If you’re a normal, sane person, you’ve been hibernating all winter. The snow is not yet melting and the ground has yet to thaw. Still, baseball is just around the corner, and it’s time to catch you up on the offseason departures.
On your mark, get set…
Tomoaki Kanemoto – In case you missed it, the skipper stepped down. Rumor has it that he was forced to resign, but on paper it was volitional. He still had 2 years left on his contract, but the team finishing in last place in 2018 after a 2nd place finish in 2017 did not sit well with anyone. For the record, “team owner” Shinya Sakai also stepped down to “take responsibility” for the team’s failures.
Atsushi Kataoka – When the captain goes down with the ship, his first mate has to go, too. Very few fans liked the batting coach’s insistence that right-handed sluggers like Yusuke Ohyama focus on hitting the ball to the opposite field, and he did not seem to be a very popular man within the club, either. That’s just speculation, though.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka – Signed before the 2013 season after two injury-laden years with the Minnesota Twins, he brought his fragility to the Tigers, too. His first year was good, but then… fractured ribs were followed by elbow issues, back problems, a torn achilles, more minor injuries, age, and an inability to impact the team in 2018. Though he is hoping to land a deal somewhere, he will likely start the season unemployed.
Marcos Mateo – Asked to be the closer in 2016 after Seung-hwan Oh moved on to the majors, Mateo struggled early but righted the ship towards the middle of the season. His 2017 was good enough to earn him the Middle Reliever of the Year Award, but injuries slowed him down in 2018. Ultimately, he ended the year on the DL and has not been asked back.
Wilin Rosario – Paid more than any first-year import in team history, Rosario came with a lot of hype and hope. Despite patience from management at the start of the year, he got sent down in early June, called up in late July, and then sent down for good near the end of August. He’s apparently looking to make his way back to the majors, but will no doubt start on a minor-league deal, if that.
Ryota Imanari – The most valuable player at multiple fan appreciation days, Imanari got next-to-no chances to stay on the top squad during Kanemoto’s reign. After being given notice of his release, he got a job coaching at the team’s academy – an instructional school for local kids. Am considering enrolling my son and getting my #49 jersey signed.
Ryosuke Ogata – Once highly-touted, this little man with a big bat reached his peak in 2014, and his lone claim to fame in recent years was his preseason home run in garbage time against Dennis Sarfate and the championship-hungover SoftBank Hawks. (Sarfate had just arrived in Japan 36 hours prior to that mound appearance.) Ogata is working in the Tigers PR department for the time being.
Diego Moreno – Not really given much of a chance to show what he had, but played a bit on the top squad in Mateo’s stead. Moreno was the closer on the farm for much of the first half of the year, but his struggles there (he ended with an ugly 7.29 ERA) made it clear that he was not going to get another contract in 2019.
Daichi Takeyasu – Coming off Tommy John surgery in 2014, he became the first pitcher taken by the Tigers in the 2015 draft (3rd round), Kanemoto’s first as manager. He looked to be on the cusp of cracking the top squad rotation, as his farm numbers impressed (6 wins, 1.30 ERA). He even picked up professional career win #1 at the end of the 2018 season. However, when the team signed Yuki Nishi, they were forced to compensate the Buffaloes with an unprotected player. Takeyasu drew the short straw, and will now try to excel in the Pacific League.
Naoto Nishida – One of many excellent players to come out of Osaka Toin High School, Nishida never quite figured it out at the pro level. Chosen third in the 2011 draft, and though still just 25 years old, Nishida will move on to a career selling suits.
Shoya Yamamoto – This lefty was chosen out of the industrial league back in 2013 (fifth round). He made it up to the top squad a few times, and despite one good start in 2015, he was unable to build any momentum and stick with the club. Now 30 years old, he will sell insurance for a living moving forward.
Shinya Azuhata – Not much can be said about this 30-year old catcher. He was chosen fourth in the 2012 draft and never got a single call up to the top squad in six seasons.