Although Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) succeeded, the pitches of Shohei Ohtani's rival did not.
Japan's Kyodo News reported on the 15th that "Shintaro Fujinami is returning to Nippon Professional Baseball after three years. He has agreed to a contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars."
Kyodo News explained that "It has been revealed through baseball officials that Fujinami has joined DeNA after leaving Tacoma, the Triple-A affiliate of the Major League Baseball Seattle Mariners. DeNA is working on strengthening its roster with the goal of climbing to the top ranks."
Fujinami's return to Nippon Professional Baseball comes three years after he was with the Hanshin Tigers in 2022. He struggled this season, appearing in 21 games as a reliever with an earned run average of 5.79, and became a free agent after being released in mid-last month.
Fujinami was a promising fireballer who threw 160 km/h fastballs in high school and was regarded as Ohtani's rival and the future of Japanese baseball. During his career in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hanshin Tigers, he recorded 57 wins and 54 losses with an earned run average of 3.41 in a total of 189 games, and after the 2022 season, he knocked on the doors of Major League Baseball, signing a one-year contract worth $3.25 million (about 4.4 billion won) with the Oakland Athletics in January 2023.
Fujinami became a burden for Oakland, which fell to the bottom of the American League West. Despite possessing a 100 mph (about 160 km/h) fastball, he struggled with his control and had a disappointing record of 5 wins and 8 losses with an earned run average of 8.57 over 34 games. He issued 31 walks over 49⅓ innings, resulting in a WHIP of 1.66. Some U.S. media at the time mocked, asking, "How did such a player end up in Major League Baseball?"
Fujinami made the trade in July 2023 a turning point in his career. At the time, he finally adjusted to the big leagues while wearing the uniform of the Baltimore Orioles, who were first in the American League East.
Armed with a fastball that had regained control, Fujinami secured a role in the winning group and showcased a turnaround with a record of 2 wins, no losses, 2 saves, and 2 holds, along with an earned run average of 4.88 over 28 games. He contributed to the Baltimore Orioles capturing the American League East title and experienced the joy of reaching the fall baseball before Ohtani.
Fujinami continued his journey as a big leaguer after signing a contract with the New York Mets for $3.35 million (about 4.6 billion won) last year. However, he struggled with a dismal earned run average of 12.27 from spring training, and with injuries, he moved back and forth between the minor leagues. His record was not good, with 1 win, 2 losses, 7 holds, and 1 save over 33 games with an earned run average of 5.94. After the season, he aimed to restart his career by heading to the Puerto Rico Winter League and attempted to return to the big leagues through a minor league contract with Seattle, but he decided to return to Nippon Professional Baseball after being released.
As of the 15th, Yokohama is currently ranked 3rd in the Nippon Professional Baseball Central League with 38 wins and 40 losses.
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