The Houston Astros are banking on Tatsuya Imai to be a game-changer this season, and early signs suggest he might just live up to the hype. The 27-year-old Japanese pitcher has already made waves in Houston with his impressive arsenal, particularly his splitter, which has left teammates buzzing.
Imai entered the Astros’ fold with a mix of anticipation and skepticism. While offseason projections had him pegged for a much larger contract, he settled for a three-year deal worth up to $63 million. This discrepancy raised eyebrows and questions about what other teams might have seen-or missed.
But Imai has begun to answer those questions on the mound. During his first bullpen session, his splitter, in particular, drew rave reviews. Known for a fastball that touches the upper 90s and a devastating slider, Imai also brings a splitter that could be a key weapon in his pitching repertoire.
Japanese pitchers are renowned for their diverse pitch selection, and the splitter is a signature offering. While Imai’s fastball and slider were expected to be his standout pitches, it’s the splitter that’s now turning heads.
In his session, Imai faced five batters, including Astros stalwarts like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. The latter, along with Jake Meyers and Taylor Trammell, fell victim to Imai’s strikeout prowess.
Trammell, reflecting on Imai’s splitter, said, “I’ve never seen a pitch like that before in my life.” Correa echoed the sentiment, comparing Imai’s splitter to that of Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, known for his ability to make hitters chase.
Imai’s splitter doesn’t just drop; it complements his fastball in a way that could make it even more effective in the MLB than it was in Japan. Major league hitters, accustomed to high-velocity fastballs, may find themselves more vulnerable to Imai’s deceptive pitch mix.
Altuve, who didn’t face the splitter, was impressed by Imai’s slider and fastball. “The first impression is really good. He’s going to help this team a lot,” Altuve noted.
As the season unfolds, Imai’s ability to harness his splitter alongside his other pitches could be pivotal for the Astros. If his early performance is any indicator, Houston might have found a new ace to lead their rotation.