Tomoya Kinjo is the latest member of the Blue Jays organization.
After signing infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a lucrative four-year contract over the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays are once again dipping into the international talent pool.
As reported by Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, the Jays have agreed to terms with Japanese right-hander Tomoya Kinjo. It's part of the current international signing period. Kinjo is 23 years old, reaches 97 mph with his fastball and features an array of offspeed offerings.
He had been playing in a Japanese independent league. There's no information yet about how the Blue Jays plan to utilize him or where he'll start in the minor leagues.
How excited should we be?
At the moment, this feels like a low-risk, high-reward move. Pitchers that throw 97 mph are still special and that kind of arm talent doesn't grow on trees. That said, Kinjo was not part of Japan's World Baseball Classic roster and does not pitch in the NPB - the top league in Japan.
It's fair to wonder why neither of those things are the case, and it leads us to believe that he's an unrefined project, rather than a guaranteed success.
One thing that is important to note
It's unclear if the two things are related, but they could be: Signing Okamoto does open the door for other Japanese talents to come to the big leagues. The more visibility the Blue Jays get overseas can only be a good thing. It can help develop fans and sell merchandise, but it can also unlock other talents.
Again, it's unclear if Kinjo's signing results directly from Okamoto's signing, but a Japanese pipeline can only be a good thing for Toronto.
Also in the news for the Jays
--The Blue Jays open up a World Series rematch series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. The last time these two teams met was in November at Rogers Centre, with the Jays falling in Game 7.
Like in that game, Max Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto.
--It's unclear if right fielder/third baseman Addison Barger will play for the Blue Jays after leaving Sunday's loss against the Chicago White Sox with "bilateral ankle discomfort." Manager John Schneider seemed to indicate that the injury was not serious, but it's just another disappointment for Barger, who is out to an .053 start at the plate.
--The Blue Jays enter play at 4-5 after getting swept by the White Sox.
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