Japanese Star Slugger With Kyle Schwarber Comp to Be Posted in November
By Jerry Trotta
With the World Series set to conclude on Wednesday night at the very latest, it seems like an appropriate time to look ahead to what's sure to be a captivating offseason.
Names like Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Madison Bumgarner highlight a star-studded free agent bunch. That list will become even more significant should players like JD Martinez and Stephen Strasburg opt out of their current contracts, but, while we await those decisions, an international star will reportedly join the pool.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Monday night that Japanese stud Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who has been compared to Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber, will be available to sign with MLB teams come November.
Add another name to this winter's free agent crop: Japanese star Yoshitomo Tsutsugo will be posted in November, sources tell ESPN. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter is a 1B/LF. Perhaps best comp: Kyle Schwarber. With Yokohama, he consistently has posted near-.400 OBP with power.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 29, 2019
The 27-year-old left-handed hitter, as Passan notes, is comfortable playing either first base or left field. This past season stood as Tsutsugo's worst in terms of statistics since his remarkable breakout campaign in 2016, during which he slashed .322/.430/.680 with 44 home runs and 110 RBI.
In 2019, Tsutsugo hit .272/.388/.511 to go along with 29 dingers and 79 RBI. What was most alarming, however, was his 25.3% strikeout rate, up from a 18.4 clip in the previous year.
Despite that dip in production, it's largely expected that Tsutsugo will see a plethora of clubs vying for his services.
Is Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo the left-handed hitter the White Sox need? https://t.co/lmnlGqG5Mt
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) October 10, 2019
An already deep free agency clash just became THAT much more compelling, ladies and gents. We could have another international stud coming to the States.