The Orix Buffaloes have a big-time pitcher on their hands. Shunpetia Yamashita is a 22-year-old phenom who stepped on the Nippon Professional Baseball scene in a big way in 2023.
During his breakout season with Orix, he finished with a 9-3 record, a 1.61 ERA, and struck out 101 batters. He also walked just 30 hitters out of the 383 he faced.
He was named an NPB all-star that season and was the 2023 Pacific League Rookie of the Year.
His 2024 season saw a big jump in his strikeout count. Although he pitched in two fewer games and 31 fewer innings than in 2023, he managed to string together 83 strikeouts, resulting in a 3.38 ERA.
Despite a leap in ERA and a losing record, back injuries may have affected him this past season.
Sure, Roki Sasaki is cool, but can I interest you in Shunpeita Yamashita?
Averaged 96 mph with his fastball last season, 20" iVB with 10" arm-side (NPB ball). 6.6' extension 6.1' release.
Curveball spin up to 2900, 87-88 mph split.
Aesthetically pleasing power delivery >>> pic.twitter.com/i0L4D1ZMiP
— Lance Brozdowski (@LanceBroz) November 18, 2024
Yamashita is a former first-round pick in the 2020 NPB draft. He is getting lots of buzz about a future in Major League Baseball, following the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and possibly Roki Sasaki.
He showed strikeout and walk rates during the 2023 and 2024 seasons that could dictate his future success in the MLB. However, he is young, and he will have a handful of years playing in Nippon for Orix. He is a name to keep an eye on for an MLB transition from Japan in the future.
