In a notable development this offseason, the Los Angeles Angels have added a significant player to their pitching roster, acquiring left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year, $63 million contract. The 33-year-old pitcher brings his experience and evolving skill set to Anaheim, aiming to bolster the Angels' rotation.
An Evolving Pitcher
Kikuchi's journey to the Angels is underscored by an impressive transformation during his previous stops at the Toronto Blue Jays and, more recently, the Houston Astros. During his tenure with Toronto, Kikuchi managed a 4.05 ERA, coupled with a commendable strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.68. However, it was his midseason trade to Houston that catalyzed a notable improvement in his performance metrics.
In Houston, Kikuchi managed to lower his ERA to an impressive 2.70 over 60 innings in his final 10 starts. His strikeout-to-walk ratio improved significantly to 5.43, a testament to his refined command and control. This evolution on the mound can be partly attributed to a strategic shift in his pitching arsenal. He reduced his reliance on the fastball, cutting usage from 49.6% to 41.8%, and diminished his emphasis on the curveball, reducing its presence from 22.7% to 9.5%.
The Slider’s Emergence
One of Kikuchi’s most significant adjustments in Houston was his increased reliance on the slider, upping its usage to 37.1%. This pitch proved to be particularly effective, as batters were held to a meager .172/.245/.212 slash line against it. The slider also produced a sterling 29.2% swinging strike rate, underscoring its potency as a strikeout weapon.
In alignment with some analysis prior to his trade, experts suggested that Kikuchi would "surely benefit from reducing his curveball usage in favor of throwing more sliders and changeups." The outcomes post-trade seem to validate this strategic adjustment.
Mastering the Outside Edge
Further refining his approach, Kikuchi adeptly positioned 67.4% of his pitches to the outside part of the plate. This tactical focus rendered opposing hitters largely ineffective, as evidenced by a .591 OPS against him on outside pitches. Such control not only kept hitters off balance but also illustrated Kikuchi's adeptness at exploiting batter weaknesses.
Impact on the Angels’ Rotation
Kikuchi’s arrival in Los Angeles is a promising addition for the Angels, who have been active this offseason, also securing players like Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, and Kyle Hendricks. Kikuchi's previous season's performance was valued at an estimated 1.4 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. Given his late-season form with the Astros, there's optimism that he could exceed these contributions in the coming years.
Incorporating Kikuchi's dynamic pitching into their lineup may be a crucial step for the Angels as they aim to enhance their competitiveness. His adaptability and strategic use of pitches could prove valuable in navigating the challenges of the coming baseball seasons.
Ultimately, the Angels are banking on Kikuchi’s continued upward trajectory to play a pivotal role in their quest for postseason success, demonstrating that sometimes, the best moves are ones that allow skilled players to fully explore and exploit their evolving potential.