Tsuyoshi Shinjo
| AB | 876 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .245 |
| OBP | .299 |
| SLG | .37 |
| HR | 20 |
- Full name Tsuyoshi Shinjo
- Born 01/28/1972 in Nagasaki, Japan
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Nishinihon Tandai Fuzoku
- Debut 04/03/2001
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Shinjo became the second Japanese position player (after the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki) to sign a major league contract when the Mets gave the seven-time Central League Gold Glove outfielder a guaranteed one-year, $700,000 deal. In his 10 years in Japan, Shinjo made four all-star teams. He is a good fastball hitter who can run and has the ability to play all three outfield positions. He has a little power, as he showed with his 28 home runs and 85 RBIs for the Hanshin Tigers in 2000. In the annual U.S.-Japan major league exhibition series in November, he hit .409 in 22 at-bats. Shinjo doesn't draw many walks and never has hit for a particularly high average. His on-base percentage last year was just .321, and major league pitchers may be able to exploit his impatience. Considering how U.S. journeymen such as Sherman Obando and Bobby Rose dominate in Japan, Shinjo's statistics hardly are inspiring. Shinjo projects as a reserve outfielder for the Mets. He'll likely be used as a defensive replacement, pinch-runner and pinch-hitter.
