Astros Acquire Yusei Kikuchi in Trade with Blue Jays
The Houston Astros, a team known for their strong performance in the American League Championship Series, have made a significant move to bolster their starting pitching rotation. In a trade made just before the MLB trade deadline, the Astros acquired 33-year-old Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays. This move comes at a crucial time for the Astros, as they have been dealing with injuries to key starting pitchers such as Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier, and Jose Urquidy, with the latter two ruled out for the rest of the season.
Yusei Kikuchi brings a wealth of experience to the Astros, with five seasons of MLB service and a total of 13 years of professional baseball experience dating back to 2011 in his native Japan. Interestingly, Kikuchi attended the same high school as Shohei Ohtani, another standout Japanese player in the MLB. Kikuchi made his mark in the Majors when he signed a four-year deal with the Seattle Mariners in 2019. During his first season, he started 32 games and earned an All-Star nod in 2021. In the first half of that season, he had an impressive 6-4 record.
Since signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, Kikuchi has been a valuable asset to their pitching staff. The Astros had a firsthand experience of his skills when they faced him on July 3, where he struck out five batters but allowed two runs, including a home run by Yordan Alvarez.
Apart from his on-field performance, Kikuchi is known for some interesting quirks. The Blue Jays play an audio cue of Lisa Loeb’s 1994 hit, “Stay,” for every Kikuchi strikeout. This unique tradition adds an element of fun to the game. Additionally, Kikuchi has revealed that he aims to sleep for 13 to 14 hours the night before a scheduled start. While this may seem excessive to some, Kikuchi believes that a good night’s sleep is crucial for his performance on the field.
The acquisition of Yusei Kikuchi is a significant move for the Houston Astros as they continue their pursuit of an eighth consecutive American League Championship Series. With their starting pitching rotation plagued by injuries, Kikuchi’s experience and skill will be a valuable addition to the team. As the Astros aim to maintain their competitiveness in the AL West, this trade showcases their commitment to making strategic moves to strengthen their roster.
