The next big name Japanese pitcher is preparing to jump to MLB. Jon Heyman reports Seibu Lions left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, arguably the best pitcher in Japan in Year One post-Shohei Ohtani, is expected to be posted after the season, though of course nothing is set in stone. “He’s coming,” said one source to Heyman.
Kikuchi, 26, has allowed eight runs in three starts and 21 innings in the early going this season. Last year he threw 187.2 innings with a 1.97 ERA and a 217/49 K/BB, and from 2015-17, Kikuchi threw 463.2 innings with a 2.