Beyond Shohei Ohtani: Unique Analysis of Samurai Stars Like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi in the Majors

2025-07-23

It’s Not Just Ohtani! Mid-Season Report Cards for Samurai Major Leaguers

Shohei Ohtani continues to perform in another dimension.

As June ends, Major League Baseball has reached the halfway point of the season. While Shohei Ohtani (30) of the Dodgers continues to perform at an otherworldly level, there have been some surprising developments among the other “samurai.”

“Since Ichiro (51) retired, the only Japanese players to win major MLB titles have been Yu Darvish (38, one-time wins leader) and Ohtani. But this season, as of the end of the first half, there are multiple Japanese players besides Ohtani who are in contention for titles.”

So says MLB analyst Ryoichi Fukushima (all quotes below are from Fukushima).

“The most promising is Seiya Suzuki (30) of the Cubs, who is in the running for the RBI crown. As of the end of June, he has racked up 69 RBIs, leading the National League, and is on pace for over 40 home runs this season. He’s the best Japanese right-handed hitter in MLB history.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (26) of the Dodgers, now in his second year in the majors, has so far recorded seven wins, tied for second in the league, with an ERA of 2.61, ranking fourth in the league.

“The only concern is that since June, he has tended to lose some velocity in the later innings and has been hit more often.”

Kodai Senga (32) of the Mets, who also has seven wins and has posted a phenomenal 1.47 ERA in 13 appearances, has been struggling with injuries.

“Before being placed on the injured list on June 14 (Japan time), he was performing at a level that had him considered a Cy Young contender. In Japan, he was known for racking up strikeouts with his forkball, but this season, he’s mastered pitching to contact with seven different pitches. He seems to be recovering well, and if he clears the innings requirement, he could contend with Yamamoto for wins and ERA titles.”

Yamamoto and Senga aren’t the only ones performing like aces for their teams. The Orioles’ veteran rookie Tomoyuki Sugano (35), the Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi (34), and the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga (31) are also notable.

“Sugano marked six wins, once tied for the team lead, with his crafty pitching. Kikuchi may not have many wins, but he has the stamina to pitch deep into games and a stable 2.79 ERA. Imanaga injured his left hamstring, but on June 27, he threw five scoreless innings to notch his fourth win, with an excellent 2.54 ERA. He could enter the title race.”

Yuki Matsui (29), despite a four-point ERA, has made 34 appearances as a key reliever for the Padres.

“He combines a powerful fastball, sharp breaking pitches, and the mental toughness to stay calm under pressure.”

Lars Nootbaar (27) of the Cardinals is contributing to his team in ways that don’t always show up in the stats.

“Though his batting average is low, he has excellent plate discipline and a high on-base percentage. His defense, making use of his natural speed, is also solid. I hope to see him in next year’s WBC.”

Sasaki and Yoshida are struggling — Can Darvish and Maeda make a comeback?

On the other hand, Roki Sasaki (23), who joined the Dodgers with great fanfare, has only one win in eight starts and an ERA of 4.72. He is currently sidelined due to a right shoulder injury.

“A pitcher who couldn’t consistently stay in the rotation in Japan will understandably find it difficult to immediately succeed in the majors. In terms of control, velocity, and stamina, he hasn’t reached the level of the successful Japanese pitchers.”

A concern is Masataka Yoshida (31) of the Red Sox, who is in his crucial third season but got off to a slow start.

“He is expected to return around July or August, but since he has defensive liabilities, if his batting remains in a slump, there’s even a chance he could be released. However, the Red Sox currently lack designated hitters, so if he can maintain a batting average close to .300, he could become the team’s savior.”

The veteran duo of Yu Darvish and Kenta Maeda (37) may see contrasting outcomes.

“Both are experiencing a decline in velocity due to age. But Darvish compensates with a wide array of breaking balls and masterful pitching technique. He still has the ability to be a key starter for his team.

On the other hand, Maeda, currently with Triple-A under the Cubs organization, has lost the pinpoint control and sharp slider that used to define him. To return to the majors, he’ll need even better control than Sugano.”

How many titles will these samurai bring back from across the sea?