Astros’ Tatsuya Imai having hassle adjusting to ‘American life-style’

The Astros’ Tatsuya Imai is blaming “the American lifestyle” for his early large league struggles. 

The Japanese right-hander, who signed a three-year deal value as much as $63 million with Houston over the offseason after eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, was lately placed on the injured checklist with arm fatigue, and he mentioned he could know the wrongdoer.

Imai mentioned by an interpreter on Tuesday that not being “able to adjust to the American lifestyle, other than baseball. Baseball and outside of baseball. That’s probably the reason,” for his throwing arm troubles, according to The Athletic.

Some delicate modifications have made it exhausting for him to acclimate, Imai added. 

“For example, the travel is different from Japan,” Imai continued. “The timing when the players eat. In Japan, when they get back to the hotel, they eat their dinner. Here, the players eat at the stadium.”

Imai, 27, has been terrible in three outings for the Astros so far this season, permitting seven earned runs and strolling 11 batters in simply 8 ⅔ innings. 

In his final begin on Friday, Imai allowed three runs in simply the ⅓ of an inning after surrendering one hit and 4 walks whereas additionally hitting a batter. 

He complained in regards to the climate — mid-60s and windy — and that the pitcher’s mound at T-Mobile Park in Seattle was “really hard” after the disastrous begin. 

“In Japan, there’s only six stadiums we go around during the season,” Imai mentioned, per The Athletic. “But here, we have to go to 30 stadiums and adjust to the mound in their stadium. That’s what I have to figure out, how to adjust to those mounds.”

While it’s nonetheless early, the Astros had hoped Imai, a three-time All-Star in Japan, could be a key a part of their beginning rotation this yr and going ahead. 

Last season with the Seibu Tigers, Imai posted a 1.92 ERA throughout 24 begins. 

As a crew, the Astros are off to a sluggish begin in 2026, sitting at 6-11 heading into Tuesday’s play, which is the worst document in baseball so far.