In a noteworthy move this offseason, the Los Angeles Angels have secured the services of left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, signing him to a three-year contract valued at $63 million. At 33 years of age, Kikuchi brings a mix of experience and evolving skill sets that the Angels are hoping will significantly bolster their pitching rotation.
Kikuchi's recent performances have shown a promising trend, particularly following his midseason trade from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros. While his overall ERA last season stood at a reasonable 4.05, it was his stint with the Astros that caught the league’s attention. During his final 10 starts with Houston, Kikuchi impressively lowered his ERA to 2.70 over 60 innings. His ability to adapt and improve despite the challenges of transitioning to a new team spotlighted his resilience and ambition to refine his craft.
Adjustments in Pitching Strategy
Kikuchi's success with the Astros can, in part, be attributed to strategic adjustments in his pitching approach. He notably reduced his fastball usage from 49.6% to 41.8% and significantly cut down his curveball usage from 22.7% to 9.5%. Experts around the league, at the time of his trade, had opined that “Surely Kikuchi would benefit from reducing his curveball usage in favor of throwing more sliders and changeups.” Taking this advice to heart, Kikuchi pivoted towards his slider, employing it 37.1% of the time.
The effects were palpable. Batters struggled against his slider, managing a mere .172/.245/.212 slash line, with the slider inducing a notable 29.2% swinging strike rate. It's this effective utilization of his slider that perhaps made the most significant difference in his game, elevating his strikeout-to-walk ratio to an impressive 5.43 with the Astros — up from an already commendable 4.68 season average.
Mastering Command and Control
Another key to Kikuchi's success has been his precision. Last season, he strategically placed 67.4% of his pitches on the outside part of the plate, a tactic that resulted in an opponent OPS of just .591 against those pitches. His precise placement and enhanced control contributed to his status as a valuable asset, with Baseball Reference estimating his contribution at 1.4 Wins Above Replacement for the season.
Angels' Offseason Moves
The Angels have been proactive this offseason, with Kikuchi being one of several significant acquisitions aimed at reinvigorating their roster. Alongside him, the team has also added notable talents such as Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, and Kyle Hendricks. With these additions, the Angels are clearly signaling their intent to compete at a higher level this upcoming season.
Kikuchi's arrival represents not just a bolstering of the pitching rotation, but also the culmination of savvy strategic adjustments that have increasingly defined his play. His evolution as a pitcher — honed through experience with top teams like the Blue Jays and Astros — provides the Angels with both reliability and untapped potential. As he gears up in Los Angeles, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how his refined approach manifests over the coming seasons.
For the Angels, the signing of Kikuchi is emblematic of a broader pursuit of balance and depth within their lineup. With Kikuchi on the mound, supported by a host of new and determined teammates, the Angels appear to be assembling the pieces necessary to shift their trajectory towards sustained success.