Tsutsugo gets another chance
LOS ANGELES — If there’s been one benefit to Yoshi Tsutsugo’s major league career thus far, it’s that he’s been able to make friends fast.
Between Tsutsugo’s dominance in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League and failed stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers, the 28-year-old slugger has had to learn how to adapt on personal and professional levels.
“I’d like to think so,” Tsutsugo said on the field Monday at Dodger Stadium, shortly after the Pirates announced that they had signed him to a major league contract. The question was about fitting in with new teammates.
“Is there a Chipotle in Pittsburgh? … Then I’ll be fine.”
Humor and addictive, fast-casual fare aside, the Pirates added Tsutsugo because they think he might fit as an occasional first baseman and outfielder, and someone who rediscovers some latent power that dates to his time with the Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars.
Tsutsugo, who was active for Monday’s series-opener, hit 44 home runs in 2016 and followed that with 28, 38 and 29 the next three years. His OPS back home never dipped below .900 dating to 2014. When the Rays signed Tsutsugo to a twoyear $12 million contract, there was no shortage of hype surrounding the move.
Suffice to say, things haven’t worked out as expected. Since beginning his MLB career, Tsutsugo has hit just .181 with a .607 OPS in 89 career games, including a .197/.314/.395 slash line over 51 games with the Rays in 2020, which did include eight home runs.
Tsutsugo played 26 games for Tampa this season before the Rays designated him for assignment and eventually traded him to the Dodgers for a player to be named later. In 12 games with the Dodgers, Tsutsugo slashed .120/.290/.120 before they sent him to Class AAA Oklahoma City.
To his credit, Tsutsugo did seem to find his swing in the minors, hitting .257 with seven doubles, 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and an .868 OPS. That included a .387 average, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.141 OPS in 10 games this month.
“Nothing really major in terms of adjustments,” Tsutsugo said. “But there are things that definitely felt like what used to be. Really looking forward to that.”
Manager Derek Shelton said the Pirates have been intrigued that the adjustments Tsutsugo made during his time with Oklahoma City could give him plenty of runway to show what he can do. The ability to hit for power is an area where the Pirates could use some help, and Tsutsugo at least has a chance to help that.
“We like his ability to impact the ball, “Shelton said. ”This is a guy who has been in the big leagues, has gone to the minor leagues, and we’ve seen some definite improvements. That’s something that obviously intrigued us and led us to giving him the opportunity here in Pittsburgh.”
To make room on the 40man roster, the Pirates earlier in the day ended Ka’ai Tom’s rehab assignment and designated him for assignment. To create space on the active roster, the Pirates designated John Nogowski for assignment.
Nogowski was expected. His pinch- hit Saturday snapped an 0-for-15 skid, and he had one hit in his past 20 at-bats. Dating to July 21, Nogowski was hitting just .141.
Tom, a Rule 5 pick the Pirates claimed off waivers from Oakland in April, had been on the 10-day injured list since July 3 (retroactive to July 2) with a lower-back strain.
In 48 MLB games this season — nine with the Athletics and 39 with the Pirates — Tom was slashing .139/.278/.231 with a .510 OPS. In 20 games (13 starts) from June 1 to July 1, Tom hit just .091 and struck out 17 times in 51 plate appearances.
Because he has not yet shed his Rule 5 status, Tom has a little different waiver process. If he clears waivers, he must be offered back to his original club (Indians) for $50,000. He can be outrighted to the minors only if that team does not want to acquire him.
Tsutsugo was all smiles before Monday’s game. He caught up with former Rays teammate Michael Perez before taking batting practice, later chatting with a few Japanese reporters he’s gotten to know over the years. When Tsutsugo went out to shag flies during batting practice, Jacob Stallings stopped them to say hello.
“I’m very excited to be joining a new team,” Tsutsugo said.
When Tsutsugo appears in a game, it will break the club record (55) from 2016, which the Pirates tied with Dillon Peters’ start Sunday.
It’s also unlikely to relent anytime soon. For the process that led the Pirates to Tsutsugo — giving opportunity to a player with legitimate production in his past — could take them to others, both in their system and outside of it the rest of the way.
“I remember watching him on TV and being impressed,” Stallings said. “He seems like a great guy. Excited to get him integrated and get him going.”