It’s a thrilling moment whenever a rookie steps on the mound, but things get especially interesting when it’s Shinnosuke Ogasawara, the veteran Japanese southpaw making his first start for the Washington Nationals. He’s not just the first player the Nationals signed from Japan, but Ogasawara also has had almost a decade of experience in the NPB, delivering its promise and its whirlwind of adjustments.
It all started when, after 1,098 innings in nine years with the Chunichi Dragons, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, lefty, pitched his first Major League inning on Sunday. Just a month after signing a two-year contract with the Nationals, Ogasawara made his Spring Training debut against the Mets. “I’m so happy I could finish it,” Ogasawara said through interpreter Jumpei Ohashi. It may have been a short appearance, but it made an impression, on the pitch and in the imaginations of the Nationals’ manager.
In the Nationals’ 11-6 victory, Ogasawara hurled eight pitches in a one-hit scoreless inning. He was jittery before the first out, but soon relaxed. Manager Dave Martinez said, “Strikes. He’s around the plate, he gets guys to swing…But I like it.”
His speed reached 92 mph, not bad for a rookie throwing in a major league camp. The Mets hit a couple of deep-fly balls, but Ogasawara got the outs he needed. “He gets outs, that’s what he really does,” Martinez said of his potential. Seems normal?
But what’s all the fuss about this debut?
The Nationals’ manager, Dave Martinez, has taken note of his peculiar workout routine. Ogasawara is familiar with Japanese six-man rotations, as opposed to the Major’s five-day system. “He does a lot in between his starts, so we’re going to have to kind of shrink it to make sure that he’s ready to pitch on that fifth day,” Martinez said.
Ogasawara, for instance, would run a 10K the day after making a start in Japan. He’s trying to work out a compromise with the Nationals’ training staff that will fit the MLB schedule.
Unusualities on the mound: Will Ogasawara deliver?
And what’s more promising?
Though everything was awkward and nervous at the beginning, Martinez complimented Ogasawara for being so flexible. Martinez said, “He’s willing to work on changing his routine.” Only two weeks into camp, Ogasawara has been remarkably engaged and has a positive disposition. He wants to compete, and is honing his pitches – like his sweeper – to get ready for Major League batters. His practices and games will be carefully observed to prevent any injuries that could stem from his training.
And how were his NPB performances?
He played for the Chunichi Dragons of NPB baseball. Shinnosuke Ogasawara was the winning pitcher in the 2015 Summer Koshien which was a high school baseball World Cup in Japan. He finished second in the U-18 Baseball World Cup while playing for the Japanese youth team.
Ogasawara was chosen as an NPB All-Star in 2023, proof of his quality and reliability on the mound. He has a 46-65 win-loss record, a 3.62 earned run average, and 757 strikeouts.
So in one word, his humility? Refreshing. And his competitiveness? Scary!
But the question is what gonna be his role in the Nationals’ already molded line-up?
Ogasawara is likely to compete for a spot in the Nationals’ starting rotation. “We signed him to be a starting pitcher for us in the big leagues,” says Mike Rizzo, general manager of the Nationals. That’s a sign that the team expects good things from him as a pitcher. Ogasawara will have to demonstrate his mettle in Spring Training to win a place on a staff that also features MacKenzie Gore, Trevor Williams, and Michael Soroka.
These hurdles are not new to Ogasawara. Even the likes of Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani (who transitioned from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB) need time to adapt. While each player’s story may be different, in general, they all are about the need to change and develop in order to succeed in a novel habitat. Ogasawara has such predecessors to emulate as he finds his way into the majors.
Will Ogasawara’s “unusualities” catapult the Nats—or crash his arm? Follow every pitch, every sprint, and every oh-no moment this season. Stay hooked!
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