It looks like relief pitcher Hideki Okajima‘s career isn’t over just yet. The 40-year old left hander signed a Minor League contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Okajima’s career has been crazy to say the least. The Japan product came over to the Boston Red Sox in 2007, the same year as Daisuke Matsuzaka. While Matsuzaka took up the spotlight, Okajima quickly became one of the most important pieces in the Red Sox bullpen over a four-year span.
Like I said though, his career had some twist and turns. It all started when Okajima gave up a home run to his first career batter faced, John Buck. He ended that season with a 2.22 earned run average and a sub-1.00 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).
Okajima was more of the same in 2008, when he posted a 2.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. In 2009, his stats took a dip, but he was still deadly productive. The reliever won a career-high six games while holding a 3.39 ERA.
2010 was the worst of his career. His career-worst 4.50 ERA and four losses found him grasping for life as part of the Red Sox roster. In 2011, Okajima appeared in just seven games with the Red Sox before being designated for assignment and sent to the Minors.
The left-hander did not appear in another Major League game until 2013, with the Oakland Athletics. In five appearances, Okajima gave up one run in four innings. He has not thrown a pitch in the Majors since June 13, 2013.
Now, the Orioles contract does not include a Spring Training invitation, which means Okajima is more than likely competing just to be on the Triple-A roster. There’s also the obstacle of the current Baltimore bullpen. There are three left-handed relievers on the roster, giving Okajima little hopes of being needed. Despite all of that, based on the way his career has gone, he could very well see time with the big league club at some point in 2016.
Hunter Noll is a Staff Writer for Outside Pitch MLB. Follow him on Twitter
The post Baltimore Orioles agree to Minor League contract with Hideki Okajima appeared first on OutsidePitchMLB.