Blue Jays' Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi Demonstrated Previous Year's Value, Contrasting Current Season's Performance, Explaining Previous Caution from Team
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You might recognize a familiar face on the mound for the LA Angeles this week as none other than Yusei Kikuchi, the pitcher the Blue Jays never wanted to see go.
Kikuchi, a former Blue Jays' teammate, is set to face his previous team for the first time since being traded to the Houston Astros last season. The trade didn't sit well with the last-place Jays, but they had promised fans a potential reunion in the off-season... until Kikuchi's stellar second half performances made him too expensive.
In Houston, Kikuchi impressed like a top-tier starter, with a seemingly unmatched 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The arrogant Angels responded, securing his services for a cool three years and $63.68 million.
Unfortunately, his success in LA has waned this season. He's 0-4 with a 4.21 ERA in seven starts. He's also struggling with walks and home runs, hardly "ace-like" numbers. But hey, inconsistency is just part of the ride when you're Yusei Kikuchi!
During his time with the Blue Jays, Kikuchi showed his unpredictability. He put up a highly disappointing 5.25 ERA in 20 starts, resulting in being demoted to the bullpen for the rest of the 2022 season. However, the following year saw him excel with a 3.86 ERA and a 11-6 record. But like a roller coaster, he hit a rough patch in June and July, compiling a 6.42 ERA in 11 starts before Houston grabbed him at the deadline.
The trade, however, was allegedly overpriced according to some critics, but the Jays had to part ways with prospects such as Jake Bloss, Will Wagner, and Joey Loperfido to get their hands on Kikuchi. But hey, we all know hindsight's 20/20, right?
Now, Kikuchi returns as an opponent, hoping to prove he was worth every penny. Fans should expect Kikuchi to challenge the Jays and use his dominating arsenal to rack up some strikeouts. There's no bad blood between the parties as Kikuchi openly praised his time with the Jays, but the Angels are eager to make a statement.
This matchup marks a slight reprieve for the struggling Jays, who have faced some of the toughest schedules in the majors this season. But don't relax too much just yet — the Jays have upcoming series against the Mariners, Tigers, Padres, and Rays. Kikuchi will do his best to make this mid-week series anything but a walk in the park.
Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data, and events.
More details:Yusei Kikuchi was ultimately traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros on July 29, 2024, not in 2022. The trade exchange involved prospects: Jacob Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner.
- Toronto fans might have mixed feelings as Yusei Kikuchi, a former Blue Jays player, makes his return to face them with the LA Angels this week.
- In some media outlets, there is a debate about whether the Blue Jays overpaid for Yusei Kikuchi when they traded for him, given his current struggled in the MLB season.
- The arts and entertainment sector in Toronto could see an increase in arguments about the worth of Yusei Kikuchi, given the prospects sacrificed to acquire him, versus his performance thus far.
- As the baseball season unfolds, sports analysts and enthusiasts will continue to share their opinions about Yusei Kikuchi's value, with some maintaining he is a top-tier starter and others questioning his inconsistency.
