Shingo Takatsu

Signed a one-year contract with the Yakult Swallows in Japan, February 2006.

Japan's all-time save leader wasn't expected to be anything more than a middle reliever in North America, but he started off the season giving hitters fits with his Doug Jones-esque stuff, and when Billy Koch suffered his nearly-inevitable implosion Takatsu smoothly assumed the closer role. He swooned a bit in August due to a few untimely home runs, giving rise to a chorus of "Big league hitters have figured him out!" but he put an end to that nonsense in September. By going 19-for-20 in save chances with a WHIP below 1.00, Takatsu more than earned his 'Mr. Zero' nickname in 2004. He might regress a bit this season, but it's hard to imagine him completely collapsing -- Takatsu enters the year as one of the AL's safer closer bets. Mind you, this is the organization that chased Keith Foulke out of town.

Takatsu, the All-Star closer for Japan's Yakult Swallows, is known as Mr. Zero, a nickname he obtained for having never allowed a run in Japanese World Series play. He's the Japanese League's all-time saves leader racking up 260 in 10 seasons as a closer. It's expected MLB teams will recruit him heavily for the 2004 season although not as a closer, as the sinker-baller probably doesn't have the control to assume the role in North America.

Takatsu, the All-Star closer for Japan’s Yakult Swallows, is known as Mr. Zero, a nickname he obtained for having never allowed a run in Japanese World Series play. The 35-year-old is the Japanese League’s all-time saves leader racking up 260 in 10 seasons as a closer for the Swallows. Its expected MLB teams will recruit him heavily for the 2004 season although not as a closer. The sidewinding sinkerballer probably doesn’t have the control to assume the role in North America as evidenced by a 93/45 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the past three seasons. It’s difficult to assess strikeout numbers out of Japan because they play a different style overall, but most MLB clubs have scouted him as a two-inning set-up man. Takatsu's career stats in Japan can be found on japanesebaseball.com .