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Kawakami Adjusting

NPB Tracker Archives

Kawakami Adjusting

by Patrick Newman (Feb 20, 2009)

Lots of Koji Uehara on this site recently, not much Kenshin Kawakami. Let's do something about that.

Kawakami is in camp with the Braves and has been working on adapting to the MLB ball. According to Sponichi, he threw 37 pitches in his most recent bullpen season, working in his cutter and curveball. This is a contrast to his approach in Japan, where he would only throw curves and fastballs until just before opening day.

Kawakami seems like he has a little work ahead of him in getting used to the MLB ball. The righty was quoted as saying  "suddenly throwing all these breaking pitches, well, there was some unease..." before adding, "I didn't get comfortable with my breaking pitches. I want to talk to the pitching coach and come up with a solution that works for me".

David Ross, who caught Kawakami's bullpen session, said that Kawakami's curveball reminded him of his former Dodgers teammate, Kazuhisa Ishii.


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