The Houston Astros introducer Japanese right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai on Monday afternoon at Daikin Park, after signing him to a three-year Major League contract that will run through the 2028 season. The contract includes player opt-outs after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Imai, 27, was an All-Star last season with the Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB), where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games. Among qualified pitchers, Imai posted the lowest WHIP (0.89) in the Pacific League, while ranking second with 178 strikeouts in his 163.2 innings pitched.
Highlights from Imai’s 2025 season include pitching 8.0 innings of a combined no-hitter on April 18 vs. the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, and setting a new, club record with 17 strikeouts on June 17 vs. Yokohama. Imai has been named an NPB All-Star three times in his decorated career (2021, 2024, 2025) that has spanned parts of eight seasons (2018-25). He’s 58-45 overall with a 3.15 ERA (337ER/963.2IP) in 159 games in the NPB.
At his presser, Imai spoke via a translator to the assembled media, but did read a prepared statement in English saying, "What's up, H-town? I'm Tatsuya Imai. I'm ready to chase a world championship. Let's go, Houston. Thank you so much."
Imai will become the fourth notable Japanese-born player to play for the Astros, joining Kaz Matsui (2008-10), Norichika Aoki (2017) and Yusei Kikuchi (2024).
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