Shintaro Fujinami

28-Year-Old PitcherSP
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Fujinami is looking to make the jump to MLB after posting a 3.41 ERA across 10 seasons in Japan. Whether or not he'll successfully do so is an open question. Fujinami was once one of Japan's top prospects, rivaling Shohei Ohtani as an amateur. He has good stuff, including a fastball that can touch triple digits, but he's had his fair share of struggles in recent seasons. From 2017 through 2021, the only time he posted an ERA below 4.00 was when he threw just 4.1 innings in 2019. Control is his primary problem, as his career 10.6 BB% indicates. He managed to cut that figure to 7.5% last season, helping him to a much better 3.38 ERA, but that came in just 16 starts as he also spent time in the minors, as he'd done in each of the previous five seasons. A player who's been unable to lock himself into a permanent role in Japan is unlikely to have all that much appeal on this side of the Pacific, though he was able to secure a one-year deal with the A's in January. Fujinami should open the season in Oakland's rotation, and he should receive a slight boost with about half his starts set to come at the pitcher-friendly Coliseum. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#501
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Athletics in January of 2023.
Will start every sixth day
POakland Athletics
March 21, 2023
Fujinami will start every sixth day this season for the Athletics, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
That's the schedule Fujinami is used to from his time in Japan and the A's want to keep it that way, at least for now. Some early-season off days will allow the club to go with five starters for a while, but eventually it will have to use a six-man rotation and/or a spot starter in order to incorporate the plan for Fujinami.
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2016 Fantasy Outlook
Standing a noodly 6-foot-5, 194 pounds, Fujinami features a fastball that sits at 95 mph and touches 100 on occasion, as well as devastating splitter. He's shown good durability, topping out at 199 innings pitched in 2015, which he paired with a robust 221 strikeouts. On the downside, his control has taken a bit of a step back as his velocity has increased. Hanshin is less likely to post Fujinami prior to him qualifying for free agency, so he is about six years away from appearing on North American soil.
More Fantasy News
Mixed bag in three spring starts
POakland Athletics
March 14, 2023
Fujinami has allowed five earned runs on six hits and eight walks while recording 13 strikeouts across eight innings in his first three Cactus League starts.
ANALYSIS
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Lands in Oakland
POakland Athletics
January 11, 2023
Fujinami agreed Wednesday with the Athletics on a one-year contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Posting date set
PFree Agent
November 22, 2022
Fujinami will be posted by the Hanshin Tigers on Dec. 1, Sankei Sports reports.
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Available for MLB clubs
PFree Agent
October 15, 2022
Fujinami will be posted by the Hanshin Tigers, his NPB club, this offseason, Kyodo News reports.
ANALYSIS
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PFree Agent
November 15, 2014
Fujinami's sophomore year showed progression. While his 3.53 ERA would appear to be a step back from the 2.74 he posted as a rookie, his strikeout and hr rates both improved.
ANALYSIS
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