Hirokazu Sawamura
36-Year-Old
Free Agent
2024 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
2025 Projections
Returns to Japan
Sawamura returned to Japan on Saturday to sign with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
ANALYSIS
Sawamura threw 103.2 innings of relief for the Red Sox over the last two years. His 3.39 ERA was a strong mark, but it was paired with a 4.16 FIP and 4.56 SIERA, as he walked 13.0 percent of opposing batters. It's no surprise that the 34-year-old's underlying numbers weren't enough to secure another major-league deal.
Sawamura threw 103.2 innings of relief for the Red Sox over the last two years. His 3.39 ERA was a strong mark, but it was paired with a 4.16 FIP and 4.56 SIERA, as he walked 13.0 percent of opposing batters. It's no surprise that the 34-year-old's underlying numbers weren't enough to secure another major-league deal.
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
2022
2021
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-30%
BAA vs LHP
2024
No Stats
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022vs Left | .188 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 2 | |||
| Since 2022vs Right | .267 | 23 | 15 | 32 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022vs Left | .188 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 2 | |||
| 2022vs Right | .267 | 23 | 15 | 32 | 2 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-86%
ERA on Road
2024
No Stats
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022Home | 5.83 | 1.81 | 29.1 | 6.8 | 5.8 | ||||
| Since 2022Away | 0.84 | 0.89 | 21.1 | 7.6 | 3.4 | ||||
| 2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Home | 5.83 | 1.81 | 29.1 | 6.8 | 5.8 | ||||
| 2022Away | 0.84 | 0.89 | 21.1 | 7.6 | 3.4 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Hirokazu Sawamura See More
Brad Johnson discusses AL bullpens with question marks still remaining, like in Boston where Matt Barnes has closer ability but continues to struggle.
Brad Johnson reviews AL bullpens with question marks as we dive into the 2022 season, including in Minnesota where Taylor Rodgers should be one of the more productive closers in the AL.
Todd Zola ranks players by position for fantasy playoff leagues. Chicago's Jose Abreu is tough to beat at first base.
Brad Johnson wraps up his bullpen series with a look at the American League East, where in Tampa, Tyler Glasnow leads the Rays pitching.
Erik Halterman details the top prospective free agents from the KBO and NPB, such as shortstop Ha-seong Kim, as well as the top prospects to monitor from across the Pacific.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
Sawamura made his way to the majors in 2021 after a 10-year professional career in Japan with 75 career saves. Armed with a mid-90s fastball (45% pitch %), effective split finger (39%) and slider (15%), the 33-year-old primarily pitched in middle relief for the Red Sox. The right-hander went 5-1 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11 holds over 53 innings, though his 4.24 xERA and 4.99 FIP suggests he was a bit lucky. Long balls were a concern (1.5 HR/9) as a result of Sawamura throwing his fastball too far down in the zone, though he did compensate for it with a 51.8% groundball rate. Sawamura will need a strong spring to earn a higher-leverage role with Boston. There's a possibility he enters the mix for saves if manager Alex Cora deploys a closer committee again, but he'll likely need to cut his 13.7% walk rate in half to draw consideration.
More Fantasy News
Sent packing by Boston
Sawamura was released by the Red Sox on Sunday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Clears waivers
The Red Sox outrighted Sawamura to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
DFA'd by Boston
Sawamura was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Sunday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Back in big-league bullpen
Sawamura was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Optioned to Worcester
Sawamura was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Ready to negotiate with MLB teams
Sawamura is traveling to the United States to negotiate with MLB teams, Sung Min Kim of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Sawamura has worked exclusively out of the bullpen since 2015 while pitching for both the Yomiuri Giants and Chiba Lotte Marines. He is known for his velocity -- he sits in the mid-90s and can hit 99 mph -- and has struck out more than one batter per inning in every campaign since 2017. Entering his age-33 season, Sawamura could prove to be a valuable middle reliever if he is able to reach terms with a major-league club.
Sawamura has worked exclusively out of the bullpen since 2015 while pitching for both the Yomiuri Giants and Chiba Lotte Marines. He is known for his velocity -- he sits in the mid-90s and can hit 99 mph -- and has struck out more than one batter per inning in every campaign since 2017. Entering his age-33 season, Sawamura could prove to be a valuable middle reliever if he is able to reach terms with a major-league club.