If you are a new fan and are not particularly familiar with the team, let this be your introduction! We are going to break down the entire roster for you very briefly so you can get a feel for who is who, what they have done, and what they might do in 2023 and beyond.
This is Part 1, which will look at the catchers. In the days to come, we will do features on the infielders, outfielders, starters, and relievers. So… here we GO!
The Real Deal
#2 Ryutaro Umeno
Age (as of Opening Day): 31
Experience: 9 seasons / 886 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Golden Glove winner 2018-20; .245 AVG / .286 GIDP rate in DP situations in 2022
Sales Point(s): Blocking, fielding, some pop
Trending: Down? – Hasn’t had a good offensive season in a while. That said, perhaps he will be more motivated now that Okada has named him the everyday catcher. The past two years, Sakamoto had gotten quite a bit of playing time under Yano, who seemed to have some issues with Umeno.
The Back-Ups
#12 Seishiro Sakamoto
Age (as of Opening Day): 29
Experience: 7 seasons / 248 games
Key Numbers/Facts: His 60 games last season were a career-high and he has seen increased playing time in each of the past five seasons.
Sales Point(s): Leadership, pitch framing
Trending: Down – Okada has indicated that there will be no platooning in 2023. Since his bat really does not play well, it is hard to envision a scenario in which his career arc continues to rise.
#39 Yuki Sakaeda
Age (as of Opening Day): 24
Experience: 2 seasons / 1 game
Key Numbers/Facts: His lone AB of 2022 was an RBI single that helped the Tigers tie their final game of the season.
Sales Point(s): Leadership, batting
Trending: Up – Made his first top-squad appearance in Game 143 of 2022; was invited to top squad camp this spring
#57 Kenya Nagasaka
Age (as of Opening Day): 28
Experience: 6 seasons / 45 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Helped starting pitchers to a 6-3 record in his 13 games as the starting catcher in 2022
Sales Point(s): Still not really sure (same answer as last year)
Trending: Down – Despite starting nearly 10% of the games last year, he started 2023 at the farm camp
#95 Yuya Katayama
Age (as of Opening Day): 28
Experience: 4 seasons / 2 games
Key Numbers/Facts: The lone lefty-hitting catcher on the team; was once on a development player contract
Sales Point(s): Batting, speed, loud voice
Trending: Down – He finally played on the top squad in 2022 but time is not on his side anymore. Could be the most expendable of our catchers this coming offseason.
The Future
#59 Kento Fujita
Age (as of Opening Day): 21
Experience: 3 seasons / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Led Chukyo High to the semifinals of the 2019 Summer Koshien Tournament
Sales Point(s): Not sure yet, truth be told
Trending: Up, but he seems unlikely to reach the top squad in 2023
#68 Hayato Nakagawa
Age (as of Opening Day): 19
Experience: 1 season / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Farm numbers last year (.295 AVG, .380 OBP, .835 OPS, 3 HR) are similar to what WBC catcher Yuhei Nakamura accomplished on the farm in his first year out of high school way back when.
Sales Point(s): Batting
Trending: Up, and could make his debut on the top squad this year if he continues to grow on the farm early on.