Right-handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano and the Colorado Rockies have reached an agreement on a one-year, $5.1 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal marks the veteran Japanese star's official move to Major League Baseball.
The news was first reported by Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Sugano, 35, joins the Rockies after a storied career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he spent over a decade as the ace for the Yomiuri Giants. Known for his elite command and deep arsenal of pitches, Sugano is a two-time Sawamura Award winner—the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award—and a two-time Central League MVP.
The Colorado Rockies rotation will look to Sugano to provide much-needed stability and veteran leadership. The move comes as the club continues to search for reliable arms capable of navigating the unique pitching environment of Coors Field. Sugano had previously explored a move to MLB via the posting system following the 2020 season but ultimately elected to remain in Japan at that time; this agreement now solidifies his transition to the North American game.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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