Hisashi Iwakuma set to pitch for Seattle Mariners – MLB News
The new Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma is all set to throw for the first time in the Major League once the Seattle Mariners commence the new season. On Sunday, February 12 Hisashi Iwakuma briefly spoke about this relatively new and eagerly awaited experience.
"I want to communicate with everybody," he said through interpreter Daisuke Sekiba. "This is my first time as a Major Leaguer, so I tried to look around at what was going on. When there's a chance, I try to tell everybody who I am.”
Hisashi Iwakuma was expected to represent the Oakland Athletics last season when he was 29. However, much to the consternation of the pitcher, things did not go his way and resulted in Oakland signing another player.
Thus, the pitcher hailing from Japan had to wait for another year to get the exposure he has always coveted as a young and ambitious pitcher. However, there are a few things that he needs to settle prior to making an appearance in the bigger league.
For now, as reports had it, he has some problems with his arm. It was due to this unforeseen issue that he could only participate in 17 games the past season in his native country. The player, nonetheless, has an amazing record in Japan.
With 226 games appearances in Japan, he has so far won no less than 107 games, losing only 69 with an ERA of 3.25.
All the problems and arguments pertaining to them aside, the Seattle Mariners’ pitching coach Carl Willis is hopeful about the future prospect. With the new environment that the player has, Willis thinks it is all a new experience for the Japanese pitcher.
"I talked to him at length a couple days ago," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "This is obviously all new to him being in the States for the first time, with a different routine pitching every fifth day instead of sixth or seventh.”
Hisashi Iwakuma will undeniably be a major part of the Mariners rotation in the coming season. For him and the team, nonetheless, it is the fitness of the player that will be the decisive factor.
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