This is an unexpected result when I signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in the winter of 2019. Tsutsugo Yoshimoto (32) is unable to find a team in the major leagues. There is no team to look for due to repeated sluggishness. Even if you stay in the United States, it is virtually impossible to sign a major league contract. A former Japanese pro baseball ‘home run king’ is in a position where he has to pack his things shabbyly and go home.

In 2009, he joined the Yokohama Baystars as the first rookie. He grew up as expected and stood tall as the number 4 hitter. In 2016, his 7th year as a pro, Tsutsugo raised his batting average to 3.2 2 Lee -44 home runs -110 RBI and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.110. He was the Central League home run-RBI leader, and led the OPS.

Baseball officials who watched him at the beginning of his joining said that he would grow like Hideki Matsui. Tsutsugo hit more than 20 home runs in six consecutive years from 2014 to 2019 and sought a bigger stage.

After the 2019 season, he succeeded in advancing to the major leagues through the posting system. He signed a two-year, $12 million contract with Tampa Bay. He became a teammate with Choi Ji-man. Posting fee of 2.4 million dollars was given to the Yokohama club.

The first year, the season started in July due to COVID-19. In the opening game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he played third-third base and hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning. He reported his first major league hit as a home run against his opponent, ace Ryu Hyun-jin.

In 2020, which was shortened to 60 games per team, he played 51 games, batting 1.9 with 7 runs, 8 home runs and 24 RBI. It’s just a demonstration of power.

But it didn’t go smoothly. From the beginning of the 2021 season, he fell into a slump. He was removed from the 40-man roster in May and traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He failed to take advantage of the initial opportunity for transfer and was released after two months. He moved to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went 2.6 with 8 runs, 8 home runs, 25 runs batted in and earned 4 million for the year.

re-signed in dollars. He wore three team jerseys in the year.

Tsutsugo, who fell into another slump in 2022, was released as a free agent. In August of last year, he moved to Toronto and looked for opportunities, but he could not get out of the minor leagues.

He played in 182 games, batting 1.97 (110 hits in 557 at-bats), with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in. OPS 0.630. These are the results Tsutsugo has achieved with 4 teams over the past 3 years.

Even though he was the home run king of Japanese professional baseball, his major league wall was high. An American sports internet media outlet named Tsutsugo as the “worst beast” in the major leagues in 2022.

With his performance last year, his major league contract is difficult. He’s in his 30s, struggling to even play in the minor leagues as he waits for a call-up to the majors 메이저사이트. His options narrowed. He is in a situation where he has no choice but to consider returning to Japanese professional baseball.

Although he was blocked in the major leagues, he is still an attractive hitter in Japanese professional baseball. He can be expected to play an active role as a central hitter. It is evaluated that he can hit up to 30 home runs in one season. A Pacific League team that can play as a designated hitter without any burden of defense is advantageous.

There is not much time. The time for Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball teams to start spring training is approaching after players have been formed.