WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup alum Shinnosuke Ogasawara signs for MLB's Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB) signed Japanese left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara.
The 27-year-old pitcher has played nine seasons for the Cunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball and has started 25 games in 2023 and 24 in 2024. He was selected for the NPB All-Star Game 2023.
Washington National's scouting report said Ogasawara has a fastball averaging 89-90 miles (or 143-145 kilometres) and an above-average control. He has a six-to-seven pitch-arsenal but mainly uses four: four-seem fastball, knuckle curve, changeup and slider.
Ogasawara represented Japan internationally at the U-18 and U-15 levels. He helped Japan win silver at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2015. He pitched against Australia in the opening round and Cuba in the semifinals without allowing a run.
In 2015 he helped Tokai University Sagami Senior High win the Koshien Tournament.
Cover photo by Yuji Arakawa