"Dominant" Japanese Pitcher Pursuing MLB Contract This Offseason

27-year-old Yuki Matsui, a talented left-handed pitcher who has spent his entire career with the Rakuten Eagles in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), has decided to explore his international free agent opportunities, igniting a competitive bidding war among Japanese and American teams.

Matsui, renowned for his remarkable fastball and sharp slider, boasts an impressive track record, including a stellar 1.57 ERA and 39 saves in the most recent season.

Though his fastball only sits 91-93 mph, Yuki Matsui gets superb rise on the pitch and couples it with an plus forkball and plus slider.

His struggles using the MLB ball at the WBC may concern some teams, but he should still generate a lot of interest according to a source 🧵 pic.twitter.com/vQmztVgvAi
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) October 11, 2023

Notably, he made history by becoming the youngest player in NPB history to reach 200 saves.

Matsui's bold move has attracted significant attention, with MLB teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs expressing interest in his services.

While concerns about his adaptation to Major League pitching have been raised, Matsui's undeniable talent and potential make him an enticing prospect.

In response to the impending competition, Rakuten is preparing a substantial contract offer to retain their beloved star player, who has been a cornerstone of their team since being drafted as the 1st pick in 2013.

Japanese closer Yuki Matsui is exercising his international FA rights and looking to sign with an MLB team this offseason.

1.60 ERA, 11.3 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 this season. Youngest in NPB history to reach 200 saves (27, earliest this year).

92-94 fastball, plus slider and splitter. pic.twitter.com/SN3z0eD5HR
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) October 11, 2023

As Matsui embarks on this new chapter in his career, his decision to utilize his overseas free agent rights represents a milestone moment.

Baseball fans on both sides of the Pacific eagerly await his next move, and his journey to the Major Leagues promises to be a closely watched and exciting development in the world of baseball. Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports