The Rockies are making a bold move to inject much-needed experience into their starting rotation, but it comes with a significant caveat regarding one of their biggest stars.
In a strategic play to bolster their pitching staff, the Colorado Rockies have secured the services of veteran right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano on a one-year agreement. This signing brings a seasoned arm to a rotation that has been seeking stability. Sugano is no stranger to high-pressure situations, having spent 12 seasons as the ace for Japan's formidable Yomiuri Giants before pitching last season with the Baltimore Orioles.
But here's where it gets complicated: the Rockies have also placed Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list. This means the fifth year of his substantial seven-year, $182 million contract will begin, much like the previous four, with Bryant sidelined due to ongoing chronic back issues. It's a tough pill to swallow for fans who were hoping to see their star player fully healthy and contributing.
Sugano, at 36 years old, proved his mettle with the Orioles last season, posting a 10-10 record with a 4.64 ERA and striking out 106 batters over 157 innings. He was a reliable presence for Baltimore during what was a challenging year for the team. Looking ahead, Sugano is also set to represent Team Japan in the prestigious World Baseball Classic, sharing the mound with other top talents like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi. After that international commitment, he'll join a Rockies team actively seeking experienced starting pitchers.
This move signals a shift in strategy for the Rockies. In recent years, the club had largely stepped back from pursuing veteran starters. However, under the new leadership of President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta and General Manager Josh Byrnes, the team has been more active. They recently signed Michael Lorenzen, a 34-year-old righty, to a one-year deal, and now Sugano joins the fold. Sugano's contract is reportedly worth $5.1 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The primary objective for the Rockies appears to be enhancing the experience level for manager Warren Schaeffer, who took over as interim manager for the final five months of the previous season. Sugano will join a group of starters on the 40-man Major League roster who are past their rookie status, including Lorenzen, veteran lefty Kyle Freeland (who will turn 33 on May 14th), and Ryan Feltner (29). While Antonio Senzatela (31) made 23 starts in 30 appearances last season, the club has announced his transition to a relief role for the upcoming season.
Sugano's impressive resume includes two Sawamura Awards (Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young) in 2017 and '18, along with three MVP awards in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2014, '20, and '24. He was also an eight-time All-Star, leading his league in ERA four times and in strikeouts twice. Across 276 NPB games, Sugano amassed a remarkable 136-74 record with a 2.43 ERA and 1,585 strikeouts over 1,857 innings.
Sugano boasts a diverse pitch arsenal, featuring six distinct pitches: a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, sweeper, curveball, and splitter. While he may not possess elite velocity at this stage of his career – his fastball averaged just under 93 mph in 2025 – he effectively utilizes all six pitches to get batters out. His splitter is particularly noteworthy, often described as a "wipeout pitch" favored by many Japanese aces. In 2025, he threw his splitter more than any other pitch, and it was responsible for 50 of his 106 strikeouts.
In his debut MLB season, Sugano demonstrated exceptional control, ranking seventh-lowest in walk rate (5.3%) among pitchers who threw at least 150 innings. However, he struggled with giving up home runs, allowing a league-high 33 long balls in the American League.
And this is the part most people miss: the ongoing struggles of Kris Bryant. At 34 years old, Bryant was severely limited last season, appearing in only 11 games with a .154 batting average, 0 home runs, and 1 RBI. The club announced in April that he was dealing with lumbar degenerative disk disease, and despite year-long examinations and rehabilitation efforts, he was unable to return to the field. Since signing his contract in Spring Training 2022, Bryant has only managed to play in 170 games, hitting .244 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs.
What are your thoughts on the Rockies' strategy? Is Sugano the veteran presence they need, or is the continued absence of a healthy Kris Bryant a sign of deeper issues? Let us know in the comments below!
