Fantasy Baseball 2018 Player to Know: Japan’s Yoshihisa Hirano
By Bill Pivetz
Japanese closer Yoshihisa Hirano may be making his MLB debut soon if one team has their way. What can we expect if he joins the St. Louis Cardinals next year?
There has been an influx of Japanese pitchers in the MLB over the last couple of seasons. The newest name on the radar is Japanese closer Yoshihisa Hirano. The 33-year-old closer recorded 143 saves in his last five seasons and could be on an MLB roster as early as next season.
Hirano is a good strikeout pitcher. In 271.1 innings, he has 284 strikeouts with just 73 walks. with the Orix Buffaloes. That averages to a 9.4 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 with a 1.14 WHIP in that span.
Like other Japanese pitchers, though, he already has a lot of innings logged on his arm. Hirano has accumulated a total of 973.2 innings with a 3.10 ERA and 1.159 WHIP in 11 seasons. He did not pitch in 2008 as he transitioned from a starter to a reliever. With just two pitches in his arsenal, a fastball and a forkball, he suits better as a reliever.
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The St. Louis Cardinals had a few bullpen troubles throughout the 2017 season. With the struggles of Seung-hwan Oh and Trevor Rosenthal, the Cardinals had eight different relievers record at least one save.
There are a few viable free agents but the team may be looking overseas for a new closer, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Oh disappointed fantasy owners out of the gate. He ended April with a 4.50 ERA and 1.333 WHIP. Rosenthal’s season ended in mid-August after allowing two runs in back-to-back outings. He recorded seven saves before that.
Fellow FanSided site, Bosox Injections said that the Boston Red Sox are also interested in Hirano (h/t Yahoo! Japan). The Red Sox are no strangers to signing Asian pitchers, Hideo Nomo, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima, Junichi Tazawa, Takashi Saito, and Koji Uehara just to name a few.
The Boston bullpen, outside of Craig Kimbrel, posted ERAs above 2.50. In the dangerous American League East, that cannot continue to happen. Hirano could be used as a shutdown set-up man before Kimbrel enters the game.
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Regardless of what team is interested and ultimately signs him, Hirano will be a name to watch out for all offseason. He could be a big difference maker in fantasy as a potential closer or a set-up man in holds leagues. With the number of injuries that took place, any additional names available to draft will be welcomed.