Tatsuya Imai’s first season with the Houston Astros has turned into one long question mark, and the latest twist is a familiar one: he’s finally looked useful out of the bullpen, even as the bigger plan remains unresolved.
Since moving to relief at the start of August, Imai has turned in two appearances and thrown six scoreless innings. The strikeout rate has spiked too, with Imai fanning nearly 35% of the hitters he’s faced. His control has also tightened up, as he’s walked just two of the 23 batters he’s seen in the bullpen.
That kind of stretch is enough to make the Astros feel like they may have found a role that works for him. But it also underlines the problem.
Imai’s three-year, $54 million deal was built around him growing into a starting pitcher, and that hasn’t happened. Houston still needs help in the rotation, but a return there this season does not sound likely.
The Athletic’s Chandler Rome has continued to dig into Imai’s place with the club, and the picture remains murky. The early-season friction between player and team hasn’t disappeared, and while there have been signs of progress, there’s also been plenty of frustration. What’s missing is clarity.
Imai, though, was direct about where he stands.
“I want to be a starter and back in the rotation, but right now, we’re in a tough situation where we want to win this division,” Imai said. “The second team and third team are really close behind.
We have to win these games. That’s why I really understand how the team has made the decision.”
That answer makes one thing plain: Imai understands why the Astros have kept him in a role that helps them now, even if it doesn’t match the long-term vision. For this season, he seems prepared to accept that.
“It’s my rookie year. Yes, I do have to perform, but I have to adjust and experience everything so it goes smooth in my second year and third year,” Imai said.
“I think, for now, I just have to try out everything and perform well. For my second year and third year, I want to be back in the rotation and perform like I did in NPB.”
The recent bullpen success is real, but it only goes so far. For the Astros, the real test is still ahead, because the investment was never meant to stop here. Imai was supposed to become a starter, and the club still has to figure out what that means for the rest of his time in Houston.
That uncertainty could spill into the offseason, too. Brown’s handling of Imai’s failure as a starter may end up being part of the case against him if he is not retained as general manager after the season.
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