(Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox recalled Japanese right-handed pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa from Triple-A Worcester on April 28.
Uwasawa, 29, was born in Matsudo, Chiba, Japan, and played 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2013-23, both with their main club and their minor league team.
Uwasawa signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on January 11 with an invite to big league camp.
He started in two games, appeared in four during spring training, and threw 9.2 innings, posting a 0-1 record and a 13.03 ERA. Uwasawa allowed 15 hits, 14 earned runs, three home runs, eight walks, and nine strikeouts before he was traded to Boston in exchange for cash considerations on March 27 and was assigned to Triple-A Worcester on the same day.
Uwasawa started in three games for Triple-A Worcester and posted a 2-1 record with a 4.80 ERA throwing 15 innings, allowing 15 hits, eight earned runs, two home runs, four walks, 17 strikeouts, and a 1.267 WHIP before being called up to Boston.
Uwasawa was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NPB Draft to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and played three minor league seasons before making his debut with their big league team on April 2, 2014.
Uwasawa was named an All-Star three times during his NPB career in 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Last season, Uwasawa started in 24 games and posted a 9-9 record, throwing 170 innings with a 2.96 ERA and two complete game shutouts. Uwasawa allowed 152 hits, 56 earned runs, 14 home runs, 41 walks, 124 strikeouts, and a 1.135 WHIP.
The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters finished last place in the Pacific League during the 2023 season at 60-82-1.
In 2022, Uwasawa went 8-9 in 23 starts, posting a 3.38 ERA, throwing 152 innings with three complete games, allowing 129 hits, 57 earned runs, 15 home runs, 50 walks, 127 strikeouts, and a 1.178 WHIP.
During his 11 seasons in the minor leagues and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Uwasawa has a lifetime record of 78-80 with a 3.42 ERA. He has thrown 1,367.1 innings in 225 games, 15 complete games, and six shutouts, allowing 1,215 hits, 520 earned runs, 115 home runs, 448 walks, 1,094 strikeouts, and a 1.216 WHIP.
