Quote: Keith Law on Ryota Igarashi
Yesterday, the Mets announced the signing of Japanese relief pitcher Ryota Igarashi to a two-year contract.
In October, on ESPN.com, Keith Law ranked Igarashi as the fourth-best free-agent relief pitcher this off season, and said:
“Igarashi is a slightly wild power reliever who missed all of 2007 and part of 2008 due to Tommy John surgery, but has fully recovered and handled a regular workload in 2009. He has a very quick arm and has been clocked at 98 mph, although he’ll probably pitch at 93-96 in a one-inning role in the U.S. His best off-speed pitch is a mid- to upper-80s splitter with good bottom, and he can throw the pitch for strikes instead of waiting for hitters to chase it in the dirt. He has some deception in his delivery, and he’s almost a “drop-and-drift” guy without great forward momentum towards the plate.”
The 30–year-old Igarashi was 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 56 games with the Yakult Swallows last year.
