More on Sugano's jump from Japan to the Orioles

One of the most important questions relating to the Orioles was attached earlier this week. It came out of nowhere.

Well, it’s actually Japan, but still unexpected with the rotation chatter and speculation focusing on trades and the major league free-agent market.  

Will Tomoyuki Sugano’s stuff translate to similar results in the U.S.?

Sugano will be the third Japanese pitcher to appear with the Orioles, an important distinction because Tsuyoshi Wada underwent ligament-reconstructive elbow surgery in May 2012, was released the following year and never made it past Triple-A with them. He doesn’t count. Zero return on the two-year, $8.15 million contract he received.

(Easily forgotten is how the Cubs signed Wada in 2014 and he tossed six hitless innings against the Orioles on Aug. 24 at Wrigley Field. Steve Pearce led off the seventh with a home run.)

Koji Uehara pitched for the Orioles from 2009 until his trade to the Rangers in 2011 that netted Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. He signed for $10 million over two years, with $6 million possible in incentives, and was re-signed for $3 million in December 2010.

Uehara was two years younger than Sugano, who signed for $13 million. They’re the only Japanese players acquired as international free agents.

Shintaro Fujinami made 30 relief appearances in 2023 after the Orioles acquired him from the Athletics for minor league pitcher Easton Lucas. Fujinami could throw a baseball through a battleship, if he could hit the ship.

Sugano doesn’t bring that kind of triple-digit velocity. He’s become more of a low-90s fastball pitcher with a broad secondary mix that includes a cutter, slider, sinker, curveball and splitter. But especially impressive is his command. He’s averaged 1.7 walks per nine innings in 12 seasons in the Japan Central League.

Sugano walked only 16 batters this year in 156 2/3 innings. He’s a pitch-to-contact guy, averaging 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings and fanning 111 this year. The Orioles will find out whether that works in the majors.

“I’m obviously not a guy who throws 100 mph, but I’m very confident in my control, command, my pitch mix,” he said yesterday via his agent and interpreter in a video call. “That’s why I’ve had a lot of success in Japan, and I’m not looking to really change anything now. I want to use my pitch selection, my pitch mix, my command to pitch in the States and see where it takes me from there.”

The Orioles are paying Zach Eflin $18 million in 2025 after acquiring him from the Rays in a deadline trade. He’s averaged 1.9 walks and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings in nine seasons. And the similarity doesn’t stop there. Eflin also throws six pitches – a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, sweeper, changeup and curveball.

Eflin has developed a track record in the majors, and that’s a pronounced separator from Sugano, who can brag about his six strikeouts in six innings against Team USA in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic but must back seven years to cull the memory.

It would require an impressive and unexpected climb for Sugano to pass Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez in the rotation order. He’s currently a three or four depending on where Dean Kremer fits and could drop to fifth if the Orioles sign or trade for a top starter.

The depth would be tremendous with Albert Suárez, Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers and others on the outside of a five-man alignment.

Notes: Former Orioles left-hander Nick Vespi has signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. The contract includes an invitation to spring training and a July opt-out clause.

Vespi, who’s out of minor league options, made 11 relief appearances this year and allowed four runs in 12 1/3 innings. He’s 6-0 with a 3.88 ERA in 45 career games.

* Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann, a Baltimore native, signed a minor league contract with the Brewers. He also gets a spring training invite.

Zimmermann didn’t pitch in the majors this year. He made 38 appearances (27 starts) over the past four seasons and registered a 5.57 ERA.

A highlight for Zimmermann was starting the home opener in 2022. He tossed four scoreless innings against the Brewers.

* Former Orioles outfielder Cristian Pache signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks. He’ll compete for a backup job as a non-roster invitee.

Pache appeared in only three games with the Orioles after they acquired him from the Phillies with reliever Seranthony Domínguez for outfielder Austin Hays at the trade deadline. The Marlins selected him on waivers Aug. 2.