Astros' $54M pitcher blames arm fatigue on struggle to adjust to American lifestyle

Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai signed with the Houston Astros this offseason, and the modulation to the American manner has not been casual for him.

Imai, 27, was precocious placed connected the injured database with close limb fatigue, and successful his archetypal comments since the injury, helium said, done an interpreter, the accommodation to the American manner mightiness beryllium the reason.

"He’s not capable to set to the American lifestyle," Imai’s interpreter, Shio Enomoto, said, according to The Athletic. "Baseball and extracurricular of baseball. That’s astir apt the crushed (for his limb fatigue)."

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai walks backmost to the dugout aft being removed during the archetypal inning against the Seattle Mariners successful Seattle, Washington, connected April 10, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

Through an interpreter, Imai said the timing of erstwhile players devour meal aft a crippled is different, successful summation to travel.

"For example, the question is antithetic from Japan," Imai said, according to Enomoto. "The timing erstwhile the players eat. In Japan, erstwhile they get backmost to the hotel, they devour their dinner. Here, the players devour astatine the stadium."

"He thought it would beryllium the aforesaid arsenic successful Japan, for example, eating meal astatine the hotel."

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai reacts aft allowing a tally connected a chaotic transportation during the archetypal inning against the Seattle Mariners successful Seattle, Washington, connected April 10, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

Imai said that helium is going to usage his clip connected IL to set and "try to go better." He does not presently person immoderate timeline for his instrumentality and is 1 of 3 Astros starting pitchers connected the IL.

Imai pitched successful the NPB for 8 seasons and recorded a 3.15 ERA successful 159 starts and became 1 of the champion starting pitchers successful the league.

The Astros signed Imai to a three-year, $54 cardinal declaration successful the offseason, but the right-hander struggled earlier landing connected the IL. In 3 starts, helium had a 7.27 ERA successful his archetypal 8.2 major-league innings.

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Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai warms up earlier a shot crippled against the Colorado Rockies successful Houston, Texas, connected April 15, 2026. (Kevin M. Cox/AP Photo)

In his past start, helium lone recorded 1 retired against the Seattle Mariners earlier leaving with an injury. He allowed 3 runs connected 1 hit, 4 walks and 1 deed batter earlier departing.

The Astros (8-11), who person won 2 consecutive implicit the Colorado Rockies (6-12), volition look to implicit the three-game expanse erstwhile they play the Rockies connected Thursday astatine 8:10 p.m. ET.

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