Irabu Lives Up To His Billing Yankees Prospect Rates High Marks In Debut
Hideki Irabu lived up to the hype.
The New York Yankees’ prospect, touted as the Nolan Ryan of Japan, made an impressive American pro baseball debut Tuesday night, finishing a four-inning stint for Class A Tampa with a 99 mph fastball.
The hard-throwing right-hander, who is expected to join the Yankees within a month, had good command of his fastball, curve, split-finger and a newly developed changeup, allowing one hit and striking out six of the 13 batters he faced against the St. Lucie Mets.
“Out of 100 percent,” Irabu said, rating his performance through an interpreter, “it was 100.”
He threw 44 pitches, 32 for strikes, before departing a scoreless game that drew a crowd of 4,784 (about double the usual), a large media contingent and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
“This kid is the real deal. I think the boss did a great job,” said Tampa manager Lee Mazzilli, whose team went on to a 5-1 win. “I think what you saw was just the tip of the iceberg. This kid has a lot going for him.”
Two batters went to three-ball counts, but neither reached base.
“I haven’t caught a million major leaguers, but he’s got the best stuff of anybody I’ve seen,” catcher Scott Emmons said.
Everybody from pitching coordinator Billy Connors to Steinbrenner was impressed with Irabu’s control. He threw eight pitches in the first inning, all strikes, and effectively used the changeup Connors has taught him.
“The way he threw tonight, and has thrown (the past week), will get major leaguers out,” Connors said.
“About the only thing I didn’t like about him,” St. Lucie manager John Gibbons said, “is he’s a Yankee and not a Met.”
Irabu struck out the side in the second inning, but also gave up his only hit - Bryon Gainey’s line single to center. The only other blemish on his pitching line was a balk that moved Gainey to second.
Irabu, 28, signed a $12.8 million, four-year contract on May 29, the largest deal for someone who had never played professional baseball in North America.