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Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai signed with the Houston Astros this offseason, and the transition to the American lifestyle hasn’t been easy for him.
Imai, 27, was recently placed on the injured list with strain in his right arm, and in his first comments since his injury, he said, through an interpreter, that adjusting to the American way of life could be the reason.
“He is not able to adapt to the American lifestyle,” said Imai’s interpreter, Shio Enomoto, according to The Athletic. “Baseball and outside of baseball. That’s probably the reason (for his arm fatigue).”
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai returns to the dugout after being thrown out during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, Washington on April 10, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
Through a translator, Imai said the time players eat dinner after a game is different, in addition to the travel.
“For example, travel is different from Japan,” Imai said, according to Enomoto. “The time when the players eat. In Japan, when they return to the hotel, they have dinner. Here, the players eat at the stadium.”
“He thought it would be the same as in Japan, for example, dining at a hotel.”
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai reacts after allowing a run on a wild pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, Washington, April 10, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
Imai said he was going to use his time on the IL to adapt and “try to get better.” He currently has no timetable for his return and is one of three Astros starting pitchers on the IL.
Imai pitched in the NPB for eight seasons and posted a 3.15 ERA in 159 starts and became one of the league’s best starting pitchers.
The Astros signed Imai to a three-year, $54 million contract during the offseason, but the right-hander struggled before landing on the IL. In three starts, he had a 7.27 ERA in his first 8.2 major league innings.
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Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Houston, Texas, April 15, 2026. (Kevin M. Cox/AP Photo)
In his last start, he recorded just one out against the Seattle Mariners before leaving with an injury. He allowed three runs on one hit, four walks and one hit before leaving.
The Astros (8-11), who have won two in a row against the Colorado Rockies (6-12), will look to complete their three-game sweep when they face the Rockies on Thursday at 8:10 p.m. ET.
