The Tampa Bay Rays made a relatively big splash in free agency as they have signed Japanese star Yoshitomo Tsutsugo.
Tsutsugo was beloved back in Japan as a member of the Yokohama BayStars for the past 10 years, and for good reason. While with the BayStars, Tsutsugo was among the most fierce hitters in the league. After making his debut at the age of 18 in 2010, Tsutsugo would become a five-time All-Star, and led the Japanese Central League with 44 home runs during the 2016 season.
Overall, the slugging Tsutsugo hit .285/.382/.525 with 205 home runs over his 10 seasons. Naturally, he really hit his stride at the age of 22; from 2014 through the 2019 campaign, Tsutsugo averaged 31 home runs a season.
Tsutsugo became a sensation for the BayStars, becoming one of the few players in the Nippon Professional Baseball organization to receive his own song from the crowd, as they’d chant ‘Go Tsutsu Go’ whenever he appeared.
The Yokohama BayStars put their full support behind local boy Tsutsugo’s endeavor to play in the Major Leagues and followed him throughout 2019 — as well as the rest of the team — in a documentary of the season.
Enjoy several clips of Tsutsugo dominating in Japan, where one thing is for sure, his batflip grade is 80;
