In 2009, Junichi Tazawa began his journey with the Red Sox organization. Before the start of his second season, he would be undergoing Tommy John Surgery.
Almost a year later, Tazawa continues to rehab his surgically repaired right elbow. While there is no need to rush him back, there is a good chance that Tazawa sees in-game action sometime this spring. Given the success rate of pitchers who come back from TJS, there is a lot of hope that Tazawa will pick up right where he left off. With plus offspeed stuff and the ability to locate his fastball, the Sox could have themselves a valuable piece to the puzzle that doesn’t come via free agency or trade.
At double-A in 2009, Tazawa put up excellent numbers. In 18 starts (98 IP) he posted 8.1 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 with a 2.57 ERA and 3.35 FIP. After a quick stop in Pawtuckett, Tazawa was in the big leagues, but that didn’t go so well. Six games, four starts and 25.1 total innings later, Tazawa had been rocked for 43 hits and 21 earned runs while walking nine and striking out 13.
Despite his poor showing at the big league level in 2009, there is still plenty of potential for Tazawa to turn into an above average big league pitcher. For 2011 purposes, that potential might help in the bullpen and the rotation.
Given that Tazawa will continue to rehab well into spring training, he’ll no-doubt start the year in the minors no matter if he looks good in game situations or not. If he can reestablish his old command, he could move quickly back to the big leagues. No team goes an entire season without needing replacement players and this can be especially true for pitching staffs. In the case of the Red Sox, it’s hard to bank on around 200 innings from the likes of Beckett and Dice-K. Tim Wakefield and Felix Doubront seem like the first options to fill in as starters, but Tazawa could mix in a few starts if need be. More than likely, Tazawa would help in the bullpen in 2011 should Wakefield need to fill in a rotation spot or if someone succumbs to injury. There is also a chance that 35-year-old Scott Atchison doesn’t perform better than he did in 2010 (4.66 FIP) or Matt Albers doesn’t cut it as Boston’s long man. Tazawa could provide value in both roles, a one-inning (or one to two batters) or long relief due to his background as a starter.
If the Red Sox don’t need Junichi Tazawa at the big league level in 2011, then things will have gone even better than planned. However, needs arise every season and 2011 should be no exception. Once Tazawa builds back his arm strength and regains his feel for the strike-zone, he should be ready to step into whatever role the Red Sox need him in for their championship run.