As many as six ML teams, including the LA Dodgers, are aiming for the reversal of pitchers' lives in "once-eat and run" and "WS winner."

As many as six ML teams, including the LA Dodgers, are aiming for the reversal of pitchers' lives in "once-eat and run" and "WS winner."

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The stock price of Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (33), who recently became an FA, is soaring day by day.

Japanese media Full Count reported on the 16th that "Kikuchi is gaining huge popularity in the FA market. Six teams, including the LA Dodgers, are competing as evaluations soar."카지노사이트

This year, Kikuchi became a free agent by maximizing his value. This year, Kikuchi was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros during the season, and recorded five wins and one loss with an ERA of 2.70 in 10 games. In addition to his performance at the Toronto Blue Jays, Kikuchi finished this year with nine wins and 10 losses with an ERA of 4.05 and 206 strikeouts in 175 ⅔ innings.

Compared to last year when he recorded 11 wins, 6 losses and an earned run average of 3.86, his number of wins is smaller, and his earned run average is higher. However, he recorded 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings (last year's 10.6) and 3.5 contributions to his win in terms of his performance in the fan graph, showing better performance in detailed indicators.

Alex Avila of the Major League Tonight said that Kikuchi reduced the curveball ratio and focused on fastballs and sliders after being traded to the Houston Astros. "Instead of trying to throw the ball accurately, he improved his performance by keeping his fastball at the top of the strike zone and his slider at a low angle."

Avila is a former catcher with 1,052 games experience in the Major League who played mostly for the Detroit Tigers. "Kikuchi's fastball and slider come from the same arm slot. It is very difficult for a batter to tell which ball is flying. Kikuchi has discovered new potential in Houston, and many teams are considering him as an ace player," Avila said.
Considering the days of the Seattle Mariners, who were nicknamed "eat and run," Kikuchi entered the Major League in 2019 by signing a four-year, 56 million-dollar guarantee and up to seven-year, 109 million-dollar contract. However, he failed to meet expectations with 15 wins and 24 losses and 4.97 ERA in 70 games during the three seasons in the Seattle Mariners, and eventually became an FA without meeting the contract period.

Ahead of the 2022 season, he signed a three-year, $36 million contract with Toronto, but the situation has not changed much. In his first year in Toronto, he struck out 11.1 per nine innings with a combination of fastballs and sliders up to 156 kilometers per hour, but continued his bumpy career with 5.2 walks per nine innings.

However, his performance started to improve as he eliminated unnecessary movements from last year. He displayed 11 wins and 6 losses with a 3.86 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 167 ⅔ innings in 32 games at the Toronto Blue Jays last year. After moving to Houston this year, he simplified his pitching capability to meet expectations when he first entered the Major League.

As a result, teams targeting him have risen to a higher level. His former affiliated teams, Houston and Toronto, have started pursuing him again, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the winner of this year's World Series, have become candidates for recruitment. Although the Dodgers won the World Series this year thanks to overwhelming batting power, it is facing a challenge to fill its weak rotation, with only eight starting pitchers on the injured list.

Jeff Bankruptcy of ESPN said, "After moving to Houston, Kikuchi is enjoying immense popularity. We want him to return to Houston, and the Chicago Cubs, Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Toronto, and Baltimore Orioles are also expected to contact Kikuchi, who is considered a second or third starter."