2K11: Tsuyoshi Nishioka

[onejayhawk]

Tsuyoshi Nishioka is a 26 year old Japanese star MI, now with Minnesota. He owns Japanese Gold Gloves at both 2B and SS. JJ hardy may have, literally, been traded to make room for this guy. Given his defensive prowess, steady play at 2B or SS is almost a given, unless he hits sub-.200, and he carries a .287 career BA--in Japanese leagues. He is an All Star over there and played on the Olympic team.

"Over there" being both the problem and the edge. MLB conversions from Japanese leagues have been spotty. Ichiro is one hand, Godzilla on the other. He can play SS, but his arm is more 2B. He has little power, but good speed.

So, we have a player, who could get 550 AB for the Twins, but most mixed league owners have never heard of him. Any thoughts on how to value this guy would be appreciated.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/thoughts-on-nishioka/

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=nishio002tsu

J

[Hornsby]

Tsuyoshi Nishioka is a 26 year old Japanese star MI, now with Minnesota. He owns Japanese Gold Gloves at both 2B and SS. JJ hardy may have, literally, been traded to make room for this guy. Given his defensive prowess, steady play at 2B or SS is almost a given, unless he hits sub-.200, and he carries a .287 career BA--in Japanese leagues. He is an All Star over there and played on the Olympic team.

"Over there" being both the problem and the edge. MLB conversions from Japanese leagues have been spotty. Ichiro is one hand, Godzilla on the other. He can play SS, but his arm is more 2B. He has little power, but good speed.

So, we have a player, who could get 550 AB for the Twins, but most mixed league owners have never heard of him. Any thoughts on how to value this guy would be appreciated.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/thoughts-on-nishioka/

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=nishio002tsu

J

Already a thread started on him in the 2011 sticky thread.

[Gregg]

Hoping to get more input over here...in our new house.

I think people are going to overpay for him at auction...and it won't be me. I do not think is BA is good enough to be a major help in fantasy.

This is a good one to bring out early when money is plentiful.

I think he may be a better real baseball player than fantasy.

[onejayhawk]

Already a thread started on him in the 2011 sticky thread.

Old Forum.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb-283842

Ten years after Ichiro made his way to the Seattle Mariners, Major League Baseball is still waiting for another Japanese position player that it can christen as the next Ichiro.

Can it be Nishioka? He does share a few traits (other than nationality) with the eventual Hall of Famer.

The parallels: Nishioka is 26 years old and just won a Japanese batting title with a .346 average (via 206 hits) in 2010. Ichiro was just a year older when he came to the U.S. at 27, when he was a seven-time defending NPB batting champion. Both are speedy leadoff hitters and smack the ball with a similar swing that Ichiro has already made iconic in the states.

The similarities, though, probably end there. Nishioka is a switch-hitting infielder who would probably play second base in the major leagues.

Also, while Ichiro has been a model of endurance in right field, Nishioka has struggled with injuries so far in his career, only playing more than 130 games in one season over in Japan. That won't get it done over here (or, presumably, at the negotiating table).

I really like this guy in Minnesota. No pressure, doesn't care about the cavernous outfield reducing his HRs (like Ichiro in Safeco).

http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/1/3/...ps-projections

ZIPS has him at 281/337/403 with 38 steals (according to that link). That would be a pretty sweet roto season.

I think that the steal projections are very generous. If he had a 25 steals, I'd consider that a good year. Learning US baseball, new pitchers, the language barrier, and his injury history, all play into me being more conservative. I do think that he'll do a little better in OBP, since it looks like he has a decent eye.

Did not catch him with the pitchers back when. Looks like that was corrected.

J

[Wonderboy]

I think a lot of owners will shy away from him, maybe with good reason. Seems to me to be a low end risk -- if you can get him late or for a few bucks, he could turn a very nice profit. If not, he is easily replaceable. So maybe a low risk/medium reward player.

[BigJonEmpire]

I've read a couple of interviews with him and he is supremely confident in his ability to excel in Major League Baseball. When his name first came up I vaguely recall reading something about him being a late bloomer with the bat, related to always being hurt. But that once he was healthy he proved to be a very good hitter. Unfortunately, I can't find the article.

[revo]

Nishioka's been playing well on a rehab assignment and likely will be activated by the Twins next week. He's been playing SS as well -- Twin fans, does it look like he's the SS, or will he remain at 2B?

[swampdragon]

Nishioka's been playing well on a rehab assignment and likely will be activated by the Twins next week. He's been playing SS as well -- Twin fans, does it look like he's the SS, or will he remain at 2B?

and who is his upside, downside and likely equivalent?

[Hammer]

sounds like Gardenhire doesnt want him active til he gets more rehab games under his belt.

[In the Corn]

The Twins have been working Yoshi at SS and plan on him being there with Casilla sliding to second base upon his return.

Hammer is correct; Gardy wants Yoshi to be in full form before he comes back.

[swampdragon]

and who is his upside, downside and likely equivalent?

any guesses on this for the rest of the season?

[In the Corn]

any guesses on this for the rest of the season?

This is really tough for me, as we've seen so small a sample.

From reports, I'd say he could be on the upside Derek Jeter w/o the power. High BA, runs and SB's.

downside...well at the very bottom I'd say Willie Bloomquist.

likely equivalent...I'd have to go Howie Kendrick.

[Hammer]

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Tsuyoshi Nishioka (fractured fibula) will play three rehab games with Triple-A Rochester and "should be able to join us by mid-week."

[revo]

his activation is planned for tomorrow. Is he going to play SS, or is it back to 2B?

[onejayhawk]

I would guess SS, since Casilla is much better at 2B.

J