In a significant offseason move, the Los Angeles Angels have bolstered their pitching lineup by signing left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $63 million contract. At 33 years old, Kikuchi fills a crucial role for the Angels, bringing veteran experience and a recent track record of improvement to the team's roster.
Kikuchi's Journey
Yusei Kikuchi, who previously showcased his talents with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros, is coming off a promising season despite some early inconsistencies. His tenure with the Astros, following a midseason trade, was particularly impressive as he posted a 2.70 ERA over 60 innings in his final 10 starts. This stint illuminated Kikuchi’s potential to dominate from the mound, with marked improvements in his pitching dynamics.
His performance with the Astros demonstrated more than just an improvement in ERA. Kikuchi managed to elevate his strikeout-to-walk ratio significantly from 4.68 to an impressive 5.43. This refinement underscores a pivotal shift in his pitching strategy, something that analysts had been advocating for prior to his trade. “Surely Kikuchi would benefit from reducing his curveball usage in favor of throwing more sliders and changeups,” was a notable analysis around the time of the trade, and it seems Kikuchi took this advice to heart.
Refined Pitching Strategy
With the Astros, Kikuchi reconfigured his pitching arsenal by decreasing his fastball usage from 49.6% to 41.8% and notably cutting down his curveball usage from 22.7% to a mere 9.5%. Instead, he pivoted towards a slider-heavy approach, increasing its usage to 37.1%. This strategic adjustment resulted in a formidable slider that produced a remarkable 29.2% swinging strike rate. Batters struggled against Kikuchi’s slider, recording a meager .172/.245/.212 slash line, vividly demonstrating the effectiveness of his evolved pitching technique.
Precision and Control
Kikuchi also displayed exceptional control, placing 67.4% of his pitches to the outside part of the plate, which further hindered hitters. The outside pitches rendered a .591 OPS among opponents, showcasing Kikuchi’s ability to paint the corners and keep batters off balance.
Impact and Expectations with the Angels
By securing Kikuchi, the Angels are banking on his ability to replicate and perhaps exceed his recent performance levels. Last season, his contributions were quantified at 1.4 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference, indicating his crucial role in any roster he is a part of. The Angels, in their strategic offseason maneuvers, have not only acquired Kikuchi but have also signed notable names such as Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, and Kyle Hendricks. These acquisitions hint at an aggressive push to reinvent the team dynamic, aiming to be competitive in an unforgiving division.
Yusei Kikuchi's adaptation post-trade suggests a pitcher who is still evolving, willing to adapt, and eager to contribute significantly to his new team. His newfound strategy might just be what the Angels need as they look to challenge for playoff contention in the coming seasons. With his sharpened skills and the team's strategic reinforcements, the Angels are setting a clear intent for success in their pursuit to reach the upper echelons of professional baseball.