The Book on Hiroki Kuroda

Prospect Info

LADHiroki Kuroda
Born 2/10/1975
RHP, LAD

One of the premium starting pitchers available to MLB teams in 2008, Kuroda is a workhorse starter: he's thrown 74 (!) complete games in his 12 year Central League career. At age 32, he's also in his prime. He won the League's ERA title with a 1.85, despite playing in a park that strongly favors hitters.

He may lack the sex appeal and mystery Matsuzaka brought to Boston, but he's a comparable talent, and he should be a reliable and solid pitcher in Los Angeles.

Ranking in Scouting Book: Unranked

Ranking in Baseball America 2008: n/a

Ranking in Baseball Prospectus: Unranked

Ranking in MiLB.com Season Preview Unranked

Ranking from the Sporting News: Unranked

Ranking from ESPN: Unranked

Player Updates and Notes

Off-again, on-again: The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a three-year, $35.2 million contract with Japanese free-agent Hiroki Kuroda.

12/16/2007 by BallGrrrl

Japanese papers, apparently basing their early reports on nothing more than Kuroda's travel itinerary, are now backing off their original stories. While he may still end up in L.A., Kuroda's immediate business in the US is to meet with his California-based agent. He will consider a number of offers, not only the one from the Dodgers.

12/12/2007 by BallGrrrl

Conflicting Reports: Despite the fact he had at least two more lucrative offers, Japanese newspapers are reporting that Hiroki Kuroda has chosen to leave the Carp and sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The US News outlets, on the other hand, report that Kuroda is still "mulling" offers. If Kuroda ends up in a pitcher's paradise like Los Angeles, his value will rise sharply.

12/11/2007 by DataBoy

Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes has confirmed that the team has made a formal offer to Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda is thought to prefer a west-coast team.

11/27/2007 by BallGrrrl

The Kansas Royals have appeared as a wild-card entry in the Kuroda sweepstakes. New KC Manager Trey Hillman, a former manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters, has expressed interest in acquiring the righthander.

11/26/2007 by BallGrrrl

The Mariners are apparently close to luring Hiroki Kuroda away from Japan. With Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Jojima raising Seattle's profile in Japan, the city has become a glamorous destination for Japanese players. Kuroda himself has signaled his approval with the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, which means Seattle may be in the driver's seat.

11/22/2007 by KDaddy

 

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