From Japan to Baltimore: Sugano’s Seamless Transition Fuels Orioles Rotation

Tomoyuki Sugano’s transition from Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yomiuri Giants to the Baltimore Orioles on a one-year, $13 million deal has proven pivotal amid the team’s early-season turmoil. The 35-year-old, who was a proven starter in the Japanese league, has quickly adjusted to MLB, posting a 3.54 ERA across five starts and emerging as the rotation’s most reliable arm outside of veteran Zach Eflin, who is currently on the IL. His consistency stands in stark contrast to the team’s other starters, such as Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, and Charlie Morton, each of whom has an ERA over five. With Baltimore’s starters collectively struggling to a league-worst ERA, Sugano’s ability to limit damage, allowing no more than three runs in any outing thus far, has been a rare stabilizing force.

Sugano’s veteran poise has been showcased most clearly in his ability to work deep into games, a trait the Orioles desperately lack elsewhere. Over his past two starts, the right-hander has tossed seven innings each against the Guardians and Nationals, marking the only occasions a Baltimore starter has surpassed six innings this season. His 94-pitch outing against the Nationals exemplified his efficiency, as he mixed pitches and took pressure off an already taxed bullpen. While his strikeout numbers, nine in 28 innings, remain modest, Sugano’s command, evidenced by a 1.14 WHIP, and his ability to induce weak contact have minimized rallies and kept Baltimore competitive in games where their offense has scraped together minimal support.

As the Orioles, who hold the third-worst record in MLB at 10-17, prepare for a pivotal series against the Yankees at Camden Yards on Monday night, Sugano’s role as the opener underscores his growing importance to a team reeling from a weekend sweep in Detroit. With the rotation depleted by injuries to Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez, Sugano’s starts have become must-win opportunities to help steer Baltimore in the right direction and halt the team’s slide. His next outing will test whether he can replicate his NPB-tested consistency against a potent New York lineup, offering the Orioles a chance to reset their season. If Sugano can continue delivering reliable quality starts, he could not only solidify his MLB status but also buy time for Baltimore’s injured arms to recover and help salvage their 2025 campaign.