Houston welcomes Tatsuya Imai, a new reinforcement for the Astros.
Imai Arrives in Houston with Championship Ambitions
The Japanese right-handed pitcher, Tatsuya Imai, has made his intentions clear since his official presentation with the Houston Astros. With a smile, Imai expressed his enthusiasm for competing for the world championship. The Astros and Imai finalized a three-year, $54 million contract, thus strengthening the team’s rotation, which is seeking new talent after Framber Valdez’s departure.Imai, 27, joins the Astros after a standout season with the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League, where he achieved a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA, accumulating 178 strikeouts in 163⅔ innings. Over eight seasons with Seibu, the three-time All-Star in Japan had a 58-45 record with a 3.15 ERA, totaling 907 strikeouts in 963⅔ innings. Manager Joe Espada praised Imai’s arrival, highlighting his competitive mentality and his desire to win the championship.We needed to reinforce our rotation. We feel he fits. He has good quality, an excellent way of pitching and we believe his performance will be optimal at the Major League level.
Dana Brown, General Manager
The Astros owner, Jim Crane, hopes that the incorporation of Imai will be the first of many arrivals from Asia, as the team is focused on attracting more players from that continent. Recently, staff have been added in Tokyo, Taiwan, and Seoul to facilitate this plan. The signing of Imai is a boost for a team that failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, affected by injuries. Imai revealed that he began to seriously consider his move to MLB after meeting with agent Scott Boras about five years ago. Known for his competitive spirit, Imai attributes his mentality to his aversion to defeat since he was a child. Imai also showed his lighter side, mentioning his interaction with the fans and his desire to give back the support received. He showed his playful side by recounting a direct message he received from Josh Hader, the Astros’ closer, who welcomed him to the team. Josh Hader’s message: “Basically, he welcomed me to the Houston Astros and also sent me his phone number saying: ‘Hey, let me know if you need anything'”.Pitching can always be improved. What has caught my attention the most from my conversations with Imai is how much he mentions the word “champion”. I love that about him because he is a competitor. You can see his grit and determination, and I’m excited to have him on board.
Joe Espada, Manager
