Shun Yamaguchi - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Returning to Japan Yamaguchi was released by the Giants on Thursday and will return to his home country of Japan to pitch in NPB, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Impact The veteran failed to impress in his debut MLB season with the Blue Jays last year, struggling to a 8.06 ERA and a 14.2 percent walk rate in 25.2 innings of relief. He failed to break camp with the Giants this season and will opt out of his minor-league deal to head back to a league in which he had a long and successful career.

JUNE 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scrubbed from 40-man roster The Blue Jays designated Yamaguchi for assignment Thursday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Impact Toronto lured Yamaguchi from Japan last offseason on a two-year, $6.35 million deal, hoping that he would contend for a spot at the back end of the rotation. A poor spring training effectively took him out of the running for a starting role, however, and he didn't find any success out of the bullpen once the season began last summer, posting an 8.06 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 25.2 innings. Toronto will now cast him off the 40-man roster to make room for waiver pickup Joel Payamps, whom the Jays claimed from the Red Sox on Wednesday.

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Excluded from wild-card roster Yamaguchi will not be a part of the Blue Jays' wild-card roster.

Impact Yamaguchi struggled significantly in his first season stateside, posting an 8.06 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP in 25.2 innings of relief. His 14.2 percent walk rate appeared to be his biggest problem. He could join the roster in the future if another pitcher gets injured, but there's no guarantee he'll be the top replacement.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Shun Yamaguchi continues to come up clutch out of Blue Jays' bullpen You don't get a second chance to make a first impression. But Yamaguchi is at least proving early impressions don't have to stick.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Likely bulk reliever Tuesday Yamaguchi is expected to work as a primary pitcher in Tuesday's game against the Marlins in Miami, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Impact Toronto patched one of the holes in its rotation when it acquired Taijuan Walker on Thursday, but the team still appears to be leaning toward bullpen days when the fifth starter's turn comes up. Assuming he isn't needed in relief Monday against the Orioles, Yamaguchi lines up as the logical option to handle the bulk of the innings Tuesday behind an opener, most likely Julian Merryweather. Yamaguchi shined in long relief in his last appearance Aug. 26 against Boston, giving up a run over four innings en route to claiming his first big-league win.

AUGUST 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up first career win Yamaguchi (1-2) allowed one run on two hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out two across four innings of work as he earned the win over the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Impact Yamaguchi entered the game to begin the third after Julian Merryweather hurled two innings of scoreless work. The right-hander gave up a solo home run to Mitch Moreland in the fourth but otherwise faced very little pressure by the Red Sox hitters. The tandem of Merryweather and Yamaguchi proved to be effective Wednesday and it wouldn't be a surprise if manager Charlie Montoyo opted to roll with them again for at least another turn with the Blue Jays down three regulars in the starting rotation.

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Shun Yamaguchi goes four strong | 08/27/2020 Shun Yamaguchi throws four solid innings in relief against the Red Sox, allowing just one run and striking out two in the Blue Jays' win

AUGUST 27, 2020 • MLB.COM

Shun Yamaguchi goes four strong | 08/27/2020 Shun Yamaguchi throws four solid innings in relief against the Red Sox, allowing just one run and striking out two in the Blue Jays' win

AUGUST 27, 2020 • MLB.COM

Shines in long relief Yamaguchi tossed 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Thursday in the Blue Jays' 9-8 win over the Phillies in the second half of a doubleheader. He allowed no hits and two walk...

Impact With starter Trent Thornton recording just two outs in the contest before exiting, the Blue Jays were forced to treat the second half of the doubleheader as a bullpen game. Three relievers covered at least an inning behind Thornton, and none were better than Yamaguchi, who tossed a season-high 54 pitches. The NPB veteran was expected to vie for a rotation spot after inking a two-year deal with Toronto over the winter, but the Blue Jays' ample starting depth prompted the team to shift him to the bullpen in spring training. He was roughed up in his first two MLB appearances, but Yamaguchi has looked sharp over his last five outings, giving up one run in 7.2 innings and striking out 10.

AUGUST 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Blue Jays: What are the options with Shun Yamaguchi? Shun Yamaguchi hasn't looked good against big league hitters so far, but the Blue Jays have a few options when it comes to what to do with h...

JULY 30, 2020 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Appears destined for bullpen Yamaguchi is expected to fill a relief role for the Blue Jays to begin the season, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Impact Yamaguchi's past success in Japan as both a starter and reliever was a big selling point when he was posted this winter, but for now, Toronto looks committed to using him out of the bullpen. Though Chase Anderson (oblique) is on track to open the season on the injured list, Yamaguchi doesn't appear to be garnering any consideration for replacing him in the rotation on the heels of a rough spring training, as Davidi names Anthony Kay, Ryan Borucki and Nate Pearson as the most likely fill-in candidates. Instead, look for the Blue Jays to use Yamaguchi mostly in lower-leverage spots initially as he continues to get acclimated to the North American game.

JULY 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Blue Jays: Not much has changed for Shun Yamaguchi since March With roughly a week and a half until the Blue Jays begin their regular season schedule, not much has changed for Shun Yamaguchi. It seems li...

JULY 13, 2020 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM

Shun Yamaguchi K's 2 in relief | 03/10/2020 Shun Yamaguchi strikes out two batters over three innings of relief in the Blue Jays' Spring Training game against the Yankees

MARCH 10, 2020 • MLB.COM

Montoyo not going to judge 5th starter spot on one bad outing - Sportsnet.ca Charlie Montoyo talks to reporters about Shun Yamaguchi and how the 5th starter spot is still up for grabs.

MARCH 6, 2020 • SPORTSNET.CA

Saturday Birdseed and Gamethread Shun Yamaguchi gets the start against the Phillies

FEBRUARY 29, 2020 • BLUEBIRDBANTER.COM

After debut, Yamaguchi adjusting to MLB ball Shun Yamaguchi's Grapefruit League debut Monday highlighted some of the challenges for a pitcher transitioning from Japan to the Major Leagu...

FEBRUARY 24, 2020 • MLB.COM

Yamaguchi can earn $9.15M over 2 years with Blue Jays

Pitcher Shun Yamaguchi is guaranteed $6.35 million as part of his two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays

JANUARY 6, 2020

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Yamaguchi can earn $9.15M over 2 years with Blue Jays