Alex Ramirez showed his flair for the unconventional on Monday, when the new Yokohama BayStars manager named right-hander Shun Yamaguchi as his Opening Day starter.
Normally the preserve of aces, pitchers coming off big years and new blue-chip amateurs, the 28-year-old Yamaguchi went a disappointing 3-6 with a 4.49 ERA last season. Unfortunately for Ramirez, the BayStars don't really have a lot of proven options after their starters went a combined 38-53 with a 4.00 ERA in 2015.
"I played with a lot of these guys. I know the kind of pitchers they are and the kind of pitchers they can be," Ramirez told Kyodo News by phone. "I believe he (Yamaguchi) has the stuff to be a No. 1 pitcher."