Yusei Kikuchi Transfers to Astros from Blue Jays Showcases Hip-First Delivery and Natural Flexibility
Yusei Kikuchi, who made his first pitching appearance with the Astros from the Blue Jays, has been a big hit with his hip-first pitching technique, which allows him to strike out eight consecutive batters!
It was an impressive pitching performance.
On August 3 (Japan time), Yusei Kikuchi (33) pitched 5 2/3 innings against the Rays in his first start for the Astros, whom he transferred from the Blue Jays. Yusei Kikuchi (33) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. After the game, Kikuchi expressed his relief, saying
I thought the first shot from the start was important,” Kikuchi said. I am very relieved that I was able to make the game and the team won.”
Kikuchi, now in his sixth year in the major leagues, has continued to defend his spot in the rotation. On the other hand, it is difficult to say that his pitching has been stable. As of August 7, he is 4-9 with a 4.67 earned-run average. Takashi Kawamura, a professor of physical education at the University of Tsukuba and an expert in motion analysis, explains the strengths and challenges of Kikuchi’s form.
The greatest feature of Kikuchi’s form is his natural flexibility. His wide range of motion and soft body allow him to move his body widely from his shoulders to his chest, which enables him to throw a powerful speed ball. On the other hand, the ease with which he can move his body also makes it difficult for him to control his pitches, as his upper body tends to stick out.
Let’s listen to Kawamura’s explanation while looking at a series of photos of Kikuchi.
The way the left leg and arm are used at the start of (1) is unique. Usually, the arm is raised in accordance with the leg movement, but Kikuchi’s arm is lowered. The up-and-down motion of the legs and arms allows him to place his weight firmly on the axis foot.
Kikuchi’s other characteristic, hip-first, can be seen in the game.
He is tilting his body from the hips toward the batter. This is a state of being twisted from the upper body to the lower body, and it allows him to accumulate power. When I was at Seibu, my body was sunk lower, but I have adapted to the hard mound of the Majors and my center of gravity is slightly higher.
(3) symbolizes Kikuchi’s pitching style.
The left hand holding the ball is behind the head, and the upper half of the body, from both shoulders to the chest, is wide open to the side. This is a body movement that is only possible with exceptional flexibility. Even on the vertical axis, the chest is firmly stretched. With such a wide range of motion, it is no wonder that he can throw fastballs up to nearly 160 km/h.
This flexibility is also evident in (4).
The left arm flexes like a whip, giving the ball even more momentum. His weight is firmly on his right leg, and he is able to move smoothly using the hardness of the mound.
The issue is the finish of (5).
The upper body is a bit stuck in the direction of the batter and the head is in front of the body. This makes it difficult to control the ball due to the blurring of the line of sight. He should be patient and keep his body backward. Kikuchi’s lifeblood is a combination of a high fastball and a low breaking ball. However, his fastball is not always well controlled, and his breaking ball is often targeted and hit hard. A major issue for his stable pitching is to correct his upper body protrusion. If he can overcome this, he should be able to consistently win double-digit games every year.
Will Kikuchi be able to show his reborn form in his new home with the Astros?
From the August 23-30, 2024 issue of “FRIDAY
PHOTO： Taguchi Yuji
