New York (WBN) – Naoyuki Uwasawa, a right-handed pitcher from Japan, was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox on Monday. This move was due to Trey Wingenter’s contract selection, which the Red Sox recently acquired from the Detroit Tigers.
Before pitching for the Red Sox, Uwasawa was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash, and the Red Sox mostly used him in Triple-A Worcester. His Triple-A stats include a 6.54 ERA in 42.2 innings with 36 strikeouts.
However, in the two appearances Uwasawa made for the Red Sox, Uwasawa pitched to a 2.25 ERA in 4 innings with three strikeouts.
It will be interesting to see what the team has done with him since Uwasawa started in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, where he pitched from 2013 to 2023. He could return to Japan, but other MLB Teams could give him a chance based on his 3.19 ERA in Japan.
His best season in NPB was arguably 2023, when he had a 2.96 ERA in 170 innings and 124 strikeouts. These impressive stats from last year may mean he needs to adjust more to the MILB and MLB landscape regarding how hitters think.
The Red Sox have a week to trade or pass Uwasawa through waivers where he can get claimed.
When Uwasawa began in the NPB, he was just 19. Now, as a 30-year-old with excellent development, he has a chance to make an impact with another club that understands his potential for future growth, even in the later stages of his career.
Photo Credit: Naoyuki Uwasawa #39 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Minnesota Twins. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
