The current pandemic world of abnormal sports events may not be optimal, but for the next few days at least NPB is playing televised preseason games, and that means chances to see lots of players play baseball.
After finishing my scout course, I want to see everybody, and have tried a few different tactics to maximize coverage while also reporting on notable performances for the website. After a stressful trial-and-error period, I’ve settled on watching one game at a time, perhaps choosing based on the players involved but really focusing on everything I can during that game.
Jump to 1 year as a scout page
It’s not helping me rapidly expand my knowledge of players, but it is rapidly expanding the things I know about a few individual players. On Wednesday, while I wanted to see Matt Moore pitch again for the SoftBank Hawks, I watched new Swallows right-hander Gabrial Ynoa pitch against the Hanshin Tigers and their one time teenage phenom Shintaro Fujinami.
Fujinami, a beanpole right-hander was once considered the top pitcher in a draft class that included Shohei Ohtani, but after going 35-21 over his first three seasons, he went 15-19 under his second pro manager. Last year, with his career in tatters, the 25-year-old pitched in one first-team game.
In addition to Fujinami and Ynoa, I was also curious about Orix Buffaloes third-round pick Ryota Muranishi, who may get some opportunities to pitch this year with the big club.
So, here are my snapshot reports of their games.
Shintaro Fujinami
Fujinami struck out five batters, walked one and allowed two hits over four scoreless innings. His command was below average but, the quality of his pitches was excellent.
He often got behind batters but then battled them in the zone, getting good arm action and good movement. That was probably the biggest take away.
He had good depth on a “cutter” that looks more like a slider and would be a plus pitch if he could command it better. His fastball command was mediocre but he was sitting at 93.2 mph with some good life on it. He threw some good splitters.
If he can improve the command at all, he is going to be really effective.
| Present | Future |
| Fastball | 60 | 65 |
| Curve | | |
| Control | 40 | 50 |
| Changeup | | |
| Slider (called a cutter) | 50 | 50 |
| Knuckleball | | |
| Other – Splitter | 55 | 55 |
| Poise | 40 | 50 |
| Baseball Instinct | 50 | 50 |
| Aggressiveness | 50 | 50 |
Ynoa is a 26-year-old right-hander who throws high 3/4. He has pitched in 55 major league games, mostly for the Baltimore Orioles. His fastball sat at 148 kph (92 mph). He also threw a slider a change and a few two-seamers. His fastball command was average, his slider a little less so, while he didn’t locate his change that well, although it had good depth.
He looks like he can contribute in the rotation and eat innings. If he is one of those imported pitchers who improve their command a bit in Japan, he could be successful here.
| Present | Future |
| Fastball | 50 | 50 |
| Curve | | |
| Control | 50 | 50 |
| Changeup | 50 | 50 |
| Slider | 50 | 50 |
| Knuckleball | | |
| Other – Splitter | | |
| Poise | 50 | 50 |
| Baseball Instinct | 50 | 50 |
| Aggressiveness | 50 | 50 |
Ryota Muranishi
Muranishi is a right-hander who throws low 3/4. His fastball sat at 90.7, but it was fairly straight, and he didn’t command it real well. The splitter really dives and the cutter has a huge amount of glove-side run.
If he can locate the fastball and get ahead in counts, the split should be deadly. His command is not real good so that’s a maybe, but if it happens, he could be a good middle of the order rotation guy.
| Present | Future |
| Fastball | 40 | 45 |
| Curve | | |
| Control | 40 | 50 |
| Changeup | | |
| Slider | 40 | 40 |
| Cutter | 50 | 55 |
| Other – Splitter | 60 | 60 |
| Poise | 50 | 50 |
| Baseball Instinct | 50 | 50 |
| Aggressiveness | 50 | 50 |
