METS SIGN RHP SHINTARO FUJINAMI
FLUSHING, N.Y., February 14, 2024 – The New York Mets today announced that the club has signed RHP Shintaro Fujinami to a one-year contract. In a corresponding move, INF Ronny Mauricio has been transferred to the 60-Day IL.
The Osaka, Japan native appeared in 64 games (seven starts) last season between the Oakland A’s and Baltimore Orioles, the third-most among rookie pitchers. After going 5-8 with an 8.57 ERA (47 ER/49.1 IP) in 34 games (seven starts) with Oakland, Fujinami went 2-0 with a 4.85 ERA (16 ER/29.2 IP) and two saves over 30 games with Baltimore, exclusively as a reliever. The 6-6, 216-pounder threw 136 pitches of at least 100 MPH, the ninth-most in the majors in 2023.
“We are excited to bring Shintaro into the organization,” said Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. “He adds another power arm option to our pen and we’re looking forward to him continuing his progression as a major league pitcher.”
Prior to pitching in the majors, Fujinami spent 10 seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hanshin Tigers. He went 57-54 with a 3.41 ERA (377 ER/994.1 IP) in 189 career appearances (154 starts) with the Tigers and was named a NPB All-Star in each of his first four seasons from 2013-2016, earning All-Star Game MVP honors in 2015. In 2017, Fujinami pitched for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
Fujinami, 29, will become the 15th Japanese-born player to appear in at least one game for the Mets, the most by any major league team. None of the prior 15 is named Shohei Ohtai, but then again, he never called.
