Japanese reliever signs with Padres
At 5-foot-8, Yuki Matsui will be among the shortest
pitchers in the majors.
“It’s a very a clean delivery. Good mechanics. I think pitchers come in all shape and sizes,” San Diego general manager A.J. Preller said after the 28-year-old agreed to a $28-million, fiveyear contract with the Padres. “He’s left-handed. He does things very efficiently. Obviously, there’s been some some great pitchers that have been sub-6-footers and he’s been one of them.”
Matsui made his Japanese league debut at 18 and became a five-time All-Star for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, leading the Pacific League in saves in 2019, 2022 and this year. He had a career-best 39 saves with a 1.57 earned-run average and 2-3 record this year, striking out 72 and walking 13 in 571⁄3 innings. He has a 2.40 career ERA, 236 saves and a 1.11 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched).
“He’s got a great track record in Japan really dating back to amateur days, somebody that was a highly acclaimed amateur player, and then for him to do what he did really right out of the gate, that’s something that is very unique,” Preller said.
Because Matsui had nine years of service time, he was a free agent and no posting fee is involved.
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