Kyuji Fujikawa

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #22 prospect in 2014
  Fujikawa was one of Japan's top closers for the Hanshin Tigers from 2005-2012, and also pitched on Japan's 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic winners. He had to wait until he became a free agent to come to the U.S., signing with the Cubs on a two-year, $9.5 million contract in December 2012. He made the Opening Day roster in Chicago and saved a win against the Pirates in his big league debut. But Fujikawa missed a month with a strained right forearm, and after returning in May, he felt pain in his elbow in an outing against the Reds. A June exam with Dr. James Andrews revealed ligament damage in his elbow, and he had Tommy John surgery on June 11. Fujikawa was throwing off flat ground in Arizona in November, and the plan was for him to be game-ready in May 2014. When healthy, the veteran has a fastball that reached 95 mph and sat 91-94 with cut action. He relies on a split-finger fastball as his primary secondary pitch, so command of the fastball will be key if he wants to become the Cubs' closer in 2014.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #9 prospect in 2013
  Fujikawa made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut at age 19 and has been once of Japan's top relievers since 2005. He led the Central League with 46 saves in 2007 and 41 in 2011, and he recorded 220 saves and a 1.77 ERA in 12 seasons with Hanshin. He also was a regular on national teams, pitching in the 2008 Olympics and the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics. Fujikawa had asked the Hanshin Tigers to post him to a major league club for several years, but they declined and he had to wait to become a free agent this offseason. Chicago signed him in December to a two-year deal that's worth $9.5 million and includes a vesting option for 2015. Fujikawa throws harder than most Japanese pitchers, regularly operating with a 91-94 mph fastball. His out pitch is a mid-80s splitter, and he also uses an upper-70s slurve. He commands and controls his pitches well, with career averages of 11.9 strikeouts and 2.7 walks per nine innings in Japan. With his track record of pitching in the late innings and in international tournaments, he has no problems dealing with pressure. The Cubs are confident Fujikawa can handle the late innings but won't determine his specific role until spring training. Whether they ask him to close games probably depends on whether they trade Carlos Marmol.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Fujikawa made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut at age 19 and has been once of Japan's top relievers since 2005. He led the Central League with 46 saves in 2007 and 41 in 2011, and he recorded 220 saves and a 1.77 ERA in 12 seasons with Hanshin. He also was a regular on national teams, pitching in the 2008 Olympics and the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics. Fujikawa had asked the Hanshin Tigers to post him to a major league club for several years, but they declined and he had to wait to become a free agent this offseason. Chicago signed him in December to two-year deal that's worth $9.5 million and includes a vesting option for 2015. Scouting Report: Fujikawa throws harder than most Japanese pitchers, regularly operating with a 91-94 mph fastball. His out pitch is a mid-80s splitter, and he also uses an upper-70s slurve. He commands and controls his pitches well, with career averages of 11.9 strikeouts and 2.7 walks per nine innings in Japan. With his track record of pitching in the late innings and in international tournaments, he has no problems dealing with pressure. The Future: The Cubs are confident that Fujikawa can handle the late innings but won't determine his specific role until spring training. Whether they ask him to close games probably depends on whether they trade Carlos Marmol.