Sports · Baseball · 1 hr ago
Tatsuya Imai faces changes after difficult first MLB season
Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai struggled in his first MLB season after moving from Japan’s NPB league.
He posted a 4.93 ERA over 76⅔ innings and made 15 starts in 23 appearances before becoming a seldom-used reliever.
His 15.1% walk rate was the highest among pitchers with at least 70 innings, despite a strong strikeout rate and plenty of swings and misses.
Imai relied on his fastball and slider nearly 90% of the time, and the analysis says he needs a dependable third pitch to handle major-league hitters.
He also needs to find a better way to get left-handed hitters out, who performed better against him than right-handed hitters did.
Imai can opt out of his three-year, $54 million contract, but the analysis says he is unlikely to give up the $18 million salary for 2027.
If he stays, Houston may give him another chance to start, as the Astros have few proven rotation options behind Hunter Brown.
Tatsuya Imai had a difficult first MLB season with the Houston Astros, finishing with a 4.93 ERA in 76 2/3 innings.
He fell out of the starting rotation and made only eight appearances over the final two months.
Imai struck out 28.7% of batters but walked 15.1%, the highest walk rate among pitchers with at least 70 innings.
He relied on his four-seam fastball and slider nearly 90% of the time, and the article says he needs a viable third pitch.
Imai can opt out of his three-year, $54 million deal, but the article says he is likely to remain with Houston for 2027.
- Who
- Tatsuya Imai, a right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros.
- What
- He struggled in his first MLB season, losing his place in the rotation and finishing as a seldom-used reliever.
- When
- During his first MLB season; the article was published on October 25, 2026.
- Where
- With the Houston Astros in MLB.
- Why
- The article points to his high walk rate and heavy reliance on two pitches. It says he needs to find a viable third pitch.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Imai signed a three-year, $54 million deal with Houston.
Imai made 23 appearances, including 15 starts, and recorded a 4.93 ERA over 76 2/3 innings.
Imai pitched eight times as a reliever.
Imai made Houston’s postseason roster but did not pitch in the Wild Card round.
- ERA
- 4.93
- Innings pitched
- 76 2/3
- Appearances
- 23, including 15 starts
- Walk rate
- 15.1%
- Contract
- Three years, $54 million
- Potential 2027 salary
- $18 million
1 source
What people are saying
It’s tough to navigate a big-league lineup with two offerings.
Imai had a 59.5% strike rate, which isn’t going to cut it.
The swing-and-miss stuff is there.