New Red Sox Japanese pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa with the WooSox; expected to pitch next week
New Red Sox pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa is with the Worcester Red Sox after being sent to extended spring training. Upon his arrival in New England, he was welcomed to a snowy city of Worcester, but this weather is not foreign to him.
“Where I live in Japan is similar climate-wise to here,” said Uwasawa through a team translator to Beyond the Monster. “In Japan, we had a dome stadium, so we didn’t have to play outside.”
The right-hander was acquired from the Rays at the end of March. Uwasawa spent roughly a little over a week in Florida learning the Red Sox pitching program and philosophies.
The Japanese hurler worked on developing a sweeper while in camp, which will be the fifth pitch he will offer in his arsenal. Uwasawa features a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup.
The transition to the Red Sox organization seems to have been easy and seamless for Uwasawa.
“I learned a lot when I was with the Rays, and I spent a week last week in Fort Myers, where there were a lot of pitching guys, and I learned a lot with the Red Sox as well,” said Uwasawa.
Uwasawa signed a minor league deal with the Rays on Jan. 11 and struggled with the club during spring training. He allowed 14 runs, 15 hits (three homers), and eight walks while striking out nine in 9 2/3 frames.
The club plans to ease Uwasawa into Worcester, allowing him to acclimate to the team and staff. WooSox skipper Chad Tracy was noncommittal as to when Uwasawa would pitch. The righty thinks there’s a strong chance he will make his WooSox debut on April 10 on the road against Syracuse.
“He threw just recently in Fort Myers,” said Tracy pregame. “For the big part of right now, get here, meet Dan (DeLucia), get out, and get used to pitchers stretch and routine. The outing will fall sometime next week after we talk to the pitching coordinators.”
Tracy doesn’t know specifically what Uwasawa’s role will be with the WooSox, but he thinks he’ll end up starting with the club.
“I think it might be starting, but I need to hear from those guys specifically. I need to wait and see if it’s a length role,” said Tracy. “I know whatever it is probably going to be some sort of length role, either starting or relieving.”
If Uwasawa ends up in the WooSox starting rotation, it will likely bump Jason Alexander into a bulk-inning role. Alexander is currently the WooSox No. 5 starter in their rotation. The Red Sox are in need of additional starting pitching depth, especially at the upper levels of the organization.
