Pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano of Japan applauds fans after his interview after the World Baseball Classic Pool B Game Three between Japan and Australia at Tokyo Dome (Source: Getty)
Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano has signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. NPB analyst Yuri Karasawa has likened him to veteran ace Clayton Kershaw.
The 35-year-old Japanese RHP was posted to the MLB for the second time in his career this year and will be a rare breed of veteran pitcher from the NPB. On the Banner Baseball Show, Karasawa gave some insights into what to expect from Sugano next year with the Orioles:
"I like to compare him to like a Japanese version of Clayton Kershaw, just in terms of the resume, because this is a highly touted prospect coming out of college. He wins the MVP in his second season, he goes on to win two more MVPs, two Sawamura awards, which is basically the Cy Young equivalent in Japan.
