YUSEI KIKUCHI NEWS

Yusei Kikuchi strikes out three ' 04/19/2022 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out three over five innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks in his start against the Red Sox

APRIL 20, 2022 • MLB.COM

Kikuchi settles in but doesn't get much run support BOSTON -- For 10 minutes Tuesday night at Fenway Park, Yusei Kikuchi looked like a cold pitcher with cold hands throwing a cold baseball. Th...

APRIL 20, 2022 • MLB.COM

Solid against Red Sox Kikuchi tossed five innings of one-run ball, surrendering three hits while walking three batters and striking out three in Tuesday's loss to the Red Sox. He did not factor into the...

Impact The only blemish on Kikuchi's line came in the bottom of the third inning when Enrique Hernandez scored on a Trevor Story double. Overall, the 30-year-old has a 0-1 record and has allowed three runs while striking out five batters over 8.1 innings this season. Kikuchi will look to get his first win of the 2022 campaign when the Blue Jays take on the Astros in Houston on Sunday.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Inefficient in Tuesday's loss Kikuchi (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings as the Blue Jays were downed 4-0 by the Yankees. He struck out tw...

Impact The southpaw got little help from his offense or defense, but Kikuchi created his own problems, throwing only 49 of 84 pitches for strikes before exiting his Toronto debut. Control issues are nothing new for the 30-year-old since he came to MLB, but he'll look to tighten things up in his next outing, scheduled for Sunday at home against the A's.

APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yusei Kikuchi's K in the 2nd ' 04/12/2022 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out Gleyber Torres to get the first out in the bottom of the 2nd inning

APRIL 13, 2022 • MLB.COM

Yusei Kikuchi's K in the 2nd ' 04/12/2022 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out Gleyber Torres to get the first out in the bottom of the 2nd inning

APRIL 13, 2022 • MLB.COM

Set for April 12th debut Kikuchi will work an intrasquad game Wednesday at the Blue Jays' spring training complex before making his first start of the season Apr. 12 against the Yankees, Laura Armstrong of...

Impact The rest of the team will break camp and head north Tuesday, but Kikuchi will stay behind to get in a bit more work. The southpaw has an 11:4 K:BB through 8.1 innings this spring but has also served up four homers, leading to a bloated 6.48 ERA in Grapefruit League action as he heads into his first season with Toronto.

APRIL 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Five whiffs in Friday's outing Kikuchi gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 3.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out five.

Impact Roberto Perez took him deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning, but prior to that Kikuchi was looking sharp. He worked his way up to 71 pitches (44 strikes) and appears just about ready for Opening Day as he gets ready to handle No. 5 starter duties for the Blue Jays, but the southpaw's spring has been a microcosm of his big-league performance to date as Kikuchi has an 11:4 K:BB through 8.1 innings but has also served up four homers.

APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yusei Kikuchi's five strikeouts ' 04/01/2022 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out five, and allows one run against the Pirates batters in three innings of work in todays Spring Training game

APRIL 1, 2022 • MLB.COM

Blue Jays hungry after near-miss of wild card berth in 2021

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins says his team has closed the gap on fellow contenders in the competitive American League East

MARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans four in spring debut Kikuchi walked one and struck out four without allowing a hit over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Impact It was a strong first appearance in a Blue Jays uniform for Kikuchi, who signed with the club earlier this month. The 30-year-old lefty couldn't find consistent success in the majors over three seasons with the Mariners, but if he can stick in the Toronto rotation he could be a source of wins and strikeouts in deeper fantasy leagues, even if his ratios may be erratic.

MARCH 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Catchers work to develop rapport with new Blue Jays pitchers Gausman and Kikuchi Before newly signed free agents Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi arrived at Blue Jays spring training, Toronto catchers Danny Jansen, Reese M...

MARCH 22, 2022 • THESTAR.COM

Yusei Kikuchi's spring debut ' 03/22/2022 Yusei Kikuchi makes his Spring Training debut and strikes out four over two innings in the game against the Yankees

MARCH 22, 2022 • MLB.COM

Blue Jays react to Kikuchi deal ' 03/15/2022 Ross Atkins, Yusei Kikuchi and Pete Walker talk about the type of player Kikuchi is, what he brings to the Blue Jays and more

MARCH 18, 2022 • MLB.COM

Why the Blue Jays believe Yusei Kikuchi has a 'bright future'; GM says search for a position player underway “We want to make the team better. I think the most obvious way to do that is in our infield and complementing it somehow," Ross Atkins said.

MARCH 16, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Atkins, Blue Jays believe Kikuchi 'just getting started' DUNEDIN, Fla. -- By signing Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $36 million deal, the Blue Jays continue to evolve the way they approach the back...

MARCH 15, 2022 • MLB.COM

Yusei Kikuchi throws 40-pitch bullpen for Blue Jays

Yusei Kikuchi threw a 40-pitch bullpen session, one day after the left-hander joined what projects as formidable Toronto Blue Jays rotation that includes Hyun Jin Ryu and Alek Mano...

MARCH 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

3 Takeaways From Yusei Kikuchi's Introductory Blue Jays Press Conference New Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi was introduced at a press conference in Dunedin, Florida on Tuesday

MARCH 15, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Signs with Blue Jays Kikuchi signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Blue Jays on Saturday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Impact Kikuchi declined his $13 million player option with the Mariners in early November, and he'll now land a multi-year deal with Toronto as spring training gets underway. The southpaw has made at least 29 starts in each of the last two full seasons, and he posted a 4.41 ERA, 163:62 K:BB and 1.32 WHIP in 157 innings during the 2021 campaign. He'll have a spot in the back end of the Blue Jays' talented rotation to begin the year.

MARCH 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Surprise! Yusei Kikuchi walks away from $13 million option with Mariners Kikuchi adds another intriguing arm to what is considered to be an already-strong class of available pitchers.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Kikuchi chooses free agency after Mariners decline option

Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is leaving the Seattle Mariners after the team declined a club option on the All-Star and Kikuchi opted for free agency

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Declines player option Kikuchi declined his $13 million player option Wednesday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Impact Kikuchi made 29 starts for the Mariners in 2021, and he posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 163:62 K:BB in 157 innings. The 30-year-old's decision to turn down his player option comes as a bit of a surprise following his three seasons in Seattle, but he'll hit free agency ahead of the 2022 campaign.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners expect to be active and spend after 90-win season

Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto says the team's ownership has provided assurances he can be aggressive in improving the club during the offseason

OCTOBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mariners hope unexpected 90-win season is just the beginning

The Seattle Mariners are young and talented and seem to have changed the narrative about their future after an unexpected 90-win season

OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Haniger's homer helps M's beat A's 4-2, close in wild card

Mitch Haniger hit his 100th home run and third in two games, and the Seattle Mariners pulled within a half-game of the second AL wild card berth by beating the Oakland Athletics 4-...

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS