Hisashi Iwakuma
42-Year-Old
Free Agent
2024 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
Signs with the Yomiuri Giants
Iwakuma has signed a contract with the Yomiuri Giants for the 2019 season, the Kyodo News reports.
ANALYSIS
Iwakuma pitched in the minors in the Seattle organization last season as he worked his way back from September 2017 shoulder surgery. Turning 37 during the 2019 season, he seems unlikely to return to MLB down the road. Iwakuma previously played in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes (now Orix Buffaloes) and Rakuten Eagles.
Iwakuma pitched in the minors in the Seattle organization last season as he worked his way back from September 2017 shoulder surgery. Turning 37 during the 2019 season, he seems unlikely to return to MLB down the road. Iwakuma previously played in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes (now Orix Buffaloes) and Rakuten Eagles.
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2017
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Hisashi Iwakuma See More
Erik Halterman analyzes those moving up and down in baseball this week, including Cleveland's Mike Clevinger, who is looking good after a slow start to the season.
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Todd Zola ranks this weeks starting pitcher as Arizona's Zack Greinke continues to mow down batters, posting his highest K/9 in nearly a decade.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Iwakuma's 2017 season was completely derailed by shoulder issues, and he's not expected to be ready until May or June after having the shoulder cleaned up in late September. The shoulder was found to have some structural damage, which is especially troubling for a player approaching his 37th birthday. Iwakuma's peripherals had been in steady decline in recent seasons, with his once-elite walk rate more than tripling since 2014 (from 1.1 BB/9 to 3.5). Meanwhile, his strikeout rate has fallen from an already-modest level, down to just 4.7 K/9 in the abbreviated sample last season, and his home-run rate has gradually ticked up (to 2.03 HR/9). Prime Iwakuma wouldn't have been worth stashing for two months, and this lesser version certainly isn't, so he should be left for the waiver wire in nearly all leagues to begin the season. He agreed to return to the Mariners on a minor-league deal after the team declined his $10 million option.
More Fantasy News
Heading overseas
Iwakuma (shoulder) will attempt to play in Japan in 2019, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Big-league return in '18 unlikely
Iwakuma (shoulder) is still considered a long shot to pitch in a major-league game in 2018 according to manager Scott Servais, David Gottlieb of MLB.com reports. "He'd love to get in a game at some point, but we really haven't talked about it," Servais said. "I think he felt OK and his stuff was just OK. It's been a long time since he's pitched, so the expectations need to be realistic."
ANALYSIS
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Uneven in third rehab appearance
Iwakuma (shoulder) was charged with the loss in short-season Everett's defeat at the hands of Spokane on Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks over two innings. He recorded one strikeout.
ANALYSIS
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Another encouraging rehab outing
Iwakuma (shoulder) tossed two scoreless innings in short-season Everett's loss to Vancouver on Friday, walking one and striking out two.
ANALYSIS
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Gets back in game action
Iwakuma (shoulder) allowed an earned run on two hits over one inning in short-season Everett's win over Hillsboro on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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