Shogo Akiyama

Shogo Akiyama

36-Year-Old OutfielderOF
 Free Agent  Foreign
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Shogo Akiyama in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Padres in April of 2022. Released by the Padres in June of 2022.
Returns to Japan
OFFree Agent  F
June 26, 2022
Akiyama agreed Sunday with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball on a three-year contract, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
A return to his native Japan always looked to be a likely outcome for Akiyama after he opted out of his minor-league contract with the Padres earlier this month. The 34-year-old outfielder signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Reds in January 2020, but he never made much of a splash in North America. He didn't appear in any MLB games in 2022 and slashed .224/.320/.274 across 366 career plate appearances with Cincinnati.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Shogo Akiyama See More
Todd's Takes: Reviewing More of the Moves and ADP
December 14, 2022
Todd Zola breaks down the latest offseason transactions, ranging from big moves like Aaron Judge's return to the Bronx to small moves feature interesting relievers and part-timers.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
April 3, 2022
Jan Levine kicks off the column for the season and dives right into all the NL positional battles.
Spring Training Job Battles: National League
April 2, 2022
Erik Halterman surveys the NL for the latest job battles, including the Dodgers where Tony Gonsolin is fighting for a rotation spot.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
September 19, 2021
The season may be winding down, but Jan Levine continues to offer a number of NL names to get you through the fantasy schedule.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 22, 2021
We're approaching crunch time in fantasy baseball and Jan Levine analyzes the better available players, including a closer who's taken control in Washington.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2016
Akiyama was the third part of the Reds' offseason attempts to boost their offense, at least in terms of expenditure, and the least successful. He did some things right, walking at a 13.7% rate that is what you want at the top of the order, and he stole seven bases in 10 attempts. Unfortunately, Akiyama is still looking for his first major-league homer and had only seven extra-base hits total. His 85.1 mph average exit velocity and .052 ISO confirm that this lack of power was not a fluke. For a player with so little power, he has to hit for a better average (.254) and/or steal more bases to have value in our games. There was some hope that Akiyama would hit for at least nominal power, having hit 69 homers over his last three years in Japan. Alas, he's turning out to be more like Akinori Iwamura, who hit 16 major league homers over four seasons despite hitting 106 homers in the previous three seasons before coming to MLB.
Akiyama is a five-time NPB All-Star and batting champion who will move to Major League Baseball after signing a three-year deal with the Reds. Akiyama hit .303 with 20 home runs, 13 steals and an .864 OPS in 2019. He makes solid contact (81.7%) and draws walks (11.5 BB%), but it's not clear if his power will translate to MLB. He was an above-average center fielder earlier in his career, but has declined as he's entered his 30s. His defense may still be an asset in the corner outfield at age 32 this season. Akiyama fractured a bone in his right foot during an exhibition game in November, so he may be slowed at the start of spring training, but the Reds like his OBP skills atop the order against right-handed pitching. The leadoff job vs. RHP in Cincinnati should prove fruitful enough for a starting spot in most leagues that require five starting outfielders.
Coming off a .359/.419/.522 season, Akiyama seems superficially worthy of a much higher ranking, but for now it's prudent to be conservative. Prior to his explosive 2015, Akiyama was a career .270 hitter with modest power who mainly drew accolades for defense. A clearly more aggressive plate approach lead to a dramatic breakout in 2015, but time will tell if it's sustainable. At age 27 with five years of service time, he's a few years away from free agency and will likely spend his prime years in Japan.
More Fantasy News
Opts out of deal with Padres
OFFree Agent  F
June 16, 2022
Akiyama is opting out of his minor-league deal with the Padres and may be headed overseas to continue his career, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Signs minors deal with Padres
OFSan Diego Padres  F
April 30, 2022
Akiyama agreed to a minor-league contract with the Padres on Saturday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
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Cut loose by Cincinnati
OFFree Agent  F
April 5, 2022
The Reds released Akiyama on Tuesday.
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Misses Opening Day roster
OFCincinnati Reds  F
April 3, 2022
The Reds informed Akiyama on Sunday he won't make the Opening Day roster, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
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Reports to camp healthy
OFCincinnati Reds  F
March 12, 2022
Akiyama arrived at camp Saturday and said he's fully recovered from the hamstring injury that sidelined him at the end of last season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Set for Japan return
OFFree Agent  F
June 20, 2022
Akiyama is set to return to Japan after not receiving any MLB offers following his release from the Padres, according to The Japan Times.
ANALYSIS
Akiyama was released from his minor-league contract with San Diego earlier this month and did not receive offers to continue his career stateside, so he is widely expected to return to Japan. The 34-year-old outfielder is expected to sign with a team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, most likely the Seibu Lions, where he spent the first nine years of his career.
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