The Tampa Bay Rays announced Thursday that they have signed right-handed pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa to a minor-league deal and have invited him to big league Spring Training.
Uwasawa, who turns 30 on February 6, has spent his entire professional career with the Nippon Ham Fighters of NPB. In nine seasons, he had a career mark of 70-62 with a 3.19 earned run average in 173 appearances, including a 9-9 record and 2.96 ERA in 24 starts. The right-hander struck out 124 batters and walked 41 in 170 innings of work.
“I’m excited to join the Rays organization and grateful for the opportunity to begin a career in Major League Baseball,” Uwasawa said in a statement. “I decided to play for the Rays because the success and the rich history of pitching development really intrigued me.”
Check out some highlights of Uwasawa from his season in NPB.
Japanese media reported it earlier. I have halted to post this clip until US media refers it. Here is Uwasawa’s arsenal. Splitter, Two-seam, Curveball, and Cutter. You may see he can locate his fastball at the upper zone like other #Rays pitchers do. https://t.co/p7V9eGaZLN pic.twitter.com/AnqwKjICYM
— Homin Lee (@Homein22) December 17, 2023
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
