Yusei Kikuchi Makes Promising Debut In Blue Jays Bullpen After Demotion

The Blue Jays were very appreciative of the offer. “Absolutely professional,” Snyder said. But they felt a stint as a reliever at this point made the most sense for both Kikuchi himself and the club as a whole. His first inning of relief since the 2015 season with the Seibu Lions in Japan came in Thursday night’s 9-2 shutout of the New York Yankees and he immediately impressed. “I love the way he was around the zone,” Schneider said. “I thought he did an amazing job and I’m excited for him.” The outing featured some emotional days for both Kikuchi and the club. On Monday, he showed flashes of the pitcher he could be, but allowed six runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. By Wednesday afternoon, after that fateful conversation, he was in the Blue Jays’ bullpen after making the “very difficult” offer to spend time in triple-A. “I was ready and prepared to do what’s best for the team,” Kikuchi said through interpreter Kevin Ando. “Snyder mentioned that going to the bullpen was probably the best move for the team. I’m looking forward to playing my part there, helping the team in any way I can. And I just prepare for it and whenever that opportunity comes, just make the most of it.” Before the game, Schneider had reflected on how Kikuchi’s stuff might play out in a reliever role, joking that “a lefty who throws 99 is a nice thing to have.” Kikuchi didn’t pitch well Wednesday, clocking in at 97.4 mph, but his fastball was 96.2, down from his season average of 94.8, and in seven swings, he got three whiffs, two foul balls, one groundball single and a lazy fly out, ending with two strikes. That will play, especially if the Blue Jays plan to use him in low-pressure spots for now, as they did in Thursday’s eighth inning. Perhaps over the course of the final 45 games of the season he gains the confidence to play in a higher leverage role, and in the postseason, that profile could really be weaponized by a bullpen still looking for more swing-and-sight. For now, though, the switch keeps Kikuchi around in case something happens to another starter, and maybe the experience in relief helps him step into the mound in a way that serves him if he returns to the rotation down the road. “I might find something that would benefit me as a starter as well,” Kikuchi said. “As a starter, I always throw like 30 pitches before I come into the game. Now, in some cases, it might be five pitches and then I get right in. These experiences can actually be very positive for myself. I might feel like, Hey, I don’t necessarily need this whole warm-up routine or 30 pitches on opening day to get ready. I look forward to these little things.” Kikuchi is also eager to finally start again, and with the Blue Jays’ starting depth dangerously thin now that Mitch White is in the rotation, the possibility of him being called up at some point this season cannot be ruled out. Bigger picture, with Ross Stripling pending free agency, the Blue Jays have Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah locked in for next year with White as well, so his path has broader implications. The three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays in the spring was front-loaded, so he’s owed $10 million in each of the next two seasons, a salary that provides significant payroll if he logs effective innings. Regardless, Kikuchi tries to stay ready. “Absolutely,” he said looking at another starting point. “We still have a little bit of the season left, you never know what’s going to happen with the rotation, there could be some injuries or whatever. So I will always be prepared to be able to jump again at any time.”

title: “Yusei Kikuchi Makes Promising Debut In Blue Jays Bullpen After Demotion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-19” author: “Christina Williams”

The Blue Jays were very appreciative of the offer. “Absolutely professional,” Snyder said. But they felt a stint as a reliever at this point made the most sense for both Kikuchi himself and the club as a whole. His first inning of relief since the 2015 season with the Seibu Lions in Japan came in Thursday night’s 9-2 shutout of the New York Yankees and he immediately impressed. “I love the way he was around the zone,” Schneider said. “I thought he did an amazing job and I’m excited for him.” The outing featured some emotional days for both Kikuchi and the club. On Monday, he showed flashes of the pitcher he could be, but allowed six runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. By Wednesday afternoon, after that fateful conversation, he was in the Blue Jays’ bullpen after making the “very difficult” offer to spend time in triple-A. “I was ready and prepared to do what’s best for the team,” Kikuchi said through interpreter Kevin Ando. “Snyder mentioned that going to the bullpen was probably the best move for the team. I’m looking forward to playing my part there, helping the team in any way I can. And I just prepare for it and whenever that opportunity comes, just make the most of it.” Before the game, Schneider had reflected on how Kikuchi’s stuff might play out in a reliever role, joking that “a lefty who throws 99 is a nice thing to have.” Kikuchi didn’t pitch well Wednesday, clocking in at 97.4 mph, but his fastball was 96.2, down from his season average of 94.8, and in seven swings, he got three whiffs, two foul balls, one groundball single and a lazy fly out, ending with two strikes. That will play, especially if the Blue Jays plan to use him in low-pressure spots for now, as they did in Thursday’s eighth inning. Perhaps over the course of the final 45 games of the season he gains the confidence to play in a higher leverage role, and in the postseason, that profile could really be weaponized by a bullpen still looking for more swing-and-sight. For now, though, the switch keeps Kikuchi around in case something happens to another starter, and maybe the experience in relief helps him step into the mound in a way that serves him if he returns to the rotation down the road. “I might find something that would benefit me as a starter as well,” Kikuchi said. “As a starter, I always throw like 30 pitches before I come into the game. Now, in some cases, it might be five pitches and then I get right in. These experiences can actually be very positive for myself. I might feel like, Hey, I don’t necessarily need this whole warm-up routine or 30 pitches on opening day to get ready. I look forward to these little things.” Kikuchi is also eager to finally start again, and with the Blue Jays’ starting depth dangerously thin now that Mitch White is in the rotation, the possibility of him being called up at some point this season cannot be ruled out. Bigger picture, with Ross Stripling pending free agency, the Blue Jays have Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah locked in for next year with White as well, so his path has broader implications. The three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays in the spring was front-loaded, so he’s owed $10 million in each of the next two seasons, a salary that provides significant payroll if he logs effective innings. Regardless, Kikuchi tries to stay ready. “Absolutely,” he said looking at another starting point. “We still have a little bit of the season left, you never know what’s going to happen with the rotation, there could be some injuries or whatever. So I will always be prepared to be able to jump again at any time.”

title: “Yusei Kikuchi Makes Promising Debut In Blue Jays Bullpen After Demotion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-04” author: “Dorothy Sweitzer”

The Blue Jays were very appreciative of the offer. “Absolutely professional,” Snyder said. But they felt a stint as a reliever at this point made the most sense for both Kikuchi himself and the club as a whole. His first inning of relief since the 2015 season with the Seibu Lions in Japan came in Thursday night’s 9-2 shutout of the New York Yankees and he immediately impressed. “I love the way he was around the zone,” Schneider said. “I thought he did an amazing job and I’m excited for him.” The outing featured some emotional days for both Kikuchi and the club. On Monday, he showed flashes of the pitcher he could be, but allowed six runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. By Wednesday afternoon, after that fateful conversation, he was in the Blue Jays’ bullpen after making the “very difficult” offer to spend time in triple-A. “I was ready and prepared to do what’s best for the team,” Kikuchi said through interpreter Kevin Ando. “Snyder mentioned that going to the bullpen was probably the best move for the team. I’m looking forward to playing my part there, helping the team in any way I can. And I just prepare for it and whenever that opportunity comes, just make the most of it.” Before the game, Schneider had reflected on how Kikuchi’s stuff might play out in a reliever role, joking that “a lefty who throws 99 is a nice thing to have.” Kikuchi didn’t pitch well Wednesday, clocking in at 97.4 mph, but his fastball was 96.2, down from his season average of 94.8, and in seven swings, he got three whiffs, two foul balls, one groundball single and a lazy fly out, ending with two strikes. That will play, especially if the Blue Jays plan to use him in low-pressure spots for now, as they did in Thursday’s eighth inning. Perhaps over the course of the final 45 games of the season he gains the confidence to play in a higher leverage role, and in the postseason, that profile could really be weaponized by a bullpen still looking for more swing-and-sight. For now, though, the switch keeps Kikuchi around in case something happens to another starter, and maybe the experience in relief helps him step into the mound in a way that serves him if he returns to the rotation down the road. “I might find something that would benefit me as a starter as well,” Kikuchi said. “As a starter, I always throw like 30 pitches before I come into the game. Now, in some cases, it might be five pitches and then I get right in. These experiences can actually be very positive for myself. I might feel like, Hey, I don’t necessarily need this whole warm-up routine or 30 pitches on opening day to get ready. I look forward to these little things.” Kikuchi is also eager to finally start again, and with the Blue Jays’ starting depth dangerously thin now that Mitch White is in the rotation, the possibility of him being called up at some point this season cannot be ruled out. Bigger picture, with Ross Stripling pending free agency, the Blue Jays have Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah locked in for next year with White as well, so his path has broader implications. The three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays in the spring was front-loaded, so he’s owed $10 million in each of the next two seasons, a salary that provides significant payroll if he logs effective innings. Regardless, Kikuchi tries to stay ready. “Absolutely,” he said looking at another starting point. “We still have a little bit of the season left, you never know what’s going to happen with the rotation, there could be some injuries or whatever. So I will always be prepared to be able to jump again at any time.”

title: “Yusei Kikuchi Makes Promising Debut In Blue Jays Bullpen After Demotion Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Andrea Semple”

The Blue Jays were very appreciative of the offer. “Absolutely professional,” Snyder said. But they felt a stint as a reliever at this point made the most sense for both Kikuchi himself and the club as a whole. His first inning of relief since the 2015 season with the Seibu Lions in Japan came in Thursday night’s 9-2 shutout of the New York Yankees and he immediately impressed. “I love the way he was around the zone,” Schneider said. “I thought he did an amazing job and I’m excited for him.” The outing featured some emotional days for both Kikuchi and the club. On Monday, he showed flashes of the pitcher he could be, but allowed six runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. By Wednesday afternoon, after that fateful conversation, he was in the Blue Jays’ bullpen after making the “very difficult” offer to spend time in triple-A. “I was ready and prepared to do what’s best for the team,” Kikuchi said through interpreter Kevin Ando. “Snyder mentioned that going to the bullpen was probably the best move for the team. I’m looking forward to playing my part there, helping the team in any way I can. And I just prepare for it and whenever that opportunity comes, just make the most of it.” Before the game, Schneider had reflected on how Kikuchi’s stuff might play out in a reliever role, joking that “a lefty who throws 99 is a nice thing to have.” Kikuchi didn’t pitch well Wednesday, clocking in at 97.4 mph, but his fastball was 96.2, down from his season average of 94.8, and in seven swings, he got three whiffs, two foul balls, one groundball single and a lazy fly out, ending with two strikes. That will play, especially if the Blue Jays plan to use him in low-pressure spots for now, as they did in Thursday’s eighth inning. Perhaps over the course of the final 45 games of the season he gains the confidence to play in a higher leverage role, and in the postseason, that profile could really be weaponized by a bullpen still looking for more swing-and-sight. For now, though, the switch keeps Kikuchi around in case something happens to another starter, and maybe the experience in relief helps him step into the mound in a way that serves him if he returns to the rotation down the road. “I might find something that would benefit me as a starter as well,” Kikuchi said. “As a starter, I always throw like 30 pitches before I come into the game. Now, in some cases, it might be five pitches and then I get right in. These experiences can actually be very positive for myself. I might feel like, Hey, I don’t necessarily need this whole warm-up routine or 30 pitches on opening day to get ready. I look forward to these little things.” Kikuchi is also eager to finally start again, and with the Blue Jays’ starting depth dangerously thin now that Mitch White is in the rotation, the possibility of him being called up at some point this season cannot be ruled out. Bigger picture, with Ross Stripling pending free agency, the Blue Jays have Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah locked in for next year with White as well, so his path has broader implications. The three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays in the spring was front-loaded, so he’s owed $10 million in each of the next two seasons, a salary that provides significant payroll if he logs effective innings. Regardless, Kikuchi tries to stay ready. “Absolutely,” he said looking at another starting point. “We still have a little bit of the season left, you never know what’s going to happen with the rotation, there could be some injuries or whatever. So I will always be prepared to be able to jump again at any time.”