Last week, Tampa Bay made a noteworthy move by signing Japanese pitching prospect Naoyuki Uwasawa to a minor-league contract just as spring training looms about a month away. Despite drawing considerable interest from numerous MLB teams throughout the offseason, Uwasawa prolonged negotiations right up to the edge of his posting window before ultimately choosing Tampa as his destination.
At 29 years old, Uwasawa boasts an impressive career in the Japanese baseball scene. His career ERA stands at an admirable 3.24, accumulated over an extensive 1,300 innings pitched. The right-hander has also tallied over 1,000 strikeouts, showcasing his proficiency on the mound, with three of his last four seasons witnessing him surpass the 100-strikeout mark.
Scouts offer insights into Uwasawa’s pitching style, highlighting a strong spin on his fastball, a prominent component of his repertoire. Complementing this are his breaking balls—a curve, slider, and splitter—all exhibiting distinct up-and-down movements. However, one perceived hurdle lies in the velocity of his pitches, which may need refinement to meet the standards of Major League Baseball. Fortunately, Uwasawa has both spring training and time in the minor leagues to further develop this aspect of his game.
Determining Uwasawa’s potential role in the Rays’ rotation poses a challenge initially. The team appears to have a set starting rotation featuring established names such as Aaron Civale, Zach Eflin, Taj Bradley, Zack Littell, and potentially the recently acquired Ryan Pepiot. Nevertheless, like many new pitching prospects in St. Petersburg, Uwasawa could carve out a niche in the Rays’ deep bullpen or find himself honing his skills at the Triple-A level, as indicated by the minor-league deal.
The current disposition of the Rays’ bullpen presents an opportunity for Uwasawa, especially with a potential plan to trade Jason Adam and Garrett Cleavinger, the latter still recovering from an injury sustained last season. Uwasawa could seamlessly integrate into the bullpen, becoming a reliable innings-eater under the guidance of pitching coach Kyle Snyder.
The future remains uncertain for Uwasawa donning a Tampa Bay Rays uniform. However, the impending spring training will serve as a crucial period to assess his skills, providing the team with insights on how he can seamlessly fit into the pitching staff when the opportune moment arises.
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