11 hours ago11 hr BATatsuya Imai, RHP BA Grade: 60 | Risk: Low | Adjusted: 60Born: May 9, 1998 | B-T: R-R | HT: 5-11 | WT: 154Track Record: After winning the 2016 Summer Koshien tournament with Sakushin Gakuin, Imai made the jump directly from high school to Japanese professional baseball. He was drafted by the Seibu Lions with their first pick and spent his debut season with their Eastern League affiliate, the equivalent of Japan’s minor leagues. He broke in with Seibu’s first team in 2018 and saw mixed results over his first three seasons. He established himself as one of the top pitchers in the NPB in 2021, earning his first all-star nod. Imai was an all-star twice more in 2024 and 2025 and finished in the top 10 among starters in ERA each of his final two seasons with Seibu. Imai helped combine for a Lions no-hitter on April 18, 2025, throwing the first eight innings. On Nov. 18, 2025, Seibu posted Imai to MLB teams. Scouting Report: Imai is an undersized righthander who’s explosive and mobile on the mound. His low three-quarters slot borders on sidearm and creates a unique approach angle to the plate that creates deception and keeps hitters off balance. Imai throws four pitches, but his primary mix consists of a four-seam fastball, slider and splitter. His four-seamer sits at 95-97 and touches 98-99 at peak with a flat plane of approach and heavy armside run. The fastball is particularly effective when located in the upper third and has been adept at generating swings and misses. Imai’s slider is his best pitch and his primary swing-and-miss weapon. It has a gyro shape, sits 85-87 and touches 88-89 with late downshift that creates unique armside movement. The combination of Imai’s low arm slot, above-average velocity and late armside break make his slider a unique offering. The splitter is Imai’s third pitch, and it features good vertical separation off his fastball and heavy armside run to work as a swing-and-miss pitch in opposite-handed matchups. Imai threw a curveball around 2% of the time in 2025, and it featured spin rates in the 2500-2600 rpm range along with around 8-9 inches of sweep. There’s a real possibility a team adds a sweeper to his arsenal. Imai struggled to throw strikes early in his career, but he has seen consistent gains in that department in each of the last four seasons. He now projects for average control. The Future: Imai is a ready-made No. 3 MLB starter who should make an impact immediately. Scouting Grades: FB: 55 | CB: 40 | SL: 60 | CH: 55 | CTL: 50
11 hours ago11 hr Fuck yeah! Looking forward to what kind of reaction I’ll get in Japan when I’m there in Nov with my Astros cap.
11 hours ago11 hr We definitely need to go to a 6 man (at least early in the season), because that's essentially what they have in Japan. We need Brown and Imai healthy all season.
11 hours ago11 hr We had to replace our HVAC unit last July and opted for a Daikin unit, I wanna say I'm doing my part in the Japanese baseball pipeline to Houston
10 hours ago10 hr 1 hour ago, Mez2 said:Don't forget Justin Verlander!I could go for some Ramen Tatsuya nowFuck Verlander for no other reason than his POS brother.
10 hours ago10 hr 1 hour ago, RGBIII said:I had heard 1+1 (mutual) for 15 and incentives up to 20 for JV but that was awhile ago and idk how good my info isIt’s dated now. That ain’t happening I wouldn’t think (unless we got a taker for Walker for no money which seems unlikely.
10 hours ago10 hr One year deal with a projected MLB ERA of 4.3. Meh, if he outperforms he’ll go elsewhere
10 hours ago10 hr Author 8 minutes ago, msbesq said:One year deal with a projected MLB ERA of 4.3. Meh, if he outperforms he’ll go elsewherewe can make him better !
10 hours ago10 hr Author astros analytics will improve his pitch selectionsurly thread will remind him he's worthless
9 hours ago9 hr Author per ari alexander ....A little more specifically what I was told regarding Astros and Asia at Winter Meetings:They beefed up Asia/Pacific Rim scouting - adding and/or moving 3-4 scouts.They are looking at Korean and Japanese amateurs more closely.They were targeting SPs from Asia - and target acquired with Imai.Jim Crane has been pleased with his partnership with Daikin and thought having high level Japanese players would be a positive marketing-wise.
9 hours ago9 hr 8 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:astros analytics will improve his pitch selectionsurly thread will remind him he's worthlessWill? Shit, two posts above you he is already considered a questionable signing.1 minute ago, tx 3 putt said:per ari alexander ....A little more specifically what I was told regarding Astros and Asia at Winter Meetings:They beefed up Asia/Pacific Rim scouting - adding and/or moving 3-4 scouts.They are looking at Korean and Japanese amateurs more closely.They were targeting SPs from Asia - and target acquired with Imai.Jim Crane has been pleased with his partnership with Daikin and thought having high level Japanese players would be a positive marketing-wise.You forgot the Asians love of golf.
8 hours ago8 hr Just to remind everyone, Kikuchi's best stretch of play in the majors was with the pitching gurus in Houston. I really like this signing. Clearly, Crane is trying to find another market efficiency and now has the support at the corporate level to help mine it.
7 hours ago7 hr Imai signing definitely came out of nowhere. As recently as this morning people were assuming NYM, NYY, PHI, CHC...etc.Chandler mentioned on the podcast today that not only was he blindsided by it, his sources in the org didn't even know it had progressed much beyond initial conversations with Boras.
6 hours ago6 hr Author 1 hour ago, HtownHorn said:Just to remind everyone, Kikuchi's best stretch of play in the majors was with the pitching gurus in Houston. I really like this signing. Clearly, Crane is trying to find another market efficiency and now has the support at the corporate level to help mine it.astros phyops staff 🔥🔥🔥🔥
5 hours ago5 hr Love this signing. A lot.Now get somebody else for that 4th starter slot that has LMJ's picture in it.
4 hours ago4 hr 5 hours ago, PGFrog said:Fuck Verlander for no other reason than his POS brother.Go on . . .
4 hours ago4 hr 9 hours ago, PGFrog said:Fuck that, time for Crane to go full Cody Campbell if the Astros are going to go 173-0 this year.I’d prefer to not be shutout in the Division Series.
3 hours ago3 hr Thinking a bit more about this, I recall reading about him as an interesting prospect for the MLB a while ago, but then I said to myself, "it's gonna fucking suck when he signs with the Dodgers." Never thought the Astros would be able to get him. I figured we would be trading for some journeyman in his 30s as a backup to the IL carousel this team has every year. Nice to see a surprise like that to start the new year. Also love the quote about wanting to beat Ohtani, Yamamoto and friends. That's the kind of attitude you want in a clubhouse, he's gonna do great here.
1 hour ago1 hr 1 hour ago, Hornsbay22 said:They are nuts if they have LMJ over SpaghettiAnyone penciling in poor Lance in the rotation must have been in a coma since 2021.
1 hour ago1 hr 35 minutes ago, LCHorn said:Anyone penciling in poor Lance in the rotation must have been in a coma since 2021.I mean, he might make it into the rotation ... for like a week, before something in his arm explodes.
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