Padres and Japanese Pitcher Yuki Matsui agreed to a deal worth $88 million, 5-year contract
At 5-foot-8, Yuki Matsui figures to be among the shortest pitchers in the major leagues.
“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 Saturday after the 28-year-old left-hander agreed to a $28 million, five-year 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 so far in Japan.”
Matsui made his Japanese big league debut at age 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 ERA and 2-3 record this season, striking out 72 and walking 13 in 57 1/3 innings.
He has a 2.40 career ERA, 236 saves and a 1.11 WHIP in Nippon Professional Baseball. Matsui became the youngest pitcher in the Japanese major leagues to reach 200 saves.
“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. “It´s been a 10-year run of just consistent performance and excellence.”
Because Matsui had nine years of service time, he was a free agent and no posting fee is involved in his acquisition. The deal includes opt-outs.
