Tatsuya Imai signs $63 million deal with MLB's Houston Astros

Japanese hard-throwing right-hander Tatsuya Imai signed a three-year contract with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) worth a maximum of US$63 million. The deal starts at $18 million per year, with the opportunity to rise $21 million based on innings pitched, MLB reported.

Imai was born in 1998 and has played his entire professional career with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He made his debut in 2018 and posted a 3.15 earned run average (ERA) through eight seasons and 159 games. He is a three-time All-Star and has enjoyed his best season in 2025. He posted a 10-5 record over 163.2 innings, with a 2.05 ERA. On April 18, he pitched eight innings of a no-hitter against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Kaima Taira pitched the ninth inning. On June 17, he struck out 17 Yokohama DeNA BayStars hitters, surpassing a club record held by two-time World Baseball Classic MVP Daisuke Matsuzaka.

His fastball topped 99 miles-per-hour (or 159.3 kilometres-per-hour). A changeup and a slider complete Imai's main pitch arsenal.

Imai represented Japan at the 2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship and also won gold with Japan at the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship in 2016.

"What's up H-Town," Imai said in English during a press conference. "I'm ready to chase a championship."

He then switched to Japanese and said through an interpreter, "I am really excited about the idea of chasing a World Championship here and performing for a great organisation like the Astros. I will have to adjust to pitching with a shorter rest. There's also a time difference [between Japan and the USA] I have to adjust to. I look forward to adjusting to these challenges, growing, and learning as a player and an individual."

Imai will wear uniform No. 45.