BASEBALL

Oakland A’s agree to one-year contract with Shintaro Fujinami

Jan 13, 2023, 4:04 PM | Updated: 4:31 pm

Pitcher Shintaro Fujinami #17 of Japan signals in the top of the fourth inning during the World Bas...

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 10: Pitcher Shintaro Fujinami #17 of Japan signals in the top of the fourth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool B Game Six between China and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

The Oakland A’s continue to add to their rotation, agreeing to a one-year contract with Japanese pitcher Shintaro Fujinami.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports the A’s plan to use the 28-year-old pitcher in their rotation. Fujinami joins Oakland after 10 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers where he amassed a 57-54 record with a 3.41 ERA.

In the team’s press release announcing the signing, they note Fujinami “struck out 1,011 batters in 994.1 innings, an average of 9.15 per nine innings, but walked 459 for a mark of 4.15 per nine innings.”

“Fujinami was 3-5 with a 3.38 ERA and .240 opponents batting average in 16 games, including 10 starts, for Hanshin in the Japanese Central League last season,” the team said in its press release. “He walked just 21 batters in 66.2 innings for an average of 2.8 walks per nine innings, which was the lowest mark of his career, and struck out 65 for a career best strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.10.

A’s general manager David Forst plans to introduce Shintaro Fujinami in a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS:

Newsletter

Baseball

Zack Gelof #20 of the Oakland Athletics in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on...

Joseph Jarosz

A’s add Zack Gelof to 10-day injured list

A's second baseman Zack Gelof was added to the team's injured list for a strained left oblique. As part of the move, Oakland’s No. 4 ranked prospect Darrell Hernaiz returns to the Bay Area.

9 days ago

Former Giants manager Dusty Baker throws out the first pitch at Sutter Health Park...

Joseph Jarosz

Baseball Digest honors Dusty Baker with Lifetime Achievement Award

Dusty Baker is being honored for his 56 years as a combined player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.

9 days ago

Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning at...

Field Level Media

Giants turn to Ryan Walker in bid for sweep of Mets

The San Francisco Giants were quite active ahead of their bid for a three-game sweep of the visiting New York Mets on Wednesday afternoon.

10 days ago

Paul Blackburn #58 of the Oakland Athletics reacts in the first inning against the New York Yankees...

Field Level Media

Paul Blackburn earns first loss of season as Athletics fall to Yankees

Oakland starter Paul Blackburn (2-1) surrendered all four Yankees runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five over six innings.

10 days ago

Oakland Athletics players observe the national anthem in front of mostly empty seats before playing...

Joseph Jarosz

Jeff Passan: The A’s have had ’20 years of potential deals falling apart’

Add ESPN's Jeff Passan to the list of skeptics who don't believe the Oakland Athletics relocate to Las Vegas.

11 days ago

Seth Brown #15, JJ Bleday #33 and Lawrence Butler #4 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after defea...

Field Level Media

A’s take down Yankees with late homer from Zack Gelof in the ninth

Zack Gelof hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and the visiting Oakland Athletics eked out a 2-0 victory over the Yankees Monday afternoon in a game that featured a bizarre early ejection of New York manager Aaron Boone.

12 days ago

Oakland A’s agree to one-year contract with Shintaro Fujinami