Junichi Tazawa
| IP | 395 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.124 |
| WHIP | 1.322 |
| BB/9 | 2.484 |
| SO/9 | 8.522 |
- Full name Junichi Tazawa
- Born 06/06/1986 in Yokohama, Japan
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Yokohama College Of Commerce
- Debut 08/07/2009
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Tazawa starred in Japan's industrial leagues and created a furor when he asked Japanese major league teams to let him go undrafted so he could play in the United States. After signing a three-year, $3.3 million big league deal with the Red Sox in December 2008, he reached Boston eight months later. He didn't pitch at all in 2010, however, after injuring his elbow in big league camp and requiring Tommy John surgery in April. Before he got hurt, Tazawa went after hitters with four average pitches and plus control. His fastball command made his 88-92 heater his best pitch, and his slider and splitter were effective as well. He also threw a curveball to give hitters a different look. Tazawa isn't big and wore down at the end of 2009, getting in trouble against major league hitters when he left pitches up in the zone. His funky arm action gave him deception but also may have contributed to his elbow problems. Tazawa's ceiling is as a No. 4 starter or a seventh-inning reliever, and he'll find more opportunity with the Red Sox in the latter role. He'll be ready for spring training but Boston may wait until the weather warms up in May before turning him loose in Triple-A. -
A star in Japan's industrial league, Tazawa created a furor in his homeland when he asked Japanese big league clubs not to draft him so he could play in the United States. He signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract with the Red Sox in December 2008 and reached the majors eight months later. He gave up a game-winning homer to Alex Rodriguez in his first game with Boston but later blanked the Yankees for six innings in his third big league start. Tazawa aggressively goes after hitters with four pitches, and scouts can't agree which is the best. Some like his 88-92 fastball because he commands it so well, others point to his slider and others note that his splitter is a plus pitch at its best. He also throws a curveball. Though he's short, his clean delivery and strong frame give him the durability needed to start. Because he lacks a true plus pitch, Tazawa has to keep the ball down to succeed. He tends to miss up in the strike zone when his command is off, and that happened more frequently when he tired at the end of the season. He needs to get stronger. With no opening in Boston's rotation, Tazawa figures to open 2010 in Triple-A. He'll continue to develop as a starter, though his opportunity could come as a reliever. -
After graduating from high school, Tazawa played for Nippon Oil ENEOS in a Japanese industrial league but did not sign with a Japanese professional team. He caught the attention of U.S. teams at the World Cup in Taiwan in November 2007, and he made waves by asking Japanese clubs not to select him in their 2008 draft. Tazawa, who likely would have been the top pick in that draft, wanted to immediately begin his career in the United States. Nippon Professional Baseball was not happy with the decision, and though it allowed him to leave, it also passed a rule where any amateur who spurns the Japanese draft to play overseas is banned from returning to play for a Japanese team for two years (three if he left as a high schooler). The pursuit of Tazawa heated up this fall, when he won MVP honors after carrying Nippon Oil to its first championship in the 32-team Intercity Baseball Tournament since 1995, then led the ENEOS to the semifinals of the industrial league's corporate championship. In his final outing at the latter event, he struck out 10 in a complete-game shutout. The Red Sox signed Tazawa in December to a three-year, $3.3 million major league contract that included a $1.8 million bonus. The Braves, Mariners and Rangers also made offers, with Texas reportedly dangling a four-year, $7 million deal. Boston won out because international scouts Jon Deeble and Craig Shipley showed interest early and because Tazawa wanted to play with Daisuke Matsuzaka. The consensus among several international scouts is that Tazawa's talent is equivalent to that of a late or supplemental first-round pick. Using the slightly smaller Japanese baseball, he showed good command of a low-90s fastball, a splitter that ranks as his best pitch and a pair of breaking balls (his slider is better than his curveball). He's a bit undersized at 6 feet and 175 pounds, but his clean delivery and strong shoulders and legs lend themselves to durability. He also has some deception that makes him tougher to hit. Tazawa likely will begin his career in Double-A. While he could reach Boston quickly as a reliever, his potential for two or three plus pitches and his advanced command make him intriguing as a possible starter.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The Red Sox signed Tazawa out of Japan with a major league contract that included a $1.8 million bonus. In his first pro season, Tazawa showed plenty of polish and zipped to the big leagues after 20 minor league starts, beating the Tigers in his first big league start. The only knock on Tazawa is his smallish frame. He has excellent command but when he misses, he often misses up, making him home run prone. While his knack for pitching and ability to throw quality strikes are his best attributes, Tazawa is no soft tosser. At times his fastball sat in the 90-94 mph range, and his slider, curveball and forkball all can be swing-and-miss pitches. His feel for pitching and confidence help him mix his pitches effectively, as he throws them all for strikes in any count. He also pitched efficiently; in one start just prior to the Futures Game, he needed just 49 pitches to log five innings and beat Binghamton.
