In Japan or U.S., he adapts to the game
New Orioles reliever Logan Ondrusek’s time in Japan did not end well, but he said last week that his 11⁄2 seasons with the Yakult Swallows were “99.9 percent a great experience.”
“I enjoyed it over there,” he said. “It’s a different style of baseball, and obviously you’re living in a completely different country and stuff like that. But once you get over the initial shock of everything and you kind of accept the way they do stuff, it’s not bad.
“It’s a job. I got paid to live in another country and experience different things and me, my wife, we enjoyed our time over there a lot. It’s kind of sad the way it ended, but at the same time it’s an experience that I’ll never forget and I appreciated the opportunity.”
Ondrusek, who had some good years as a setup man for the Cincinnati Reds, signed with the Swallows after an injury-marred 2014 season. He quickly acclimated to the different baseball used in Japan and compiled an 8-3 record and 2.17 ERA in 102 relief appearances.
His time there ended abruptly, however, after what he likes to call a “bad day at the office” soured his relationship with the team.
“There was an incident that blew up in the dugout and things like that and kind of progressed from there,” he said. “And after talking to people, it was obvious we were going in two different directions. So, I opted out of my deal and found a team here.”
Ondrusek came back and worked out for a few weeks before signing with the Orioles and wading into the tight American League East race. He began his return to the majors with two one-inning appearances without allowing a base runner.
That shouldn’t surprise anyone. He had pitched in 281 major league games before signing with the Orioles and had a career 3.89 ERA. He was particularly attractive to the Orioles because he’s a “reverse-split” guy — a right-hander who has been more effective against left-handed hitters throughout his career.
Ondrusek experienced the reverse adjustment that Japanese pitchers have to make when they come to the United States. The baseball used in Japan is slightly smaller than the official major league ball and has a tacky surface. The baseballs here are slick and have to be rubbed up with mud before being put into play. He had to adapt to the Japanese ball when he went over there and had to get used to the American baseball again when he came back in June.
“Certain baseballs I’ll pick up now, they’re slick, but it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” he said. “When I was in Cincinnati, it was the same way. You learn to adjust to it. It takes a little bit longer now just because it’s been a year and a half since I’ve done it, but over there it’s the same thing.”