Red Sox: Impressive first look at reliever Hirokazu Sawamura

Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura was impressive on the mound

Boston Red Sox fans were treated to their first glimpse of Hirokazu Sawamura this morning and the result was an encouraging sign for the bullpen.

The right-handed reliever from Japan faced four batters in a simulated game on Tuesday and was dominant in his first non-bullpen session in a Red Sox uniform. Sawamura was very efficient, throwing 13 of his 17 pitches for strikes. He struck out prospects Marcus Wilson, Josh Ockimey and Gilberto Jimenez while inducing a harmless pop up from veteran catcher Christian Vazquez.

The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham shared a clip of a nasty pitch that Sawamura used to tally one of those strikeouts.

Old friend Koji Uehara was in attendance at JetBlue Park to watch Sawamura pitch. In the caption from his tweet, Uehara jokes that it’s strange watching from the stands but the former Red Sox closer seems excited about what Sawamura can bring to this team.

Uehara would be an excellent mentor for Sawamura. Not only would he be able to provide sound advice about the transition from Japan to Major League Baseball, but Koji also knows a thing or two about pitching big innings in Boston. Uehara produced one of the most dominant seasons by a reliever in franchise history while serving as the closer for the 2013 World Series champions.

The Red Sox haven’t confirmed when Sawamura will be ready to appear in an exhibition game this spring. His arrival in camp was delayed by mandated COVID-19 screening following his travel from Japan, putting him a bit behind schedule. Sawamura threw 23 pitches in a bullpen session last week so advancing to a simulated game shows steady progress.

Sawamura owned a 2.82 ERA, 1.196 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 during his 10 seasons in Japan, spent primarily with the Yomiuri Giants.

The Red Sox pitching staff lacks a reliable option to lock down the ninth inning. They likely will open the season with Matt Barnes serving as their closer despite plenty of evidence that he isn’t suited for the role. Sawamura tallied 75 career saves in Japan, giving him significantly more closing experience than anyone else in this bullpen. However, Boston won’t throw him into the fire of the ninth inning while he’s still adjusting to the majors.

Sawamura will be given an opportunity to earn his way into high-leverage innings and could move up the bullpen hierarchy if he thrives. Uehara wasn’t the first, second, or even third choice to fill the closer role for the Red Sox in 2013 but he stepped up when given the chance. Perhaps Sawamura will follow in his footsteps.

Regardless of which inning he’s called in to pitch, Sawamura will have an opportunity to carve out a key role in Boston’s bullpen. Red Sox relievers were collectively among the worst in baseball last season and Sawamura is being counted on to be part of the overhaul that leads this bullpen back to a respectable level.

Based on the brief look we saw of Sawamura in this limited simulated game, it appears the right-hander is ready for the challenge.