| PEORIA http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , Ariz. (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi’s journey started in northern Japan, in the prefecture of Iwate, about 300 miles from the Tokyo Dome.This is where Kikuchi became a star. Where he was a prep phenom. Where his left arm was so good he seriously considered skipping playing professional baseball in his home country to immediately go where he always wanted to be: the major leagues.“When I was smaller I was watching all the Japanese players play well in the major leagues and that was the time all these Japanese players were coming to the major leagues and I was saying, ‘Even if I’m Japanese I will be able to make it to the majors if I work hard,'” Kikuchi said recently through an interpreter. “I was given that dream by all these former players and that is why I wanted to come to the states.”Kikuchi was determined from the time he was 15 years old to be the next great Japanese import to dazzle American fans and befuddle major league hitters. That dream is now the reality for the newest starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.In a twist, his debut will come a few hundred miles from where he first made a name for himself at Hanamaki Higashi High School. He will start the second game of the 2019 season against the Oakland Athletics inside the Tokyo Dome next week.While his MLB debut is coming in Japan, Kikuchi has been preparing to make America his home for more than a decade. He studied English and answered the majority of questions in English at his introductory news conference . He scouted the best left-handed pitchers in the majors to see what made them successful. He visited the U.S. on numerous occasions to begin learning the culture.“I went to a couple of ballgames and I looked at the atmosphere and said, ‘Hey, this is the place I want to play,’ and I set that goal when I came to the states,” Kikuchi said. “And during the offseason I worked out at the gyms over here to get used to the American workouts, get used to the American food here.”The Mariners, as much as any team in baseball, are keenly aware of how much Kikuchi wanted to be in the states. They were in the middle of the conversations in 2009 when Kikuchi nearly bypassed playing professionally in Japan to sign with a major league club then.“Our general feeling on Yusei was we had more information on him than just about any free agent player that we could imagine because it had been such an extended look Kolten Wong Jersey ,” Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “We’ve seen his entire career in (Nippon Professional Baseball). I would say if anybody saw Yusei Kikuchi pitch more than we have over the last 10 years, I’d be surprised.”His preparations aside, Kikuchi still has to prove he can pitch here. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, but it’s the offspeed pitches — specifically a looping curveball — that will keep hitters guessing. Kikuchi also hides the ball in his windup until it’s nearly out of his hand.“If you spend any time around Yusei, he’s not here to play in the game,” Dipoto said. “He’s here to make a mark in the big leagues, and we’re pretty excited for who he is as well as what he brings.”Seattle would like to have Kikuchi throw around 170 innings this season, which is what he’s averaged the past two seasons in Japan. Not only will there be an adjustment to taking the ball every fifth or sixth day, Kikuchi acknowledged his pregame routine must also be different.For his first spring training start , Kikuchi was on the field nearly an hour before taking the mound, leading to some awkward downtime throwing outside of the dugout while waiting for the game to begin.Kikuchi and the Mariners hope this is the beginning of a long relationship. He has a guaranteed deal for four years, and if he’s successful, it can be extended to seven seasons worth $109 million if all options are exercised.Kikuchi believes success in his first year will be dictated by how well he adjusts.“I think first and foremost getting use to the culture and adjusting to everything,” he said. “Also staying healthy throughout the whole year and making sure I can pitch all year.” CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians Trevor Rosenthal Jersey , who are in full-blown postseason preparation mode, will host the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at Progressive Field, the first game of Cleveland’s final homestand of the regular season.The Indians’ magic number for clinching their third consecutive American League Central title is three. With that in mind, Indians manager Terry Francona and his staff are implementing some lineup adjustments in preparation for the postseason.The most obvious is the addition of third baseman Josh Donaldson, who was acquired in a trade with Toronto. He made his debut with the Indians on Tuesday in Tampa Bay, batting fifth and going 0-for-4.Article continues below ...Donaldson is expected to be in the lineup Friday at third base. His addition has moved third baseman Jose Ramirez to second base, bumping second baseman Jason Kipnis to center field.For Ramirez, the position switch comes at a time when he’s trying to hit his way out of his first slump of the season. After a spectacular first half of the season that landed him a start at third base for the American League all-star team, Ramirez has been in an extended slump.From opening day through the end of July, Ramirez was hitting .298, with a 1.038 OPS. Since Aug. 1, he is hitting .228 with a .763 OPS.In Cleveland’s 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Ramirez, who is third in the American League with 38 home runs http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , snapped an 86-at bat homerless streak with a homer off Rays ace Nate Snell.Francona says he isn’t worried about his MVP candidate’s slump.“We’ve all seen what he can do. We know it’s in there, and we know he’s going to get hot,” Francona said. “He’s an extremely intelligent hitter when it comes to knowing how teams are pitching him, and what they’re trying to do. He’s had a little lull here, but he can hit any pitch. He’s going to be fine.”Cleveland’s starting pitcher Friday night also reflects the team’s priority of getting the rotation lined up for the start of the postseason. Because of that, Josh Tomlin (1-5, 6.63 ERA) will get a spot start.Tomlin, who won 23 games as a member of the rotation the last two years, made six disastrous starts to begin the 2018 season and was quickly moved to the bullpen. In three starts, Tomlin was 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA. In 22 relief appearances, he is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA.Friday will be Tomlin’s first start since May 15, when he took the loss as Cleveland fell 9-8 to Detroit. In that game, Tomlin gave up four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts and no walks.In four appearances (two starts) against Detroit this year Carlos Martinez Jersey , Tomlin has no record and a 2.92 ERA. In 20 career appearances (14 starts) against the Tigers, he is 7-6 with a 4.87 ERA.Left-hander Matt Boyd will start for Detroit. Boyd (9-12, 4.11) made his last start on Sept. 8, when he got no decision in a 4-3 Detroit loss to St. Louis. In that start Boyd was outstanding, working seven innings and allowing one run and two hits, with 11 strikeouts and one walk.In two starts against Cleveland this year, Boyd is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA. In his career, he has made seven appearances (six starts) against the Indians and is 1-3 with a 3.05 ERA.The Tigers, who come into Friday’s game on a four-game losing streak, are 4-12 vs. the Indians this year. |
