For the first time since becoming the Washington Nationals in 2005, the team has signed an international player directly from an Asian country. Early Friday afternoon, they agreed to terms with Shinnosuke Ogasawara of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The two-year deal includes $3.5 million guaranteed; $1.5 million this year and $2 million in 2026.
buzzer beaterrrrrrrr
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— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 24, 2025
Ogasawara becomes the fourth Japanese pitcher to sign with a major league team this offseason. He joins former NPB opponents Roki Sasaki and Tomoyuki Sugano, who were signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Orioles, respectively. Ogasawara also followed behind 18-year-old Shotaro Morii, who signed with the Athletics a week ago.
Shinnosuke Ogasawara’s Career and Profile
After completing nine full seasons in NPB, Ogasawara is still only 27 years old. He was drafted straight out of high school to play professionally at only 18. But Ogasawara embraced this challenge extremely well. His career stats in Japan are highlighted by a 3.62 ERA, 0.9 HR/9, and a 2.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Interestingly enough, Ogasawara has never pitched in less than 20 total starts in a single calendar year since he was drafted.
Ogasawara is coming off a career year pitching for the Chunichi Dragons. He finished 2024 with a 3.12 ERA across 24 starts and earned an All-Star appearance as well. And while the 82 strikeouts in 144 1/3 innings pitched don’t necessarily jump off the page, the 22 walks certainly do.
Strike-throwing is Ogasawara’s greatest tool. He has an incredible feel and command for the strike zone. In fact, Ogasawara has never walked over 75 batters in a full season. He’s also a ground ball machine. With a sinking fastball, excellent changeup, and a signature Japanese splitter, Ogasawara lives down in the zone.
Over 1,098 innings pitched, he’s given up 108 home runs total. And he’s in the upper-90th percentile in all of NPB in ground-ball rate.
How Ogasawara Fits into a Crowded 2025 Nationals Rotation
The Nationals’ offseason hasn’t been flashy in any respect. However, their under-the-radar moves have created a very solid pitching rotation.
Essentially, the success of the rotation rests upon their top arm Mackenzie Gore, who has the potential for an explosive breakout in 2025. Gore is coming off a career-best 3.90 ERA in 32 starts. He struck out 181 batters and only walked 65. The Nationals are also getting young star Josiah Gray back from a torn UCL, which he suffered in mid-July of last season.
They also signed former All-Star Mike Soroka to a one-year deal and re-signed veteran Trevor Williams, who had a career year in 2024.
As it stands right now, Ogasawara is likely the Nationals’ No. 3 rotation option. He also has the privilege of working with pitching coach and former Nationals World Series Champion Sean Doolittle.
The biggest question mark for the Nationals will be gauging how Ogasawara’s game translates to America. He’s a very crafty left-hander who throws fastballs early in the count. However, he tops out at a respectable, but not otherworldly, 93 mph. With a recent surge in average pitch velocity, Ogasawara will likely have to resort to other means to get outs.
His splitter is both unique and unfamiliar to many players in the Major Leagues. Ogasawara must take advantage of that pitch, and pair it with his very polished changeup and slider.
The Nationals took a gamble with this incredibly low-risk signing. At the very worst, Ogasawara is only owed less than $4 million for a short two-year deal. And at best, he has the potential to establish himself as a unique, ultra-reliable rotation piece for many seasons to come.
Photo Credit: © Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images
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