Orioles land big fish as they sign Tomoyuki Sugano to one year deal

The Baltimore Orioles have added a seasoned presence to their pitching staff, signing veteran Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year, $13 million deal. The 35-year-old makes his long-anticipated move to Major League Baseball after carving out a decorated 12-year career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he donned the storied uniform of the Yomiuri Giants.

For those familiar with Sugano’s work in Japan, this signing comes with a certain weight of expectation. The man has been nothing short of reliable on the mound, owning a career 2.45 ERA in nearly 300 professional appearances. His command is impeccable, his poise unshakable, and his resume brims with accolades. Across those 12 NPB seasons, Sugano claimed two MVP trophies and twice earned the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award - Japan’s equivalent to the Cy Young. He’s also appeared in eight All-Star Games, a testament to the consistency that has defined his career.

Sugano’s 2024 season in Japan is a performance worth lingering on. He posted a sterling 1.67 ERA over 156.2 innings, striking out 111 batters while allowing just 16 unintentional walks. Precision has always been Sugano’s calling card, and it’s clear he’s still got gas left in the tank. His arsenal features a low-90s fastball that he locates with surgeon-like accuracy, alongside a devastating splitter that has long been his out pitch. Though his strikeout rates aren’t flashy by modern MLB standards, Sugano relies on generating weak contact and keeping hitters off balance - a skillset that has served him well in the smaller ballparks of NPB.

This isn’t the first time Sugano’s name has come up in MLB circles. Back in 2021, he tested the international market but ultimately returned to the Giants after negotiations fell short. At the time, he was seen as a frontline starter with years of dominance ahead. Fast forward to 2024, and while Sugano may no longer project as an ace, his wealth of experience and proven durability give the Orioles a dependable option in a rotation that needs answers.

For Baltimore, the signing is as much about depth as it is about upside. After consecutive postseason appearances that fizzled early, the Orioles enter 2025 with a blend of promise and uncertainty. Their young core has begun to mature, but the looming departure of Corbin Burnes - last year’s ace - leaves a void at the top of the rotation. Burnes is expected to command a contract far beyond what Baltimore seems willing to pay, and while Sugano can’t replace Burnes' electric dominance, he offers a stabilizing force.

In today’s league, where pitching depth separates the contenders from the pretenders, Sugano fits neatly into the Orioles' plans. He isn’t a strikeout artist, but his control and veteran savvy could help bridge the gap between the team’s emerging young arms and their immediate need for reliable innings. The AL East is unforgiving, with hitters who punish mistakes and rotations stacked with big-name talent. Sugano will need to adjust quickly, but his reputation for calm under pressure suggests he won’t be fazed by the bright lights of Camden Yards or the power-packed lineups of division rivals.

Orioles fans will find something familiar in Sugano’s approach. He pitches with purpose, relying on finesse over force, always thinking two or three pitches ahead. There’s a chess-like quality to the way he works a lineup, and while the MLB transition is never a given for NPB pitchers, Sugano’s combination of skill and experience gives him a fighting chance to succeed.

The Orioles are betting that Sugano’s steady hand can anchor their rotation, even if his ceiling is that of a mid-rotation starter. For $13 million, it’s a reasonable gamble - especially when pitching remains one of the most valuable commodities in baseball. Whether Sugano thrives in Baltimore or struggles to adjust, his arrival marks a new chapter in a career already defined by excellence. The Orioles see him not as a savior, but as a piece of a larger puzzle - one they hope leads deeper into October.

And maybe that’s all Sugano needs. A chance. A season to prove himself on the biggest stage. If his past is any indication, Tomoyuki Sugano isn’t coming to Baltimore to simply collect a paycheck. He’s here to compete. To challenge hitters. To win. And the Orioles, in their search for stability, are giving him the stage he’s always deserved.

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