Tazawa: 'I wanted to challenge myself'
The Red Sox today formally announced the signing of 22-year-old Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, who is expected to start his career in the minor leagues.
"The reason I came directly to the [United States] is I wanted to try to play here," Tazawa said through a translator at a press conference at Fenway Park today. "I wanted to challenge myself."
Tazawa is expected to begin next season in Double-A Portland, where he will be groomed for a spot in the rotation, but could soon join the big club.
"He projects to be very versatile, but we're going to start him off as a starting pitcher," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "We'll certainly give him every chance to start."
Tazawa, a righthander, reached an agreement with the Sox on a three-year contract earlier this week, and the Globe's Amalie Benjamin and Tony Massarotti have learned that the total value of the contract is $3.3 million.
Tazawa will receive a $1.8 million bonus, with salaries of $450,000 in 2009, $500,000 in '10, and $550,000 in '11. The Sox retain his rights as a pre-arbitration eligible or arbitration eligible player until 2014.
"To me this is a story about Junichi wanting to challenge himself at the highest level of baseball. He had that desire. He expressed his desire," Epstein said. "We wanted to provide that opportunity."
The pitcher, who has drawn some comparisons to former major leaguer Shigetoshi Hasegawa, elected to forgo a professional career in Japan so he could play in the United States.
Epstein said Boston scouts watched Tazawa more than 20 times since last November and his velocity has improved over time. He throws in the low 90s, with a changeup, curveball and slider that he can throw for strikes.
"He can hit his spots, and he's got outstanding makeup on the mound," Epstein said. "We think he's a solid prospect. Where he starts out remains to be seen."
Though Tazawa was pursued by several teams and offered more money by at least one --the Texas Rangers -- the pitcher is said to idolize Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka and reportedly was interested in pitching only for the Sox.
"I think there is a definite influence of having Daisuke Matsuzaka play here," Tazawa said. "To me he is the best player and to be able to learn from him is an incredible opportunity for me."
Boston's presence in Japan has skyrocketed since signing Hideki Okajima and Matsuzaka after the 2006 season. Last spring, the club opened its season with two games against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo.
"When we signed Daisuke, it was for baseball reasons. We saw it as a unique opportunity to acquire a 26-year-old, top-of-the-rotation starter," Epstein said. "We certainly hoped and considered the fact that signing Daisuke would allow us to establish a heightened presence in Japan and around the world, and that someday there might be some ancillary benefits."
Tazawa joins the Red Sox organization after a four-year amateur career with the Nippon Oil ENEOS of the Japan Industrial League.
This past season, Tazawa was 13-1 with five saves and a 0.80 ERA in 21 games, 11 starts. He struck out 114 batters and walked just 15 over 113 innings.
In September, Tazawa helped Nippon Oil win the 32-team Intercity Baseball Tournament for the first time in 13 years. He appeared in all five of the ENEOS' games from September 1-9, and won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award, going 4-0 with one save and a 1.27 ERA.
With the addition of Tazawa, Boston now has 39 players on its major league roster.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Welcome to Boston, Mr. Tazawa!
Looks like a good signing with big upside and little risk. A classic Theo Epstein signing.
While this whole thing is interesting, I guess, will people be driving to Pawtucket to see this guy? He is super famous like Dice K was in Japan? Because, my understanding he will be learning American baseball and kind of be a good prospect and possible trade bait, I would think.
I am looking forward to seeing him pitch, good signing
Genius signing once again from Theo. I noticed in the past two seasons all the anti-Theo clowns on these boards have been slowly disappearing or at least clamming up quite a bit. Basically what this amounts to is a cheap defacto high first round draft pick, but signed before a market value could be established by some scumbg American agent, and a talent who could develop into an impact top rotation guy in a handful of years according to scouting reports. Then again we have seen plenty of those. Bottom line is this - low risk, high reward. Other than JD Drew, who prvoed his worth with his ALCS GS in 07 and again with Papi out this past season, "low risk, high reward" is the hallmark of Theo's tenure thus far. Amen.
He won't be learning much from Dice-K if he's playing in Portland.
Lisa, Tazawa will be in Spring Training along with Dice-K, he'll have plenty of time (almost 2 months) to pick his hero's brain then.
Lisa, spring training is longg. They'll be hombres!
He will be invited to Spring Training (he's on the 40 man) so he will be working with Dice-K there, Lisa. Seems like a good signing as it restocks the farm system and maybe allows some flexibility for a trade?
I love how the $52.2 million Dice-K bid is paying off down the line by luring other Japanese stars to America. Dice-K continues to be worth the steep price!
"Other than JD Drew, who prvoed his worth with his ALCS GS in 07 and again with Papi out this past season, "low risk, high reward" is the hallmark of Theo's tenure thus far. Amen."
[whispers] Juliiiooo Luuuugoooo..... Errrricccc Gagnnnnneeee....
Just kidding. Love what Theo is doing. Let's not pretend all his moves come without error.
Can I get a pronunciation on his name? I have been in London for the semester and have yet to be able to watch a video online where anyone mentions his name. Just wondering how it is pronounced because I remember the fiasco that ensured with the pronunciations of both Matsuzaka and with Fukudome. Thanks a lot.
What would be the amateur level in the US roughly equivalent to the talent level of the Japan Industrial League? College World Series? Cape Cod League? Boston Park League?
Any word on whether he will be joining Dice-K on the Japan WBC team?
Errrricccc Gagnnnnneeee....ah...it's an accident!
Juliiiooo Luuuugoooo..... ahhh...it's because Theo is a short stop idiot......
Hopefully Boston will become the most desired location for the top talent in Japan to come to! Not surprising, as we are one of the most multicultural cities in the country (outside of NYC, of course). Go Sox!
Pat from London: Phonetically: Jew-Knee-chee Tah-Zah-Wah
Tazawa-san Ganbatte Na!
(Good luck Mr. Tazawa)
That is the best I can do after living in Japan for a year.. hehe
Cheers!
Matt
I see Taz as a replacement for either Bowden or Clay who in turn can now be sent to get Teagarden or Salt. One prospect goes, one comes back good signing smart biz and smart baseball.
Nice job on the pronunciation Matt. Much appreciated. I'm living in Texas now and have been trying to figure out how to say his name. I have heard different reports on him though. Sports center just said he throws high 90's and would have been a high to mid first round pick. I have heard it's more like low 90s and a 5th rounder. My guess is he may be bullpen help in 3 years. Still not bad if Theo is trying to replace a draft pick he'll lose if he signs Tex. Free shot to develop a pitcher(no trade or draft involved) not bad Theo.
191804 etc... Never making a mistake = never making a decision!!!!
You need to look at the totality of Theo's decisions. Who's done better than he has during his tenure? The Red Sox are now the model franchise, because they make long-term decisions based upon a plan. If you never make a mistake, you're not doing anything.
Pat from London: J-Taz, that's all you need to know :D
When players would rather play for a team than go for the money, that says something about the organization.
The Major League baseball is bigger then the baseball's that they play with over there. So I think Portland would be a perfect starting point. If he infact has good control of his nice curve and changeup (report are it has splitter action) then I dont think it will take him long to get to Pawtucket.
Great to see the Sox signing another great Japanese prospect -- this is helping spread the Red Sox brand all over Asia -- we love that out here! Have gotten tired of seeing people with Yankees hats as the only baseball cap out in this region - now when I walk through various airports in Asia, I see the occasional Red Sox hat! Now if I can just get the Thai cable company (yep, there is only one) to show something besides Yankees and Dodgers games...Just part of the challenges of being a Sox fan in the Far East.
Phil Robertson (in Bangkok, Thailand)
Watch this guy on YouTube! Very very impressive!
Although it is a very intelligent signing at short money by today's standards, let's not get all googly eyed until we see what he does against American hitters. And, of course, if he's a bust, Theo comes off loooking like a dope by people who don't know baseball from beansprouts.
... but, is he cuter than kei igawa?
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