If you pay any attention to the international free agent market, you’ve probably heard two names rumored to come over from Japan this offseason: Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and Shogo Akiyama. Tsutsugo is an intriguing power hitter, and he deserves his own write up, but the better all-around player appears to be Shogo Akiyama.
Akiyama, a left-handed hitting center fielder, has been one of the better position players in Japan’s NPB. He’s a career .301 hitter and in 2019 he slashed .303/.392/.471 (Pacific League average is .252/.326/.391). His contract with the Seibu Lions is up, and he reportedly wants a shot at the majors.