What is Shintaro Fujinami's path back to the majors?

*This article is an expanded version of a thread on Twitter/X follow me there - https://twitter.com/isaacgroffman*

What is Shintaro Fujinami's path back to the majors? 

Isaac Groffman

On Saturday news that seemed inevitable broke - Shintaro Fujinami will start the 2024 in the minors. Me and many others assumed that after he signed a $3.5 million contract Fuji would be a lock for the MLB bullpen, but after a rough spring training it is clear he needs more work. I believe that Fuji is not as far from reaching his peak as some people think. However, the environment he was in for much of last season was the reason he was unable to consistently preform.  I believe that Fuji is not as far from reaching his peak as some people think. However, the environment he was in for much of last season was not conducive to sustained success. Here are few things I think he can do in the minors to improve:

1. Simplify his pitch mix - Most pitchers in Japan learn to throw 5 or 6 pitches, whereas in America pitchers are encouraged to throw their best pitches and build off of them. According to this stuff+ chart his fastball, splitter, and sweeper are his best pitches. In the minors I think that Fuji should only throw his fastball, splitter, and sweeper. A simplified pitch mix and a low pressure environment could do wonders for his confidence. 



2. Let his stuff do the work - according to his former teammate @IamTrevorMay Fuji thought that the best place to throw his fastball was right down the middle. His priority was throwing strikes, this is good but when your mind is set on only locating you can become wild. So as a solution they told the catcher to set up in the same spot each pitch. Fuji is not a control pitcher who needs to perfectly spot every pitch, he is a power pitcher whose stuff has tremendous late movement.By changing his mindset he can just worry about throwing the ball anywhere in the zone rather to a very specific spot.




3. Find a set role - its possible part of Fuji's struggles last season were due to his constant changing roles. Being asked to start, close, and more. In the minors he can be given a clear assignment whether it’s the 8th or 7th inning. This gives him one less thing to think about.


Teams have already been working on these things with Fuji but he has never had a low pressure environment to work on them. Now he has that opportunity, so I believe in him. 

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