$13 million, one-year contract with the star Japanese right-hander.
Sugano is coming off a Most Valuable Player (MVP) season — his third — in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.
The 35-year-old spent 12 years with the Yomiuri Giants. He was posted by the Giants following the 2020 season and was available for major league teams to bid on, but he did not agree to a deal.
Photo: AP
After an injury-disrupted campaign last year, Sugano bounced back this season, going Sugano went 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA and 11 strikeouts, walking only 16 batters in 156-2/3 innings.
He added another MVP award after winning in 2014 and 2020. He is also a two-time Sawamura Award winner as Japan’s top pitcher.
Sugano boasts a formidable fastball, but almost two-thirds of his pitches this season were off-speed pitches from his varied arsenal that includes a slider, cutter and curveball.
Sugano pitched for Japan at the 2017 World Baseball Classic and allowed three hits in six innings in the semi-final against the US. He and current New York Mets starter Kodai Senga tied for the tournament lead in strikeouts.
In addition to his salary of US$13 million, Sugano can earn several award bonuses: US$50,000 for All-Star selection or election; US$100,000 for a Cy Young Award, US$75,000 for second place and US$50,000 for third; US$50,000 for a Gold Glove; US$100,000 for World Series MVP and US$50,000 for League Championship Series MVP.
He would become a free agent when the contract expires.
The Orioles have some pitching questions after making the post-season each of the past two seasons. Baltimore ace Corbin Burnes is a free agent, and starters Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells were both sidelined last year following Tommy John surgery. Grayson Rodriguez missed time down the stretch because of a lat injury.
Sugano represents another option with some potential upside on a low-risk deal — although he cannot be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent.
Additional reporting by AFP
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