Tops out at 162 mph, no walks in 10 straight games—finishes with a sub-zero ERA of 8.75 Fujinami

Shintaro Fujinami (29, Oakland Athletics) continued his streak of consistency with a 10-game strikeout streak.

Fujinami pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday (July 17) at Lincecum Coliseum in the United States. Of his 15 pitches, 11 were strikes.

Trailing 5-3 in the top of the seventh with runners on first and third, Fujinami fired a 150-mile-per-hour splitter to first baseman Donavon Solano, who grounded out to shortstop. In the eighth, he struck out Byron Buxton on a seven-pitch, 161.3 mph four-seam fastball. He then retired Kyle Palmer on a fly ball to left field and Willie Castro on an infield grounder to end the day.

Fujinami did not allow a single run on the day against the opposing 2-5 center fielders. His four-seam fastball topped out at 162 mph on the day.안전놀이터

After a brief rivalry with his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teammate Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels), Fujinami signed a one-year, $3 million ($3.8 million) short-term deal last winter. All eyes were on him to see what he would do when he realized his dream of making it to the big leagues. But he faltered in an exhibition game, allowing 17 hits in 18 and two-thirds innings. He started on opening day, but his struggles with his pitches eventually pushed him to the bullpen. From opening day through May, his ERA reached a whopping 12.00. It was questionable whether he would survive in the big leagues.

But in June, he lowered his ERA to 3.97. He stabilized his stuff. From the start of the season through May, he threw 25 four-pitchers in 30 innings, but in June, he threw six in 11 and a third innings.

Most notably, he’s gone 10 straight games without a walk, starting on June 21 against the Cleveland Indians. In July, he lowered his ERA even further to 2.57 (two runs in seven innings).

In 33 games this season, Fujinami is 5-8 with an 8.75 ERA.