<figure id="attachment_479575" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479575" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="10858498"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/39f710113dbf49a789402d668a7ed926.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479575" class="wp-caption-text">Perhaps he hasn’t adjusted to MLB yet, as he continues to struggle. On the other hand, his high strikeout rate remains strong, and hopes are high that he will improve his control going forward.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Japanese players have been making a remarkable impact in Major League Baseball this year. While talk shows feature the Samurai’s spectacular home runs and strikeouts day after day, their true ability cannot be measured by those highlights alone.</p>
<p> FRIDAY, in collaboration with Hiroshi Miyashita, an analyst at “DELTA Co., Ltd.”—a company specializing in baseball data analysis and operations—has thoroughly examined the statistics of Japanese Major Leaguers using the latest metrics.Eliminating subjective judgment and using evaluation criteria that go beyond traditional metrics like “batting average” and “wins,” we have created a “report card” rated from S to D to reveal the “true value of the Samurai players” (comments below are from Mr. Miyashita).</p>
<div class="expapp-no-provided-scope expapp-no-provided-scope-start"></div>
<p> Part 1: <a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/479563">Thorough Analysis! The “True Value of the Samurai” Through the Latest Metrics [Report Card for Japanese Major Leaguers]</a></p>
<div class="expapp-no-provided-scope expapp-no-provided-scope-end"></div>
<h2> Seiya’s Performance Rivaled That of Matsui at His Peak</h2>
<h3> Tatsuya Imai (28) [Astros] <br>
Overall Rating: C−</h3>
<p> Astros rookie pitcher Tatsuya Imai (28) received a C rating.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “The issue is clear: control, above all else. His BB% (the ratio of walks to batters faced) is 14.6, which is among the worst in the league.In fact, his strikeout ability remains unchanged from his days in Japan; his K% (strikeouts per batter faced) is 27.6, well above the league average. His Whiff%—which measures the rate of swings and misses—is 32.2, one of the best in the league.</span><br>
<span class="strongInContent"> “If he had just one more breaking ball he could use to get ahead in the count, he still has plenty of potential to break out.”</span></p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<h3> Seiya Suzuki (32) [Cubs] <br>
Overall Rating: A</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479578" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479578" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="8409c94e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/7f1544586eccbe0aec51e8e0c41ffbe0.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479578" class="wp-caption-text"> Fans praise him as “the most underrated outfielder.” His defensive metrics have improved significantly compared to last year, which also contributes to his high rating.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Let’s turn our attention to the Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki (32). The Samurai Japan slugger, who has hit 22 home runs and posted an OPS of .840 so far this season, also earned an A rating.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “He struggled in May, batting in the .100s due in part to injuries, but he has now regained his usual consistency.In particular, his wRC+ (a metric that measures the number of runs a batter generates, with the league average set at 100) stands at 133. This is close to Ichiro’s career high and on par with Hideki Matsui at his peak.”</span></p>
<h3> Shota Imanaga (32) [Cubs] <br>
Overall Rating: C</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479579" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479579" style="width: 3986px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="69a93a4f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/8519eef8bf121d3eb4f17a36e23cc730.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479579" class="wp-caption-text"> He’s always been the type of pitcher who induces fly balls rather than ground balls, but this year, many of those fly balls are turning into home runs. His consistency, however, remains intact.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Teammate Shota Imanaga (32) received a C rating. With 8 wins and a 3.78 ERA so far, he seems to be struggling, but…</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “His Chase% (the percentage of pitches outside the strike zone that batters swing at) is very high at 35.1, and his BB% is quite low at 5.7. His control remains solid.However, his HR/FB Rate (the percentage of fly balls that result in home runs) has worsened to 16%, which is 2.4% higher than last year. He’s unluckily giving up more home runs than he did last year.”</span></p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Players Struggling"></div>
<h2>Challenges Facing a Struggling Chiga</h2>
<h3> Tomoyuki Sugano (36) [Rockies] <br>
Overall Rating: D</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479580" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479580" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c9f1182b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/f0792e54bca588566e7c3b10c31d8597.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479580" class="wp-caption-text"> His stats are poor, but he’s racked up 12 wins. While his high run support has played a role, he also shows the cunning to gradually adjust the mix of his breaking balls.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Conversely, Tomoyuki Sugano (36) of the Rockies, who has racked up 12 wins so far, received a surprising D. It seems he is “overrated.”</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “His K% is 13.8, among the lowest in the league, and his HR/9 (home runs allowed per nine innings) is 1.92, also among the worst in the league. Even considering that his home stadium is the high-altitude Coors Field, it’s hard to call him a good pitcher based on these numbers alone.Nevertheless, the reason he’s holding down a spot in the rotation is likely because his technical skills—such as pitch selection in tight situations and his ability to outmaneuver batters—are second to none. If there’s one positive statistic to highlight, it’s his BB%: at 5.4, it’s lower than Imanaga’s and ranks among the best in the majors.”</span></p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<h3> Yusei Kikuchi (35) [Angels] <br>
Overall Rating: D</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479581" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479581" style="width: 1995px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="37749383"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/0af9701bd90787814d454c4d94cd3d43.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479581" class="wp-caption-text"> Kikuchi, who was highly regarded for his excellent durability, was placed on the injured list this year for the first time since ’22. It remains to be seen if he can make a comeback by the end of the season.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Yusei Kikuchi (35) of the Angels, who was highly regarded for his ability as one of the league’s premier “inning eaters,” has made only eight starts this season without a win due to inflammation in his left shoulder that began in April. With an ERA in the 6.00 range and a lackluster performance, he receives a D rating.</p>
<h3> Masahiro Yoshida (33) [Red Sox] <br>
Overall Rating: C</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479582" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479582" style="width: 1984px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1d960d85"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/eec7eeec45b583ce0600127a31924e95.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479582" class="wp-caption-text"> His batting metrics aren’t bad, but he may be falling slightly short as a designated hitter. He is currently on the injured list with a left hamstring injury.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Masanao Yoshida (33) of the Red Sox has rebounded from last year’s slump and, despite limited playing time, has posted a strikeout rate of 11.1%, one of the lowest in the league.His wRC+ of 108 isn’t bad either, but since he’s expected to be sidelined for an extended period due to a left hamstring injury, he receives a C rating.”</span></p>
<h3> Yuki Matsui (30) [Padres] <br>
Overall Rating: C+</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479583" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479583" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="736a8b88"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/6f982a313529395d03efdddb730581bd.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479583" class="wp-caption-text"> He has continued to pitch consistently since returning from injury. The question is whether he can deliver the same performance when called upon in crucial situations.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Finally, let’s analyze two relief pitchers. The Padres’ Yuki Matsui (30) suffered a left adductor injury in February, but since returning in early May, he has shown consistent pitching, particularly with a Hard Hit%(the percentage of hard-hit balls traveling 95 mph or more, approximately 153 km/h) at 28.7 and a Whiff% of 35.4—both among the league’s best. His ERA is also a career-high 2.13.Although he has yet to make many appearances in crucial situations, he received a C+ rating.</p>
<h3> Kodai Senga (33) [Mets] <br>
Overall Rating: D</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479584" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479584" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="797f88d1"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/b8fcdc349ee862d772faae2176ddd66f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479584" class="wp-caption-text"> The cause of his slump is a change in the quality of his forkball. We hope he can correct this by moving to the bullpen and make a comeback as a starter.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Kodai Senga (33) of the Mets was in terrible form as a starter, with a 0-9 record and an ERA in the 7.00s, and was moved to the bullpen midway through the season. Given this, we have no choice but to give him a D rating.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> On the other hand, while concerns about his control remain, his average fastball velocity has increased by 1 mile per hour since moving to the bullpen, and his K-BB% in August rose by more than 5 points compared to July.His challenge moving forward is to revive his signature forkball. Compared to his prime, many of his pitches have been drifting toward a sinker trajectory, making it easier for opposing batters to read them. However, since the transition, the vertical movement of his forkball has gradually improved, returning to its former form.”</span></p>
<p> With the decisive month of September finally upon us, who among the Samurai will put on a spectacular performance and cause the metrics discussed so far to skyrocket?</p>
<p> From the September 11 &amp; 18, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*</p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>


 AFLO

 FRIDAY has thoroughly analyzed the performance records of the Samurai Major Leaguers using the latest metrics and compiled a “report card” that reveals the “true value of the Samurai.” While some are struggling due to unfamiliar environments or injuries, which Samurai player is seeing his metrics skyrocket?

Tatsuya Imai Struggles On, Seiya Suzuki Shines… A Thorough Analysis Using the Latest Metrics! [Report Card for Japanese Major Leaguers]

Access Ranking