Japanese pitcher impresses Indians
Masahide Kobayashi had his first workout for the Tribe at spring training.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — The Cleveland Indians finally got to see what they spent their money on this offseason when Masahide Kobayashi took the mound Saturday.
Kobayashi, who agreed to a $6.25 million, two-year contract in November, went through his first workout at spring training with a group of Japanese journalists watching his every move.
Until Saturday, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge had only seen the right-hander on tape.
“I was very impressed with how he handled himself and I was very impressed with what I saw,” pitching coach Carl Willis said.
Willis said Kobayashi throws a fastball in the low 90s with a slider and a split-finger fastball.
Kobayashi spent nine seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, averaging more than 30 saves in each of the last seven seasons, with a career total of 227. He’s one of three pitchers in the history of Japanese professional baseball to record over 200 saves.
With Cleveland, he’ll be used as a setup man for closer Joe Borowski, whose 45 saves last season led the league. He’ll be a nice complement for right-hander Rafael Betancourt, one of the league’s top setup men last season.
“We need multiple guys to help us get to the ninth inning,” Wedge said. “We need as much depth there as possible.”
Wedge said if Borowski needs a day off the 33-year-old Kobayashi could be used to save a game.
Kobayashi displayed a deliberate and somewhat unusual pitching motion.
He took the ball in his right hand at the beginning of his windup and brought it to the back of his head.
He then raised his glove to hide the ball, followed with a high leg kick and delivered the pitch to the plate.
“The motion I use in games isn’t as dramatic,” he said through interpreter Toshi Nagahara, who will serve as an assistant athletic trainer with the Indians all season.
Kobayashi also fielded grounders and worked on his pickoff move.
“I had a good practice session,” Kobayashi said. “I thought I did pretty good.”
Kobayashi struggled a bit running sprints at the end of the workout, consistently finishing behind three other pitchers in his group. Showing a sense of humor, he threw his arms in the air when he finished the last sprint and fell to the ground.
“To be honest, I am no good at that kind of running,” he said. “I was trying to catch my breath. I didn’t have much time after I finished throwing and I was tired.”
The Indians will have their pitchers throw every other day in camp. But Kobayashi will throw three days in a row, then take the next day off, a routine he’s used his entire career.
Kobayashi joked with catcher Victor Martinez after the throwing session and thanked third baseman Andy Marte for giving up No. 30 so the pitcher could wear it. He shook Marte’s hand and pointed to the number on the back of his jersey.