Japanese Star Tatsuya Imai Goals To ‘Chase a World Championship’ With Astros

[ad_1] Tatsuya Imai made his intentions clear along with his first few phrases throughout an introductory information convention with the Houston Astros on Monday.

The Japanese right-hander smiled and earlier than studying a ready message in English from his cellphone.

"What’s up H-town?" he stated. "I'm Tatsuya Imai and I’m able to chase a world championship. Let’s go, Houston."

The Astros and Imai agreed to a $54 million, three-year contract final week, bolstering a rotation trying to find reinforcements after ace Framber Valdez grew to become a free agent and seems unlikely to return.

"We would have liked to beef up our rotation," common supervisor Dana Brown stated. "And so, we felt like he was a match. He’s acquired the good things, actually good supply and we thought his stuff would play right here on the main league stage."

The 27-year-old Imai joins the Astros after going 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA final season for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions, putting out 178 in 163 2/3 innings. The three-time All-Star in Japan was 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu. He has 907 profession strikeouts in 963 2/3 innings.

Supervisor Joe Espada raved in regards to the signing and stated his temporary chats with Imai to date had centered on one topic.

"You guys effectively know the significance of beginning pitching," Espada stated. "You may by no means have sufficient pitching. One factor about my conversations with Imai has been … how a lot he says the phrase champion. And I like that about him as a result of he’s a competitor. You could possibly hear the grit and the toughness, and I’m simply excited to have him on board and provides him the ball and see him compete for us right here."

Astros proprietor Jim Crane hopes the addition of Imai would be the first of many signings from Asia because the workforce makes a concerted effort to usher in extra gamers from continent. He stated the Astros lately added folks to in Tokyo, Taiwan and Seoul to facilitate that plan.

"We’ve acquired scouts over there and folks aiding to determine expertise over there now," he stated. "We simply made that adjustment in the summertime. In all probability didn’t have a lot to do with this one, however it’ll have quite a bit to do shifting ahead as we work on these markets and attempt to carry the good gamers right here to Houston."

The signing of Imai is a lift to a workforce that missed the playoffs for the primary time since 2016 in a season decimated by accidents.

Imai stated he first thought of a transfer to the U.S. after assembly agent Scott Boras about 5 years in the past.

"That’s once I actually started to noticeably contemplate making my approach over to the MLB," he stated in Japanese by means of a translator. "It was positively a second the place I instructed myself: ‘hey, if I put within the work and if I belief myself, I actually do have an opportunity at this.’"

Referred to as a fierce competitor, Imai was requested the place he developed that mindset. He stated that so long as he can keep in mind, he’s at all times hated to lose.

"So ever since I began enjoying baseball again in elementary faculty, I at all times felt like I used to be a competitor and needed to at all times come out on prime, throw the ball the furthest, the quickest," he stated. "That mentality caught with me by means of all through my profession with the Seibu Lions, that mentality of should win and compete and do my greatest."

However that doesn’t imply he doesn’t have a lighter aspect.

"I wish to have enjoyable whether or not it’s baseball or non-baseball," he stated. "That features interacting with followers and simply having an excellent time with them as effectively and I've that feeling of wanting to offer again to all those that have supported me. I’m right here as we speak due to all of the assist that I’ve obtained."

He confirmed off his playful aspect when requested if he’d linked with any of his new teammates but. He stated he obtained a direct message on Instagram on Monday morning from Josh Hader, Houston’s nearer,identified for his 100 mph-plus fastball.

"Simply mainly welcoming me to the Houston Astros, and he additionally despatched me his cellphone quantity saying: ‘Hey, let me know should you ever want something,’" Imai stated. "And his messaging was very quick — 100 miles per hour it felt like — and I positively needed to answer again with a 100 mile per hour reply."

Reporting by The Related Press.

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