The New York Mets’ ambitious attempt to revive Shintaro Fujinami’s MLB career has come to an end as the pitcher officially enters free agency following a rough season. Brought in with hopes of a turnaround, Fujinami, who showed potential despite early struggles in his career, quickly became the Mets’ biggest free agent bust of 2024.
Fujinami joined the Mets on a $3.35 million, one-year deal after a tumultuous MLB debut in 2023, where he posted an 8.57 ERA with the Athletics and a 4.85 ERA with the Orioles. Despite these numbers, the Mets saw potential in the right-hander, who boasted an impressive fastball and sharp slider. The plan was for him to hone his skills in the minors, with the hope of becoming a reliable bullpen piece by midseason.
Unfortunately, Fujinami struggled right from spring training and was sent to Triple-A before opening day. In April alone, he allowed 10 earned runs and issued 10 walks in just 4.2 innings. While he did make some progress later in the year—especially in August, when he posted a solid 12 innings with 14 strikeouts and only 4 walks—he was unable to sustain it. A 7.88 ERA in September sealed his fate, keeping him out of the conversation for a major league return.
Despite minor league success toward the end of the season, Fujinami’s overall performance was marked by inconsistency. Across 32.1 innings in Triple-A, he held a 6.68 ERA with 33 walks, raising concerns about his control.
As Carlos Mendoza and the Mets shift focus to a fresh season, Fujinami’s exit leaves an open question: will another team take a chance on his raw talent, or is he destined to remain in the minors.
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