The Houston Astros had high expectations for Tatsuya Imai after he signed a three-year, $54 million contract in January. However, the 28-year-old struggled to adjust to MLB hitting in his first full major league season.
The Houston Astros' 2025 offseason needed a big splash to ensure the best for the 2026 regular season. One of the biggest moves the front office made was signing international free agent right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai to a three-year deal worth $54 million.
Tatsuya Imai’s first season with the Houston Astros is going to be remembered, above all, for what we could not see. Imai displayed his undeniable potential, but did not achieve enough consistency and that led him to lose his spot as a starter in the second half of the season.
Can you name every MLB player to hit at least three home runs in multiple postseasons in eight minutes?
The Houston Astros will host the Chicago White Sox in the AL Wild Card series. The Astros slipped into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, winning the AL West with an 81-81 record.
The 2026 season has been headlined by young players emerging, but some wily veterans have also had their day. As we head toward the end of the regular season, these 30 players stand out as the biggest surprises on their teams.
Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai will be available out of the bullpen during the club's crucial weekend series against the Texas Rangers.
The Astros are moving Tatsuya Imai to the bullpen beginning with this weekend’s series against Texas, manager Joe Espada told reporters (link via Chandler Rome of The Athletic).
Tatsuya Imai's best start of the month for the Astros didn't redefine his season. What it did was reinforce a trend Houston has been watching develop over the past several weeks.
The key to winning for the Houston Astros this season has been the starting pitching. When the starters go deep, the Astros significantly improve their chances of winning, as it goes for any team in baseball.
Tatsuya Imai allowed one run over six innings, Isaac Paredes clubbed a three-run homer and the Houston Astros sent the reeling Miami Marlins to their eighth straight loss with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday.
The 2026 season hasn't gone as planned for many MLB players. These 30 players stand out as the biggest disappointments for their respective teams.
Before reinstating pitchers Ronel Blanco and Bennett Sousa from the 60-day injured list, the Houston Astros executed a surprising roster move by demoting reliever Bryan King to Triple-A Sugar Land following their loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
The Houston Astros (46-48) didn’t get the start they hoped for from Tatsuya Imai, but they got a terrific performance from 6 relievers as they took the second game of this series 6-3 over the Washington Nationals (47-46) at Nationals Park.
If the Houston Astros are going to get back into the playoff race in the American League, they are going to have to do it behind their pitching, which could be getting a step closer to being healthy.
The Houston Astros are keeping things interesting in the American League West, as they continue to breathe down the necks of the division-leading Seattle Mariners.
Tatsuya Imai threw six shutout innings to help the Houston Astros to a 2-1 win against the host Detroit Tigers in the opener of their four-game series on Thursday evening.
In making the 2026 Memorial Day holiday a memorable one, the Houston Astros put together an historic performance in a win over their in-state rival, the Texas Rangers, on Monday night.
On Monday, three Houston Astros pitchers combined for a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers, whose offense reached rock bottom in the 9-0 home loss. And while the Rangers can't get much lower, there isn't much hope for an improvement anytime soon.
Tatsuya Imai was the premier signing of the offseason for the Houston Astros. After spending eight years honing his craft in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, Imai finally made his way stateside this winter, joining the Astros on a three-year, $54 million contract.
Houston Astros pitcher, Tatsuya Imai, has struggled to adjust in his first few months in MLB. The Japanese pitcher signed with the Astros for a reported $54 million dollars over three years according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com Through his 12.2 IP, he was accumulated a 9.24 ERA and a WHIP of 2.053.
A major offseason acquisition for the Houston Astros was right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai. The addition of Imai, though, has not yet panned out.
Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai is on the injured list after just three starts, and the Japanese right-hander thinks moving to America has something to do with it.
Tatsuya Imai's adjustment to Major League Baseball has not gone as well as hoped thus far.
The Houston Astros are counting on Tatsuya Imai to be a key part of their rotation. Instead, they may need to prepare for his absence.
As the Astros prepare for tonight’s game with the Mariners, Tatsuya Imai has left Seattle to return to Houston to undergo examination from team doctors.
Nerves got the best of Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai in his big-league debut Sunday. In a 9-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels, Imai pitched 2.2 innings, walking four.
The highly anticipated major-league debut for Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai is set for Sunday afternoon when the Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of their four-game series.
Japan has become a significant source of talent and the Angels will face the newest hurler to cross the Pacific in Tatsuya Imai today. With the AL West rivals not facing each other in preseason play, this will be the first live look the Angels hitters will have on Imai.
The Astros made a free-agent splash right at the turn of the year when they signed Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai to a three-year contract worth $54 million.
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