Blue Jays Starter Dominates Spring Training; Expected To Make Rotation

Yusei Kikuchi has been making waves in the Toronto Blue Jays' camp with his impressive performances in the Grapefruit League.

He's rekindled his potential value to the team with his recent outings, particularly his latest start against the Minnesota Twins, where he threw five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits, one walk, and one hit batter while striking out nine batters.

Yusei Kikuchi's day: 5 IP, 0 ER, NINE Ks 😱

FINAL: #BlueJays 3, Twins 0 pic.twitter.com/fyoOoMv4ID

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 23, 2023

This was his best start as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, and he continues to show great promise on the mound.

Kikuchi's success in spring training would seem to have earned him a spot in the Blue Jays' starting rotation for the upcoming regular season.

He has allowed only two earned runs over 18 innings in six outings, striking out 25 batters and walking 10. While there may be some concerns over whether his spring training performance will translate to the regular season, there is no denying that Kikuchi's performance thus far is a promising start.

Yusei Kikuchi, 95mph ⛽️ and 🔥 follow-thru. pic.twitter.com/3cishI3nTS

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 23, 2023

It's also worth noting that Kikuchi's impressive start came against a competitive Twins team, which included top-tier batters such as Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa, whom Kikuchi was able to handle well, striking the two hitters out a combined three times.

In the outing, Kikuchi got 16 missed swings in his 87-pitch performance, showcasing his improved secondary pitches.

Overall, Kikuchi's strong performance would seem to have secured him a spot in the Blue Jays' starting rotation, and fans are excited to see how he will fare in the upcoming regular season.

Yusei Kikuchi:
*9 strikeouts today
*25 strikeouts this Spring (2nd in MLB)
*highest single-game strikeout total since July 23, 2021 pic.twitter.com/VcoxM3hQPI

— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) March 23, 2023

However, his consistency will be key to his success, as he will need to work on his control to avoid giving up unnecessary walks.

Still, it's exciting to see Kikuchi using his improved secondary pitches with success, and it will be intriguing to see how he performs in the upcoming season. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports