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 whom, what they have done, and what they might do in 2023 and beyond.
This is Part 5, the final segment, which will look at the relievers. Keep in mind, many pitchers who identify as relievers may end up in the rotation, and vice-versa.
Part 1 (catchers) Part 2 (infielders), Part 3 (outfielders), and Part 4 (rotation) are viewable at their respective links.
The Real Deals
#65 Atsuki Yuasa
Age (as of Opening Day): 22
Experience: 4 seasons / 62 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Threw in a career-high 59 games last season with a 1.09 ERA, 67 K and only one HR against
Sales Point(s): Velocity, strikeout ability
Trending: Up – He is expected to be the closer this year after he returns from WBC play and readjusts to the NPB ball.
#13 Suguru Iwazaki
Age (as of Opening Day): 31
Experience: 9 seasons / 383 games (45 starts)
Key Numbers/Facts: 6 straight seasons of 40+ mounds since becoming a reliever
Sales Point(s): Deception, experience
Trending: Across – His sub-2 ERA (2019 = 1.01, 2020 = 1.82, 2022 = 1.96) in 3 of the past 4 seasons is hard to improve on!
#42 Kyle Keller
Age (as of Opening Day): 29
Experience: 1 season / 34 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Threw a “no-hitter” as a reliever (9 mounds, 9 innings, no hits against) during one stretch last season
Sales Point(s): Velocity, strikeout ability, power curve
Trending: Up – His rough start saw him begin the year with a 33.75 ERA, so his 3.31 at season’s end looks worse than it was.
#36 Masumi Hamachi
Age (as of Opening Day): 24
Experience: 6 seasons / 78 games (1 start)
Key Numbers/Facts: Allowed just six earned runs in 2022, including three home runs (and 3 losses)
Sales Point(s): Control, velocity
Trending: Up – He may not improve upon his 1.14 ERA in 2022, but he should record more than 21 holds.
#14 Yuta Iwasada
Age (as of Opening Day): 31
Experience: 9 seasons / 222 games (93 starts)
Key Numbers/Facts: Had an outstanding 2016 as a starter, moved to the bullpen in 2020
Sales Point(s): Velocity, leadership
Trending: Across – Spent February adjusting in an attempt to get back into the rotation, but will likely be in the bullpen at the start of the season.
#99 Jeremy Beasley
Age (as of Opening Day): 27
NPB Experience: 0 seasons / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Was virtually unhittable in MiLB in 2022 (.165 BAA, 43 K in 38 IP)
Sales Point(s): Velocity, strikeout ability, killer splitter
Trending: Hard to say – First-year imports are tough to gauge. Is injured (right knee) at present and not likely to be ready for Opening Day.
The Back-Ups
#54 Ren Kajiya
Age (as of Opening Day): 31
Experience: 9 seasons / 158 games
Key Numbers/Facts: In 4 preseason mounds (5 IP) this spring, has allowed just 1 hit (0 R)
Sales Point(s): Velocity, movement on secondary pitches
Trending: Across – He was solid last year and should remain a steady part of the bullpen this year, too.
#69 Daichi Ishii
Age (as of Opening Day): 25
Experience: 2 seasons / 36 games
Key Numbers/Facts: This spring: 6 GP 7 IP 62 pitches 2 H 6 K 0 R
Sales Point(s): Throws hard (up to 153 km/h) for such a short pitcher (175 cm). Fly-ball pitcher (58.6% in 2022)
Trending: Up – Despite being an 8th-round pick in 2020, could land a set-up role sooner rather than later.
#18 Kosuke Baba
Age (as of Opening Day): 27
Experience: 5 seasons / 87 games (2 starts)
Key Numbers/Facts: Has just 96.2 IP and a career 1.48 WHIP in his 5 years despite being the first-round draft pick in 2017
Sales Point(s): Good breaking pitches (cutter, fork, curve)
Trending: Down – He has been starting in games of late (one top squad, one farm) with mixed results. He has struggled to find his identity and the team’s patience might wear out in 2023.
#56 Keisuke Kobayashi
Age (as of Opening Day): 30
Experience: 6 seasons / 103 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Has a career 8.92 K/9 but has also only surpassed the 20-inning mark in his 2017 rookie season
Sales Point(s): Velocity, strikeout ability
Trending: Down – Has fought injury and lack of roster space since coming over to the Tigers from Orix in 2020; likely nothing more than mop-up duty for him in 2023 (either on the top squad or the farm)…
#46 Hiroya Shimamoto
Age (as of Opening Day): 30
Experience: 12 seasons / 120 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Successfully came back to the team in 2022 (14 IP, 2.57 ERA) after 2021 Tommy John surgery
Sales Point(s): Control, forkball
Trending: Across – Not expected to be a high-leverage guy but will still get the job done when given the chance
#93 Masaki Iwata
Age (as of Opening Day): 24
Experience: 2 seasons / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Throws sidearm and received advice from legend Jeff Williams during spring training
Sales Point(s): Throws 7 types of sliders?
Trending: Up – This one-time development pick could find himself in the bullpen on the top squad… many commentators rave about his stuff
#92 Yuta Watanabe
Age (as of Opening Day): 31
Experience: 5 seasons / 41 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Recorded his first career win, appeared in a career-best 32 games in 2022
Sales Point(s): Sidearmed slider
Trending: Down – Despite a “career year” in 2022, age and similarity to Iwata might see him getting squeezed off the top roster. That said, if Iwata does not pan out, he is reliable against lefty batters.
The Wild Cards
#64 Hidetaka Okadome
Age (as of Opening Day): 24
Experience: 1 season / 0 games
Key Numbers/Facts: Throws sidearm; had a 1.54 ERA in 36 farm games in 2022
Sales Point(s): Fastball, strikeout ability
Trending: Up – Has a unique enough delivery that he make an interesting bullpen option; could break out in 2023 after no top squad action in 2022.
#34 Akira Niho
Age (as of Opening Day): 32
Experience: 13 seasons / 113 games (26 starts)
Key Numbers/Facts: Had a 4.06 ERA on the farm with 24 K in 31 IP in 2022 – no top squad mounds
Sales Point(s): Deception
Trending: Down – Allowed 8 runs in his four spring exhibition game appearances, then 3 in the season opener on the farm (3/17). His days as a Tiger are likely numbered…
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