WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- After throwing 1,098 innings over nine years with the Chunichi Dragons, left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara delivered his first Major League frame on Sunday.
Ogasawara got the start against the Mets in his Spring Training debut, a month after he joined the Nationals on a two-year deal. He is the first player the club signed from Japan.
“I’m so happy I could finish it,” Ogasawara said via interpreter Jumpei Ohashi. “Nothing happened.”
Ogasawara threw eight pitches in a one-hit scoreless inning in the Nationals’ 11-6 win. He felt nervous before the first out, but he settled in after that.
“Strikes,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He’s around the plate, he gets guys to swing. But I like it. His [velocity] was up to 92 [mph] for his first time here, so that was good. A little nervous, as he should have been, but he threw the ball well.”
The Mets made hard contact on a pair of flyouts to center field by Tyrone Taylor and Francisco Alvarez, followed by a first-pitch double to left field by former Nat Jesse Winker. Ogasawara got Luis De Los Santos to ground out to shortstop to end the frame.
“He gets outs, that’s what he really does,” said Martinez. “He threw one breaking ball, one changeup. His changeup he’s got to mix in, because it’s a really good pitch. But a lot of it was a lot of first-pitch swinging. When you attack hitters and you throw strikes, that’s what you want to see.”
Before his next start, Ogasawara would like to meet with the coaching staff and catchers to continue to prepare for facing Major League hitters. He wants to induce more foul balls, and he also has been working on his sweeper.
The Nationals have been working with Ogasawara to navigate the adjustment to a five-day pitching schedule in the Majors, compared to Japan's six-man rotations.
As an example, Ogasawara threw 50 pitches before a live batting practice session during workouts. On Sunday, he also threw an extended number of pitches in the bullpen after he came out of the game. (Right-hander Jake Irvin threw 19 pitches in the bullpen after his eight-pitch start on Saturday.)
“He does a lot in between his starts, so we're going to have to kind of shrink it to make sure that he's ready to pitch on that fifth day,” Martinez said. “But so far, he's been engaged, he has been really good. He's willing to work on changing his routine.”
While playing in Japan, Ogasawara said he would run a 10K the day after making a start. He is working with the Nats’ staff to determine a running schedule, too.
“I want to run a lot,” Ogasawara said. “But make sure I’m going to check my body after I wake up.”
Martinez lauded Ogasawara for being a “really good teammate” just two weeks into camp. His adrenaline and desire to compete were evident.
“This is my special day,” Ogasawara said.