Hiroki Kuroda

2013

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2012

Kuroda had a solid fourth season for the Dodgers, tossing a career-best 202 innings with a 3.07 ERA, 7.17 K/9IP and 2.18 BB/9IP. As in 2010, his win-loss record fell below .500 (13-16), but that can be laid at the feet of the Dodgers' offense. Kuroda turned 37 this winter, but the expected age-related degradation in his skills has yet to manifest. Kuroda signed a one-year deal with the Yankees. His ERA and WHIP may decline in moving to the AL and going from a pitchers' park to a hitters' park, but he may also get a boost in win totals with the Yankees offense.

2011

Kuroda's third year stateside was his best, as the Japanese hurler posted career-bests in innings (196.1), wins (11), strikeouts (159), and ERA (3.39). Kuroda has also increased his strikeout rate in each of the last two seasons while maintaining a walk rate that continues to hover right around 2.0 per nine innings. Kuroda elected to return to the Dodgers on a one-year, $12 million deal, and all signs point to the 36-year-old having another solid season in LA.

2010

Kuroda finished 8-7 with a 3.76 ERA, but was limited to just 117.1 innings due to oblique, concussion, and neck injuries. A healthy Kuroda has proven himself to be a solid No. 3 starter, and that's what the Dodgers will hope to get in 2010. It's worth noting that his strikeout rate improved during his second season in North America, going from 5.69 K/9IP in 2008 to 6.67 last season. Kuroda should be a viable late-round option even in shallow (12-team mixed) leagues this season.

2009

Kuroda was just 9-10 in his first full year in the U.S. after signing a $35.2 million contract prior to 2008. Kuroda was awful in June and July, posting a 5.91 ERA during that period and missing three weeks with a shoulder injury. After July however, Kuroda was back on his game, posting a 2.39 ERA the rest of the way, including wins in both of his playoff starts. Expect similar numbers in 2009 with hopefully a few more wins.

2008

Kuroda, an extreme groundball pitcher with great control, got a lot of attention from MLB clubs after posting a 13-6, 1.85 mark with Hiroshima in 2006, but he re-signed rather quickly with the Carp. He was then limited by elbow problems in 2007, going 12-8, 3.56 in 26 starts (1.210 WHIP, 123:42 K:BB ratio in 179.2 innings). Still, in a surprising move, he exercised his opt-out clause in October and announced his intent to sign with an MLB team. Kuroda then traveled to the States to get his elbow checked out by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who gave him a clean bill of health. For fantasy purposes, note that you won't get a ton of strikeouts out of Kuroda; since he gets many more ground balls than your average pitcher, his infield defense will impact his ERA a great deal. Kuroda will never be a staff ace in the majors, but depending on where he winds up, he could provide value as a third or fourth starter.