Kenji Johjima

Johjima turned in a decent year behind the plate, though his final numbers were depressed thanks to a 27-game summer drought in which he hit .179 with six XBH and a .525 OPS. Still, among catchers, he was fourth in batting (.287), fifth in slugging (.433) and OBP (.322) and sixth in OPS (.755) and XBH (43). A contact hitter, he won't walk or strikeout much (15 BB, 41 K in 513 PA). If he avoids a major slump, he should finish in the top tier of offensive catchers across the board.

Johjima made the jump from Japan to the U.S. last season and acquitted himself nicely, though he fell victim to the toll Safeco Field takes on right-handed hitters. Johjima ranked third among American League catchers in homers and fifth in OPS and finished fourth among all catchers in extra-base hits with 44. But his home OPS was just .504 compared to a .837 road OPS. Johjima also had trouble with left-handed pitchers, hitting his 18 homers all off righties. A season of major league experience should benefit him in 2007.

Signed to a three-year deal by the Mariners, Johjima (JOE-JEE-muh) was regarded as the the best catcher in Japan last season and one of the best right-handed power hitters, as well. His power likely won't translate to the majors and, specifically, to Safeco Field. But Safeco's spacious outfield could turn Johjima into an excellent gap hitter. Johjima averaged .305 and 30 homers the past five years in Japan. He won't get those numbers with the Mariners, but even if he hits, on the low side, in the .275 range and slugs in the .450 range, it will be a huge improvement over Seattle's 2005 catchers (.216/.253/.313). Johjima suffered a fractured shinbone in September 2005 when he fouled a pitch off his leg, but he's expected to be healthy by spring training.

Johjima is regarded by many as not only the best catcher in Japan at the moment (both at bat and behind the plate), but perhaps the best right-handed power hitter in Japan right now as well. Johjima was Japan's cleanup hitter at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and he was voted the Pacific League MVP in 2003 after leading the Fukuoka Hawks (with Tadahito Iguchi at second base) to the Japan Series title. He will attempt to sign with an MLB team for the 2006 season. Johjima certainly has power (150 home runs in the last five seasons; hit .309/.381/.557 with 26 homers in 116 games in 2005), but he'll turn 30 in June 2006, which is older for a catcher than it is at any other position. Also, no player on a baseball diamond needs better verbal communication skills than the catcher; this could be a problem for Johjima as he attempts to break in with an MLB club. Johjima suffered a fractured shinbone in September 2005 when he fouled a pitch off his leg, but he's expected to be healthy by spring training. You can find Johjima's career stats from Japan (through 2004) at japanesebaseball.com.