Yoshi Tsutsugo

Yoshi Tsutsugo

33-Year-Old First Baseman1B
 Free Agent  
2025 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Yoshi Tsutsugo in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Giants in December of 2023. Released by the Giants in March of 2024.
Signs with Giants
1BSan Francisco Giants  
December 8, 2023
Tsutsugo signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Tsutsugo spent all of last season in the minors, slashing .260/.401/.457 with 44 RBI across 279 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A in the Rangers' and Giants' organizations. The 32-year-old has just a .630 OPS in his MLB career, but a good spring and a hot start in the minors could earn him another chance in the bigs.
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Batting Stats
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2022
2021
2020
2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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Minor League Game Log
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
 
 
+1%
OPS vs LHP
2024
No Stats
2023
No Stats
2022
 
 
+1%
OPS vs LHP
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2022vs Left .480 64 4 1 8 0 .175 .234 .246
Since 2022vs Right .477 129 7 1 11 0 .168 .256 .221
2024vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022vs Left .480 64 4 1 8 0 .175 .234 .246
2022vs Right .477 129 7 1 11 0 .168 .256 .221
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Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
 
 
+27%
OPS at Home
2024
No Stats
2023
No Stats
2022
 
 
+27%
OPS at Home
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2022Home .530 105 6 1 12 0 .189 .286 .244
Since 2022Away .417 88 5 1 7 0 .150 .205 .213
2024Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022Home .530 105 6 1 12 0 .189 .286 .244
2022Away .417 88 5 1 7 0 .150 .205 .213
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Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Yoshi Tsutsugo See More
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 7, 2022
With all the recent transactions, Dan Marcus reviews some players who are set to take on much larger roles.
Todd's Takes: Trade Reactions, Part One
August 5, 2022
Todd Zola analyzes Thursday's MLB action with a specific focus on the effects of recent trades.
Collette Calls: Next Man Up
July 25, 2022
Jason Collette breaks down the players most likely to be dealt at the deadline as well as those who are set to benefit from increased playing time.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 10, 2022
Jan Levine gives his top NL pickups of the week, with Darick Hall looking worthy of a sizable bid.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 3, 2022
Jan Levine has identified a few relief pitching options, including one leading the way in Atlanta.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2016
Tsutsugo was a late-season surprise with Pittsburgh who became an unlikely FAAB find in many leagues. He was DFA'd by Tampa Bay early in the season and eventually dealt to the Dodgers with whom he found some Pacific Coast League success around little else before they too sent him packing. The Pirates grabbed him off the discard pile and he finished the season finally showing some ability to hit major-league pitching for one shining moment. Tsutsugo hit .306/.394/.682 in his first 100 plate appearances in a Pirates uniform, but then limped to the finish line with a .190/.244/.238 line over his final 45 plate appearances. He has had nearly 450 plate appearances at the big-league level, and that hot streak is the only thing which has kept him above the Mendoza Line as his career line is .209/.309/.388. He has simply been overpowered by velocity for most of his time in the majors and the 100 plate appearances should not outweigh the other 350.
Players arriving from overseas always come with plenty of intrigue, and that was as true as ever for Tsutsugo last offseason. There was added mystery in this case, as it wasn't entirely clear where he fit within the Rays' collection of largely mediocre corner bats, which was as deep as ever. Even after one season in the league, Tsutsugo's value remains somewhat hard to place. He hit just .197 in his MLB debut, but a strong 14.1 BB% and eight homers helped him to a respectable enough 98 wRC+. That mark isn't good enough for a corner player, especially one who played a lot of DH and graded very poorly at third base (though he did at least look good in left field). If that's all Tsutsugo is, expect his role to decrease going forward, but there's perhaps reason to expect at least a bit more, though a good bit of his poor average appears to be on him, as Statcast's .212 xBA still wouldn't be a strong mark.
Tsutsugo, who inked a two-year, $12 million deal with the Rays this offseason, has been one of Japan's top power hitters with 29 home runs last season and 38 in 2018. He led Team Japan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic with a 1.113 OPS and has had an OPS of .899 or better while averaging 35 home runs the past four seasons in NPB. He had a 15.7 BB% last season and has a career .382 OBP. His 25.3 K% last season was well up from the 18.4 K% he logged in 2018, which is mildly concerning. Tsutsugo impressed the Rays in a private workout at the Winter Meetings, so they acted fast to acquire his left-handed power bat. Designated hitter, left field and third base are the positions they plan to try him at. Tampa Bay is not in the habit of handing out bad contracts, especially to bat-first players. The playing time should be there, and while he may not hit for a high average, he could be an asset in HR, RBI and OBP.
After spending a couple years on the horizon, Tsutsugoh broke out in 2014 after transitioning to the outfield, and hasn't looked back. He followed up a solid .300/.373/.529 with a better .317/.400/.522 line in 2015, improving his contact skills and his ability to drive the ball. Tsutsugoh has realistic 40 homer upside (in Japan), and has MLB aspirations dating back to his high school days.
More Fantasy News
Nabs MiLB deal from Giants
1BSan Francisco Giants  
August 21, 2023
Tsutsugo agreed to a minor-league contract with the Giants on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
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Opts out of deal
1BFree Agent  
June 22, 2023
Tsutsugo opted out of his minor-league contract with the Rangers and became a free agent Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
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Fails to make Opening Day squad
1BTexas Rangers  
March 24, 2023
The Rangers informed Tsutsugo on Friday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
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Reports to camp
1BTexas Rangers  
Personal
March 5, 2023
Tsutsugo reported to MLB camp Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
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Yet to report due to visa issues
1BTexas Rangers  
March 3, 2023
Tsutsugo has yet to report to Rangers camp because of visa issues, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Discussing new deal with Giants
1BSan Francisco Giants  
November 8, 2023
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Wednesday that the club is aiming to re-sign Tsutsugo, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Tsutsugo joined the Giants on a minor-league contract this past August and went on to post a robust .296/.465/.537 batting line with four home runs and 11 RBI in 17 games between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento. The soon-to-be 32-year-old hasn't played in a game at the MLB level since 2022, when he struggled to a .478 OPS in 193 plate appearances with the Pirates.
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